For Immediate Release:
Contact: Principal Melissa Remillard
Paw Paw Early Elementary
(269) 415-5300
melissa.remillard@ppps.org
Paw Paw Early Elementary Second-Grade Students Recognized by
Van Buren Chief Judge Kathleen M. Brickley for Modeling Inclusion and Diversity
Paw Paw, MI – (June 1, 2021) A select group of second-grade students from Paw Paw Early Elementary will have an opportunity to visit the Van Buren County Courthouse this week. Chief Judge Kathleen M. Brickley, who was recently selected to serve on the Michigan Supreme Court’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee, will recognize these exceptional students who have been selected as representatives of the school for modeling inclusion and diversity.
Not only will students be publicly recognized, but they will also receive a prize and a personal tour of the Courthouse by Van Buren County Chief Judge Brickley.
When selected to serve on the DEI committee Judge Brickley stated, “It is important that our courts reflect the diverse community of Van Buren County.”
Realizing the importance of diversity and inclusion in the schools, Paw Paw Early Elementary Principal Melissa Remillard collaborated with Social Emotional Teacher Ben Bowater and Behavior Management Specialist Deborah Doyle to develop a series around the topic of social justice.
Principal Remillard said, “Once Mr. Bowater developed an age-appropriate series for the second-grade students, a diversity and inclusion contest was held. One lucky student from each second-grade class was chosen to represent their class by visiting Chief Judge Kathleen Brickley at the Van Buren County Courthouse on Thursday, June 3rd from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.” Remillard concludes, “We saw this as an opportunity to increase awareness of diversity and inclusion and get students more involved in the community.”
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