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Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and justice at Chance School

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DEIBJ Director Corinne Kamiya shares the diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice work and learning at Chance School. She shares our school's common language, plans for next year, and more.

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teacher and director of diversity equity and inclusion belonging and Justice they're pretty nice handful that a I want to talk about what we mean when we say BJ some of the language that you might hear this year I really had a wonderful group of parents teachers and staff volunteer on a divk committee and I want to see all of their work and just to say thank you cuz they have put in so much time and work and thought into this and alongside of the work that I do and I'm very grateful to be part of us I had such an amazing and devoted community so in any didj meetings at Beacon. We always start with some Norm and so I thought that's actually like a very good practice here as well the first normal to speak from the eye perspective and this takes some practice and some attention but speaking from the I perspective means that I own my own abuse and I don't presume to speak for others and in discussions about diversity equity and inclusion and Justice like the chicoms are really important part of it as Norm is to assume positive in an addict or that means really believing that everybody is doing the best they can with the tools they have we might not have all the answers and we might make mistakes but we're all here because we want to do better and I think giving each other it's really important in this work the third is to consider Equity of voice in a conversation and thinking about how much space you think of me in any conversation really helped make sure that everyone who wants to see is her the forecast to lean into discomfort this work is often uncomfortable and we can socialize not to talk about race and racism the digging out and confronting our own bias and the blind spots that we all have is info and the human uncertainty is uncomfortable and looking at our precipitation and systems that create an equity and ingested can create guilt and shame but we must do this work and reflect on ourselves and if we have to change anything the last did to be present this work is so vulnerable and we show up if we can listen with an open heart and open heart open mind I think that's good for everyone Everton you can't School wear a school that uses a lot of common language teachers have a document that we all refer to and refresh every year and we all use his language and you hear it in every level so you won't hear a chance teacher tell us to do stop running but you will Hillary here throughout the building teachers asked children to use the rocking seat or your heel here you'll hear teachers from preschool through fifth-grade use phrases like what's the group plan or that's not it that's not a choice right now when would be a good time for that right so that the language is couched in positive discipline and developing capable young people it's language that intentionally put the child in a place of power and agency and this language is a thread that runs through our program does co-creating a language around diversity equity and inclusion belonging and Justice house to give our community of more solid foundation to teach and learn together about how we can do better and when I say you better like I think of Austin Channing Brown saying that that he had his heart is learning to be better humans to other humans and I think like the community is something that all of us can get behind this year we devoted time to having conversations with faculty staff Administration parents and refining the definitions of diversity equity and inclusion belonging and Justice wrestling how what are the parts that are difficult and uncomfortable to talk about and practicing have a conversation station brake places where we were teachers are all these groups are very vulnerable and might getting to you you know what are the pieces of shared language it took a lot of intention until and time to just get you no lights at the red out like what do we mean when we say it is and reflecting on her own practices along the way I think is the process is part of why we did this so here's the first definition this is diversity and I'm going to read this to you diversity includes but is not limited to race ethnicity national origin Creed language religion X gender identity sexual orientation family structure socioeconomic status disability and ability the value of diversity is to increase different cultures Customs interpretations and world to use your children to have more informed authentic what about relationships at home at our school and in the world and what is this practice really look like you're a couple of samples from this school year so the first picture on with the low it's around it is from intermediate and the morning message from the teacher has invited their crew members which is something that they talk about in intermediate as like we're all the crew and everybody has to contribute where are you they asked their crew members to be vulnerable about their identity and Cherokees of their identity of the children so I didn't need that made them like they said something that makes you uniquely you and they talked about what a powerful morning meeting it was where the students are parts of their identity that we're sometimes he didn't like being dyslexic or having ADHD or overcoming insecurity and I also talked about the sea price of their identity and they share them with pride and positivity and how inspiring it was to hear them speak so lovingly about themselves and the second picture is from a two year old classroom it's a selection of books and I just want to read you this and if it from the newsletter that the teacher shared and it says this selection of books displays a variety of different shades of brown people at this child at this age children noticed that we all look different it's very sincere honest questions like why is your skin darker why is your hair like that children are curious and always need to figure out why something is the way it is some of us have curly hair or straight hair some of us have all of her eyes look different and so on we talked about this as well as other attributes that make us all great people it's important that we are all represented and feel accepted in our Cottage be family we all want to see a reflection of ourselves when we turn the pages of a book and I think around diversity the specific language you might hear our voices and rolls are in 4 and you know when we do make a mistake it's a safe place to make a mistake or to ask a question the second definition is equity and this one was a for people like figuring out what the difference between equality and equity and you know we've all seen the cartoon with three of a tall people standing at the fence like what is equity and what does that mean and how does it relate to spare and so as a school we sort of Russell. what we mean and Equity music dominating and addressing the underlying gas to create fundamental disadvantages for some and prevent everyone from having access to the same opportunities Equity is about creating a air and more balanced system by providing individual need-based support Equity is not about making everyone exactly the same it's about individual relationships and systems