Creating a School Culture of Racial Equity

Knowledge of Self Organizational Trust Strength Based Mind Set The Protocol Four Foundational Pillars to Creating a School Culture of Racial Equity

Knowledge of Self (Beliefs to Actions)

Knowledge of Self Growing up poor in MS Childhood sacrifices for the family Mixed messages from mom and dad about education My decision to get a good education and become and education

Knowledge of Self (Beliefs to Actions) Guiding Questions? What influenced you to either go into the educational field and/or work for the benefit of our youth?

Knowledge of Self (Beliefs to Action) My beliefs: I believe that all students are capable of learning. I believe that regardless of how the students come through our school doors, it is our jobs to connect with them and make sure they get a quality education. All students will learn at my school because of my belief that it is the educators’ responsibility to educate.

Knowledge of Self (Beliefs to Actions) My actions: My actions reflect my beliefs. Ex1: Assemblies Ex2: Field Trips Ex3: Rituals and Routines

Knowledge of Self (Beliefs to Actions) What are examples of inequalities you have witnessed or heard of in our schools? How should we, the educators, respond?

Organizational Trust The belief in the integrity, character, and ability of a leader Reciprocal faith in one’s intentions and behaviors A confident reliance on the integrity, honesty, or justice of another The role of interpersonal trust within work groups and work teams can also be seen as an aspect of organizational trust

First Year- First Steps EOY staff meeting One-on-one meeting Grade level team meetings Expanded leadership team to racial equity team My racial biography, my journey, my vision Assess “The Work” at The Heights

What Got Us Here Won’t Get Us There District Policies Racial Equity Gender Inclusion Racial Equity Leadership Team Supports Beyond Diversity The Protocol (revisited)

Benefits Increases staff performance There is a high degree of accountability Transparency is a practiced value Information is shared openly People are authentic Mistakes are tolerated and encouraged as a way of learning People talk honestly and confront real issues Fewer meetings after the meetings High energy level

Benefits (con’t) Organizational justice: Distributive justice - the perceived fairness of outcomes within the school Procedural justice- the perceived fairness in the process of reaching decisions about distributing outcomes Interactional justice - the perceived fairness of interpersonal interactions and treatment in the organization

Strengths Based Mind Set

Strength Based Mind Set All people have strengths: one of the only countries in the world that focuses on areas of weakness as a priority instead of focuses on strengths to enhance the areas of growth. Personal/Local and Immediate at Four Seasons A+ Elementary: Modeling- Formal evaluations for educators.

Strength Based Guiding Question? What strength do you bring to the table as a leader for racial equity? How can you use this strength to enhance an area of growth?

Strength Based Mind Set Student Strength Based: Changing from a deficit model to a strength based… Personal/Local Immediate at Four Seasons A+ Elementary: ELL/SPED students focusing on strengths with high expectations.

Strength Based Guiding Question? Think of a student who you feel is marginalized in your school and identify one of their strengths. How would you help them use this strength to enhance an area of growth?

Strength Based Resources Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath

The Protocol

Creating a Culture of Love My Job - It’s my job to love you! Your Job - It’s your job to love each other!