She Think She Cute!

About the Book

Several years ago I served as Dean of Students at my school. I was responsible for handling discipline problems.. As I would recommend discipline according to my district;’s uniform discipline code handbook, I began to notice an alarming trend in the students who were reffered to my office for discipline. Students who were fighting, arguing, bullying were getting younger and younger. My normal pre-teen hormone driven offenders were being outnumbered by six, seven and eight year-old girls. Alarmed by this, I decided to conduct in-house research to gain insight as to where they were getting this behavior from. I received permission to conduct the research from my principal, and promised to share my findings with him, my colleagues and most importantly, their parents. I created a survey and distributed it to 3-8th grade girls. I analyzed the results and was horrified by what they yielded. Their behavior was a carbon-copy of how we, African-American women, treat each other. The envy, jealousy, contempt that these girls had for each other is displayed by us! Puzzled and concerned, I began to think about how we as a school can began to have dialogue with the students to become change agents. But in order to get them to change, we ourselves must do so. This led me into further reflection on how we treat each other at work, in church, and in our family. I began with myself, and there my journey began. I welcome you to follow my journey as I go from the researching a subject, to becoming the subject of my research! As you read my story, it WILL eventually become yours! You will see some unflattering and often ugly behavior. Most was done by me at church, at work and with my family. I throw myself under the bus, but I take a few of you under with me. Remember the objective is to heal, not hurt. If you can’t say “Amen”, say “Ouch!”.

About the Author

Growing up in the Robert Taylor Housing Projects in Chicago, Dr. Cavitt had very little opportunities in the streets. So she found solace in her tiny apartment with her loving mother and four sisters. Always playing “teacher”, it was no surprise when actually became one. After graduating from Grambling State University in 1995, Dr. Katina Tolbert-Cavitt began her teaching career with the Aldine Independent School District in Houston, Texas and Chicago Public Schools thereafter. She furthered her education by earning a Master’s Degree in Reading, a second Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a Doctorate degree in Instructional Leadership. Dedicating her life and career to urban education, Dr. Cavitt has worn many hats in her career, which include 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 8th grade teacher, Literacy/Instructional Coach, Educational Consultant, and Adjunct Professor. Her favorite job is being a wife and mother of two extremely active boys.