Faces of Midland: Tracy Renfro
Faces of Midland is a collaborative storytelling project celebrating the vibrant lives of those who live, work, and thrive in Midland.
We All Belong
Tracy Renfro’s celebrates diversity in the schools
By Trisha Fenby
Photo by Renee’ Deckrow, Captured Studio
Tracy Renfro grew up in a predominantly white community and didn’t encounter much diversity until she moved to Arizona, where she lived for twelve years. While teaching in Arizona, she worked with many Indigenous and Hispanic children. A defining moment came when a young boy from an Indigenous community did not return home after school. Concerned, Mrs. Renfro drove to his home to check on him. Her colleagues were shocked by what they saw as a risky decision and urged her not to do it again, for her own safety. Renfro was surprised by their reaction. To her, the Indigenous neighborhood was no different than any other.
In 2002 she returned to Michigan and accepted an assistant principal position at Jefferson Middle School, and worked at Northeast and both High Schools until becoming the principal of Chestnut Hill Elementary in 2008 where she remained until 2023.
While at Chestnut Hill, Renfro observed that students from diverse cultural backgrounds often faced misunderstandings due to their traditional dress or dietary practices. One moment stood out during Spirit Week. Renfro recalls, “Students were encouraged to dress up, and while some wore superhero costumes, others arrived in traditional attire from their home countries.” The contrast sparked confusion among students, highlighting a gap in cultural awareness.
Renfro responded by launching the “We All Belong” event, designed to foster understanding and appreciation for the many cultures represented in the school. Families were invited to share their traditions, food, and crafts. The event became a vibrant celebration of identity and inclusion.
“I saw it at lunchtime,” Renfro recalls, “Depending on their background the kids might be fasting or might be eating the same thing all the time that looked different from what others ate.” The kids were curious but didn’t know how to talk around it.
This inspired Renfro to do something fun for the students, to learn about their peers. She reached out to parents and other community members to gather representation from around the world. She met with teachers and gathered a group to organize and promote the event. The first We All Belong event took place in February of 2020, just before the world shut down.
Families came in their traditional dress; they brought authentic food. The students and their families gathered to enjoy the experience. Through lessons learned, the next year the students were given a passport, and it was stamped at each table they visited. Each representative had an activity, craft, or question for the students when they visited. The International families were so proud to share their culture and extremely thankful.
For Renfro, creating a safe environment for learning is essential, and fostering a sense of belonging is just as important. Her work reminds us that empathy, curiosity, and celebration of difference are at the heart of inclusive education.