and if you need to the need each day and Circumstance we strive to be a school that provides the structures environment and resources that detach individual needs to reach their greatest potential we recognize the inequity and it's driving for greater equity and not an endpoint so in the classroom Equity is a process as you know like as a school like any school we're not perfect but we're we are working to create a more Equitable School environment what we do have for us is that Equity is ingrained into the philosophy of the school we believe in honoring the uniqueness of each individual creating learning environment that are welcoming and create mutual respect and I think this picture on the side is from a fourth classroom and the teachers shared about children showing respect for their peers and being able to ideas with each other while staying on topic is like a goal and the picture on the other side and the children were having a discussion about immigrants and refugees I think we're a school that really emphasizes we want to teach children not what to think but how to think and creating dialogue about the stones is how we teach children to examine and critically about the system common language that you might hear around Equity is your voice matters and so if there's a problem help us name the problem so we can find a solution that works for all of us in a preschool classroom play hear everybody plays so everybody please we also promised up with the children we say you know how can we make sure everybody gets a turn and sometimes when something like really uncomfortable comes up and you hear a kid say something that makes you you know sort of go back yeah we can correct them and you can say you know that that's incorrect or that's harmful something like going to be curious about a person whose identity is different from your own but it's not okay to make judgment statement and if you want to reframe that is a question we be more than happy to hear that I think that's like a lovely way address something that you know like a pulled you back a little bit and sometimes we don't want to have conversations because we're afraid of those kinds of openings right we we get nervous about it but it's okay stay like that that made me feel uncomfortable I'm not really I think that's a great thing to model for children the next slide is our definition of inclusion inclusion is our sincere commitment to invite and make a welcoming space for all students staff families and stakeholders involved and help establish our Collective Community inclusion is the pathway toward and the foundation for each of us to feel belonging and acceptance and one thing we've done this year really with a lot of attention is including the Diversity Awareness calendar and the e-news Communications as well as sharing resources the teachers internally families are invited to share traditions that are important to them and that's all it like that has been part of the school for a long time but we really were trying to make more bridges like more connections and create an authentic bridge between home and school that enriches the learning environment for all children these pictures in particular are never learning about celebrating Diwali an important Hindu festival which you know I could we talk I had a connection to this to The Sibling was in my class and there was it was such a joyful thing for those kids to have that connection and Nina teachers and children felt like so full because it was so lovely and we want to keep doing that creating opportunities for families to connect and control it's really wonderful for a hoe local community and we want to continue this and grow this in authentic ways there was like children and Center their experiences belonging is I feel like this is like something that you care a lot and Dee eye circles right now do you want to talk about belonging and here is our definition of belonging belonging is the feeling that we should be that we are seeing and that our opinions and perspectives are welcome value and understood Alani allows us to feel safe and supported and bringing her whole authentic sells to school we strive to create an environment where students and staff and families know that they matter and they're active participants in creating positive inclusive community and here's a picture from a forest classroom in our preschool classrooms we often ask children if they like us to write their worth. and it can be a really powerful experience for children to hear their own words read back to them when somebody read what you said right back to you you feel heard and listen to you and you ask we create this environment where people like know that they matter the language around that you might hear is you know one of our common language reasonable think is so lovely as you can do hard things I believe in you and this is a place to make mistakes and we try to avoid using good or bad and use unexpected or expected and negotiable and non-negotiable or respectful or bad but like taste out the Judgment of it this last definition is Justice and justices about putting our words in the practice and treating each other with dignity and fairness Justice is all currently inactive repair the process first requires an acknowledgement that a repair is necessary and then the community must acting Coalition with one another advocating for change is not a replacement for any enacting change weave night that accountability in this work requires both transparency and vulnerability and that authentic systemic change requires Community dialogue and actionable solutions so much of this is like this is like the action piece right like we have to we have to work for it and a chance we'll want of our main values is the importance of Human Relationships stewardship for relationships is one of the most important that we can learn just as learning social skills 24in bolster academic capacities academic skills can reinforce social skills as well we often ask children to muster a sense of curiosity about their fellow humans therapy from preschool through fifth grade where they take somebody else's toy knock down a block construction or stay unkind words the list is endless of the ways that children disrupt really tips of each other but conflicts happen every single day it's part of their development and how how they learn and our work is modeling and teaching them how to make repairs with each other some children make amends with smile and that satisfies the situation they're off and playing again but others have deeper hurt feelings and you time space and Assurance of teacher safety and we're working with the imperfecta bowl and always try to send her away so you need to feel a sense of belonging and connection which are vital for the classroom Community our aim is for children to be compassionate researchers of each other and use those Wide Open Hearts us all proud and repair relationships it's so important for children to have peace and fun in a relationship and often involves clearing a pathway for for doing so and this allows them to practice the lady in their thinking and doing and they build resilience and character along the way so the ways that you can support your this work at home one of the things that we always say you know be curious children are so curious about everything the world around them is a Wonder so being serious and engaging in questions about race racism an inequity can be because there aren't a lot of easy answers but opening up the conversation and modeling for children that were still learning and growing