MARIN COUNTY SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS Cultural Proficiency Training

Cultural Proficiency vs. Cultural Competence Cultural proficiency is a paradigm shift from viewing cultural differences as problematic to learning how to interact effectively with other cultures Cultural competence is the behavior that aligns with standards that move an organization or an individual toward culturally proficient interactions Source: Cultural Proficiency: A Manual for School Leaders, by Randall B.Lindsey, Kikanza Nuri Robins, and Raymond D. Terrell

Culture and Diversity

Avoid the Negative Cultural destructiveness: eliminating other people’s cultures Cultural incapacity: believing in the superiority of one’s own culture and behaving in ways that disempowered another’s culture Cultural blindness: acting as if cultural differences do not matter or as if there are no differences among and between cultures CULTURALLY PROFICIENCY:TOOLS FOR SCHOOL LEADERS By Kikanza Nuri ‐ Robins, Delores B.Lindsey, Raymond D.Terrell, and Randall B. Lindsey

Valuing diversity means accepting and respecting differences. People come from unique backgrounds, and their customs, thoughts, ways of communicating, values, traditions, and institutions vary accordingly. The choices that individuals make are powerfully affected by culture. Cultural experiences influence choices that range from recreational activities to subjects of study. Even how one chooses to define family is determined by culture. Culture and Diversity

How to change the paradigm

Practice Think about an experience you had where your preconceptions about a specific culture made you judge a person based on you own beliefs. Was your judgment fair and certain? Why? Write your thoughts

And… Why is it so important? Being competent in cross–cultural functioning means learning new patterns of behavior and effectively applying them in the appropriate settings, allowing us to look through the cultural lens to better serve students from diverse populations.

More than 4 million elementary and secondary students in the U.S. are English-language learners (ELL) By 2050 “minority” students will account for approximately 57 percent of the student population, largely due to the increase of Latinos and Asians. In California, 21.6 % of the students enrolled in public schools are ELL In Marin County, 13.9 % of the students enrolled in public schools are ELL English Language Learners

English Learners in Public Schools: 2013 Data Source: As cited on kidsdata.org, California Dept. of Education, DataQuest (April 2014).As cited on kidsdata.org

Students living in poverty In 2012, 31 million children each school day received low-cost or free lunches across the nation. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Between July, 2013, and June, 2014, 130 percent of the poverty level is $30,615 for a family of four; 185 percent is $43,568. Students participating in the free lunch program 2013: California = 58% Marin County = 26%

Student Eligibility to Receive Free or Reduced Price School Meals: 2013 Data Source: As cited on kidsdata.org, California Dept. of Education, Free/Reduced Price Meals Program & CalWORKS Data Files (Feb. 2014); U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES Digest of Education Statistics (Feb. 2014).As cited on kidsdata.org

IMPLICATIONS Video: National Title I Conference Cortisol and Stress: Brain Research and Learning – Tara Brown

High Expectations and Poverty A real story from Marin County By Isaac Cohem

This is also in Marin County

Questions

Remember to use your cultural proficiency glasses “Once you have learned how to be sensitive to the students’ distinctive backgrounds, experiences and learning styles, you will view them this way without the aid of your special glasses, because the essential elements of cultural proficiency will serve you as especial glasses for recognizing each student individual and unique cultural background.” Source: Delores B. Lindsey, Randall B. Lindsey, Raymond D. Terrell

Essential Elements Culturally proficient people may not know all there is to know about others who are different from them, but they know how to take advantage of teachable moments, how to ask questions without offending, and how to create an environment that is welcoming to diversity and to change. Assess Culture Value Diversity Recognize and celebrate Source: The Essential Elements of Cultural Proficiency Culturally Proficient: A Manual for School Leaders by Randy Lindsay

MCSV CONTACTS Pamela Franklin Melissa Marvan Anne Kellogg Mariana Lopez Karen Bennett Alicia Main Office Phone: