The St. Louis Park School District is committed to achieving racial equity across all levels of the district. Administrators have implemented training programs to increase staff awareness of racial issues and promote culturally responsive teaching practices. Equity coaches work with teachers to interrupt historical patterns of inequity. The district also uses cluster grouping and targeted recruitment to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups. During visits to district offices and a high school class, the author observed signs of focus on racial equity, such as diversity materials and conversations incorporating equity protocols. Students reported having multiple discussions about race across their classes. The superintendent's leadership is credited for driving the district's equity vision throughout the entire system.
The St. Louis Park School District is committed to achieving racial equity across all levels of the district. Administrators have implemented training programs to increase staff awareness of racial issues and promote culturally responsive teaching practices. Equity coaches work with teachers to interrupt historical patterns of inequity. The district also uses cluster grouping and targeted recruitment to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups. During visits to district offices and a high school class, the author observed signs of focus on racial equity, such as diversity materials and conversations incorporating equity protocols. Students reported having multiple discussions about race across their classes. The superintendent's leadership is credited for driving the district's equity vision throughout the entire system.
The St. Louis Park School District is committed to achieving racial equity across all levels of the district. Administrators have implemented training programs to increase staff awareness of racial issues and promote culturally responsive teaching practices. Equity coaches work with teachers to interrupt historical patterns of inequity. The district also uses cluster grouping and targeted recruitment to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups. During visits to district offices and a high school class, the author observed signs of focus on racial equity, such as diversity materials and conversations incorporating equity protocols. Students reported having multiple discussions about race across their classes. The superintendent's leadership is credited for driving the district's equity vision throughout the entire system.
The St. Louis Park School District is committed to achieving racial equity across all levels of the district. Administrators have implemented training programs to increase staff awareness of racial issues and promote culturally responsive teaching practices. Equity coaches work with teachers to interrupt historical patterns of inequity. The district also uses cluster grouping and targeted recruitment to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups. During visits to district offices and a high school class, the author observed signs of focus on racial equity, such as diversity materials and conversations incorporating equity protocols. Students reported having multiple discussions about race across their classes. The superintendent's leadership is credited for driving the district's equity vision throughout the entire system.
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Racial Equity St Louis Park District Office and High School
St Louis Park Schools is committed to racial equity by aligning instruction,
curriculum and assessment in a culturally relevant manner to ensure that all students meet or exceed rigorous academic standards without demographically predictable results. Focus question and Plan of action The purpose of this walk through is to learn what the district administration is doing to meet this goal of racial equity and if it reaching the classroom. I will walk through the district office, high school and a classroom in search of evidence to support the focus question. I will have conversations with administrators, teachers and students to see what they are doing with race equity, if it is working and what are their thoughts. I will share results and have a conversation with my supervisor upon conclusion of this activity. Walk through Superintendents office Visuals: Courageous Conversations table tent on table, racially diverse pictures on walls of office, Courageous Conversations Compass on back of name badge. Conversation: What are you doing regarding race equity? Isolating race as a factor in learning and having the courage to talk about it. Ensuring that all staff members go through Beyond Diversity Training within the next 3 years, currently all cabinet members, principals, most teachers and some support staff have completed training. Have replaced instructional coaches with equity coaches and tied them to Q Comp goals. Sending building principals and assistant principals to Mankato State to take part in a cohort to increase racial competency in leadership and it is paid for by the district. Director of Human Recourses Office Visuals: Courageous Conversations table tent taped to the back of computer. Conversation: What are you doing regarding race equity? Creating a systemic process to recruit and retain racially diverse staff. Directing professional development to improve racial awareness. Teaching and Learning Office
Visuals: Courageous Conversations table tent taped to wall, many
racially diverse pictures. Conversation: What are you doing regarding race equity? Professional development in race equity. Equity coaches that support staff to achieve instructional goals that interrupt historical patterns of inequity and work to develop racial consciousness and embrace new ways of thinking that break down systemic racism so that all students receive an equitable education. Total School Cluster Grouping Pilot Project which is believed will increase the number of students from underrepresented groups as being identified as gifted. Weekly Cabinet Meeting and Principal Meeting, Special Ed Lead Meeting Visuals: Courageous Conversations table tents on table. Conversation: Every meeting starts with a Grounding in Equity exercise and with members responding using the protocol. AP Spanish Class Visuals: Courageous Conversations Compass handout taped to the wall, Courageous Conversations Protocol handout taped to the wall, many posters of diverse images and locations taped to the wall. Conversation with teacher: Have you had Beyond Diversity Training? Yes. Have you had conversations with your students about race, racism or racial equity? Yes. Have you had conversations with other teachers about race? Yes. Do you think it is important to talk about race? Yes Do you think SLP spends too much time, not enough time or the right amount of time talking about race? The right amount of time. Conversation with Students: 32 juniors and seniors. I asked them to raise their hand if the question read was true. Have you had at least one conversation in any class this year about race, racism or racial equity? 32 yes. Have you had 2 or more conversations? 28 yes. Have you had 3 or more conversations? 22 yes. Do you think it is important to talk about race? 29 yes. Asked students for the following 3 questions only answer once Do you think SLP spends too much time talking about race? 9 yes. Do you think SLP needs to spend more time talking about race? 4 yes
Do you think SLP spends the right amount of time talking about race? 19 yes.
Key Learning and take away
During my short time at St Louis Park Schools I have seen many examples of how they are committed to race equity and providing an equitable education for all students. This starts with the courageous leadership of the superintendent who has worked diligently to bring the school board, his cabinet, his administrators and his staff on board with his vision. Throughout my conversations with staff members, several of them commented that if you are uncomfortable talking about race then you will probably not enjoy working at SLP because it is everywhere. I have seen this first hand because in just about every meeting Ive been in Ive heard people racialize their voices or talk about race. I feel fortunate that I am doing my internship in a district that is committed to race equity and is authentically using the same strategies and protocol I have learned in my Educational Leadership program. I have learned that that race equity can be done and is not just something theoretical that I learned in the classroom. I believe that SLP is well on its way to becoming a racially equitable school district.
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