Emphasizing Equity within School Climate
By Jason Benfield, Equity Training Specialist (ETS) for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Office of School Climate and Culture (OSCC) & the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) have come together to collaborate on a 4-part Equity Data Training Series for school Leadership Teams and Climate Coaches. Both offices have partnered with Dr. Ivory Toldson & Dr. Natasha McClendon in order to better understand how to position our quantitative and qualitative data to produce the best educational outcomes for students using a humanizing framework to promote educational Equity. This framework focuses on school teams looking at data holistically, using thoughtful humanizing analysis and compassionate understanding.
During the first session, held in February, school leaders were introduced to the humanizing framework. From there, participants were able to gain a deeper understanding of the role of data in education and learn the importance of using people to understand data and not data to understand people. As a result, school leaders, by looking at their own school specific data, were able to gain new insights into what their students and staff were saying and develop strategies for using the data effectively to make change.
The second session took participants through SDP’s Equity Framework, specifically focusing on the Equity Definition and application of the Equity Lens in decision making processes. After understanding the Equity Framework, school leaders engaged in learning about the importance of good data to promote equity and belonging in schools. In order to better understand good data, school leaders then looked at their school specific Student Well Being Survey data and engaged in thoughtful analysis in order to start developing, or updating, school based equity goals by looking at how they can continue to remove barriers, increase access & inclusions, and continue to build trusting relationships with their students and staff, through a shared culture of social responsibility, starting with our marginalized populations.
In the third session, school leaders will continue to analyze their school specific Student Well-being Survey data and apply that information to reflect on their School Improvement Plans. This analysis focuses on keeping our students at the center of our decisions to ensure we are using evidence-based practices that support all students achieving academic success. During the 4th, and final, session, school leaders will return to use their school specific data to go beyond their specific school walls and look at using the data to learn how to best engage families and the school community as a whole. As a result, school leaders will action plan on building connections with the entire school community based on data and evidence-based practices.
We could not be more excited about the collaboration between the two offices and for providing opportunities for our school leaders to learn more about using good data to provide more equitable opportunities for our students.
Resources and Links
Recent Comments