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Preparing our learning spaces for all!

Our rapidly changing demographic landscape has highlighted the need for educators to fine tune our ability to navigate differences among our students, our students' support systems and among our colleagues. This skill set has become as critical as educators' ability to engage and facilitate content knowledge. 

The probability of educating students from different backgrounds has increased significantly and it is common knowledge that this reality is the new norm. Given the dynamic and complicated nature of teaching and learning, individual's beliefs, assumptions and values are always at play. This rich interpersonal exchange is interwoven in adult relationships too - educational staff to family systems/parents and educational staff to educational staff. 

The lived reality of schooling more children of color and/or a more diverse student body has positioned some districts to strategically hire more professionals whom are  qualified in content and whom also look like the learning system's diverse student body/community. The diversification we are experiencing amplifies the need to intentionally build educators' efficacy and craftsmanship around cross cultural competency, educational equity and implicit bias. 

As I collaborate with many educators around the nation, here are some activating questions we ponder: 


  • Which reflective practices must we engage to become more inclusive of students and adults, especially when there is a difference...? 
  • Which practices have been most impactful in our efforts to educate all students at an optimal level? 
  •  What mechanisms/structures are in place to foster quality, collegial rapport among diverse staff and communities? 
  • What is some of my thinking pertaining my own identity and how does my identity impact my students/families and colleagues?

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