New York, NY, May 14, 2009 … As part of its ongoing effort to help teachers respond effectively to prejudice in the classroom, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) announced a relationship that will bring its flagship professional development tool to thousands of educators across the country.

The National School Boards Association (NSBA) is promoting Making Diversity Count, ADL's Web-based development course for teachers that helps them make their classrooms respectful and inclusive places.  The course was selected to be part of NSBA's Technology Leadership Network, joining a select group of online education program providers.

"Diversity in classrooms is one of the strong points of our education system, but it can also present challenging situations," said Dr. Ed S. Alster, ADL's Director of Education.  "Making Diversity Count gives teachers the tools they need to respond effectively and appropriately to prejudice.  The relationship with NSBA will further the Making Diversity Count message, and help more teachers build the necessary skills to instill valuable, life-long lessons of mutual respect in their students."

Making Diversity Count is a self-paced, immersive online course for middle and secondary school teachers to explore issues of bias and prejudice.  As part of the curriculum, teachers learn from education and civil rights experts. 

"Today's students are surrounded by opportunities and challenges that will either help or impede their ultimate success in school and in life," said Gene Broderson, Director of National Affiliate Services & Technology Programs for the NSBA.  "One of those challenges is the diverse populations in the classroom and the social interactions that take place.

"The National School Boards Association's Technology Leadership Network recognized that we need to provide resources that would help classroom teachers build a climate of support and collegiality within the classroom and community environment.  That effort required a professional development package that was designed to build on cultural diversity and the positive impact it can have on learning and socialization.  The Making Diversity Count professional development curriculum designed by ADL was the perfect choice.  It is exactly what we needed."

ADL's Making Diversity Count curriculum will be offered to school board association members via NSBA's Technology Leadership Network Learning Portal at http://www.nsba.org/tlnlearningportal

ADL created Making Diversity Count through its A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute, a leading provider of anti-bias education and diversity training programs and resources.  The Institute seeks to help participants recognize bias and the harm it inflicts on individuals and society; explore the value of diversity; improve intergroup relations; and combat racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of prejudice and bigotry.  In 2008, its Anti-Bias and Teacher Training programs reached more than 26,000 K-12 educators, administrators and classified staff — together responsible for more than 1 million students.

The Ford Foundation and the Sylvia and Leon P. Nagin Family Foundation are founding sponsors of Making Diversity Count.

Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association (www.nsba.org) is a not-for-profit federation of state associations of school boards representing 95,000 local school board members throughout the United States. Its mission is to foster excellence and equity in public elementary and secondary education through local school board leadership. NSBA represents the school board perspective in working with federal government agencies and national organizations that impact education, and provides vital information and services to state associations of school boards throughout the nation.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.