is what we want to model for children we want to make lifelong Learners so we have to show them we are also lifelong Learners and then engage in conversation you know like just even if it sometimes you can come back to it you can say I'll get back I'm not sure you know it's okay to say like I'm not sure about that answer but I come back to it right like really come back to it and another great actions that for appearances I really look critically at the toys and books and materials in your home to make sure you're creating mirrors and windows for children to see themselves and to see people who look different from you and you know inure I think that's like a great bridge to like open up conversation and my last this is my second glass wide it's just you know that like that we have humongous list of resources on our website is a great place to start and check some things out at Chan school where we put diversity Lonnie and Justice on our strategic plans so it's of main priority for the school moving forward starting next year there will be a new divk direct I'm stepping back from this role but many ways to be involved you can volunteer for the committee you can step up to action committee you know you can let let let people know connect with your teeth prison I think we really want to make it an inviting place for all and so really it's about connecting where you know just over and over like small ways and big waves and my last line is just the it's just one of my favorite quotes as human beings our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really each of us has something that no one else has or will ever have something inside that is unique to all time it's our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing at 6 Gresham I just love Fred Rogers I feel like that's what we want to do it this work we want to be better here instead of humans and find ways to show you know to invite people I meant the last pieces doesn't need a fuse if you guys have any questions or you want to talk about something else I have time to answer questions thanks Nicole resenting just talk a lot of anybody have any questions feel free to unmuted train I don't have a car I just want to since we have all these people here I just wanted to say thank you probably for a few. I'm going to say it many times but you've done such a wonderful job leading this work and representing the school and helping to keep working so I just really appreciate that and because we have this wonderful group here I'm going to hope that you're here because you love this work too and to check out the email today we are looking for folks to be on our Board of Trustees and that's really a great place to support this work and make changes the parent so I would just so encouraged you to think about if that's something that you can do and we have a couple of board members on here that I know would love to probably chat with you about what it's like to be on the board Arthur farmer Miguel Martinez I can't quite see everybody with there on the board I know they would love to talk to you about the work that they do and also I just want to plug the plug in for being on the board is that something you might be open to continue see the chat about the effect yeah that's great I mean I feel like as the Director of the school like you see people just accessing materials more and more and that's like the first thing right is just trying to look at it with that land hey Kareem it's so first yes of course while I will miss having you in this role I don't miss the extra time for you so I'm glad that you've been doing it and I'm glad you're taking a cycle off for you but as you leave this role if you had one or two big wishes the big jumps you'd like to see us make next year or in the next two years what would you hope that comes out of the work you've been doing for the last few years but the next step I think more shared language and more of a curriculum structure would be one of the like Fast big steps like I love them like I love Pollyanna rain and it has all these really like small lessons but when we talked about them in conjunction with with another it's a it's like a building block to like how to have these like difficult conversations and I also love like the antivirus work nasty like Macy's anti-bias curriculum and I think that that would be a great thing to think about as a training on that and you know our own the last two years we really done a lot of internal work for teachers and lots of training for teachers and I think it requires a little bit of courageousness you might make a mistake you know and that's and that's like as a teacher and like a parent like you can like that but you know I didn't do that right when you go back almost like I feel like having the pieces of like the logging and like it's okay to make mistakes like I think that's like a really important that you know at the school is like I just think it's super valuable and it dovetails in with what we try to teach our kids all the time right is it's okay to make mistakes in math that it's okay to make a mistake when read and so it's good that it feels your hearts are big and you don't want to miss make a mistake here but you also don't learn if you don't reach so that all makes great sense thank you I got buns over here I also think like really doing the intention to my daughter my daughter has been through the whole program. and last year we read One Crazy Summer I have to go back and make sure I have my history right so that we can talk about it you know like as a person like you have I feel like Abigail has a question curious if the committee is feeling supported by the broader School Community or if you're getting a lot of pushback I mean in general I feel real I feel like we're trying to get it right the definitions was really about trying to create like a baseline of like we're not at school that's going to dogmatic and push things you do like that aren't in line with the school's values and I think working in committee to get to that to get to that place where we had the cold you know like 30 people volunteer and we have these meetings on Saturday it was lovely you know like we all are engaging in this working like doing identity work together I think that has been super valuable thank you Amy no thank you Glenn that's lovely I mean I really like I really do believe in that you know I put my own daughter through this whole program because if you want to have critical thinkers like people who you know as a preschool teacher like I always say it's okay cuz you want to be how to be a human that question things and you don't always have to agree with me great I think it if there are any other questions you can hang out but I think that's that's like pretty much the end of you know unless anybody wants to ask anything else sir hey Kareem this is Miko I don't have any questions but thank you so much for all you've done we really appreciate all of your efforts and work are the past 2 years thank you baby we set up really well going forward great I'm going to I'm going to stay mahalo get back to your family thank you you did such a good job I have no there's a lot we love you. Really well. I might not be able to stop the actual recording until I get back home so you know it might hang out for a little bit but added it to the end thank you thanks for coming everybody like your family crane

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Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and justice at Chance School

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