We are disheartened and angry that systemic racism and anti-black bias of those with power and privilege goes unchecked in 2020. George Floyd and his family and so many others before him, paid the ultimate price at the hands of those using their positions of power to unleash their bias.
We, like many of you, have devoted more than a decade to advocating for the social-emotional and character education of youth. We are housed in the Center for Human and Social Development at an institution, the College of Saint Elizabeth, with a 120 year old social justice mission. Recent events call for us doubling down on those efforts. More than ever we need young people of all races to embrace unity, to learn how to respect others and raise up the worth and value of all fellow human beings. As educators we have the responsibility to teach about the history of racism in the US, the social structures of social injustice, but also change the lens of viewing people of color as less than. Do not let the structural racism in the US define who people of color are. The struggles of people of color in the US were not because of who they are, but because of what those with power and privilege imposed. As educators we need to create safe spaces to have open and honest conversations about racism. To create those spaces we need to have adults and students with strong social-emotional competence and a positive, respectful, and inclusive school and classroom climate. It is only with these dialogues that we have the hope of ever eliminating systemic racism in our country.
Together we are stronger. Recent events have provided a profound and unusual opportunity to do things differently. While acknowledging and learning from the past, we encourage all to focus on what can be. We are committed to making the journey to a more just and equitable world together, hand in hand.
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Thank you to all that were able to join us on June 3rd. We had a discussion around the following questions: In the wake of the current national unrest and increased awareness and need for discussion and learning about equity and racism, has your school/district taken any steps? What are the plans? What do you feel needs to be done? What support do you need? What do you feel will be the impact on your students? On their families? Resources shared during this meeting are available below;
click here
for information from previous SSN meetings. View the June 3rd
recording
and
chat
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VIRTUAL SSN MEETING FOR DISTRICT AND SCHOOL LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS
June 24 - 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
As new guidance is made available from the NJ DOE for the upcoming school year, we expect that district and school administrators will be busy during the months of June and July creating their plans for the launch of the next academic year. We realize that this is no easy task considering all of the complexities of ongoing health considerations, access to technology and the myriad of equity issues that have arisen during the pandemic. Please come prepared to share your ideas, learn from others and perhaps brainstorm some new ideas for making the most of a challenging situation.
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Surveys Available to Support Your School Climate Efforts
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The School Climate Assessment Lab offers access to a variety of reliable and useful tools, data analysis and reporting, and assistance with interpreting the data and creating action plans. Whether you are looking for a school climate survey or interested in assessing more specific concerns related to school re-entry in the fall or issues related to equity, we have a variety of options to assist you.
Click here
for more information on any of the following surveys.
Contact us
to discuss your needs.
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Equity and Inclusion Survey
This survey provides schools and districts with a clear picture of how students are thinking and feeling about diversity, equity, and inclusion in school. The survey can help schools and districts track the progress of equity initiatives through the lens of the student, identify areas for celebration and improvement, and signal the importance of equity and inclusion to the community.
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Reopening School Community Needs Assessment
This survey helps school districts understand and assess the needs of students, staff, and families with comprehensive feedback on distance learning, well-being, academic needs, social-emotional learning and access to resources.
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School Culture and Climate Assessment Survey
This survey provides valuable data for schools interested in improving their culture and climate.
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School Health Assessment Survey
This survey is intended for schools that have a strong focus on wellness or have a desire to make wellness a priority and need a baseline of data to get started.
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Spectrum School Climate and Bullying Prevention Survey
This survey has a specific focus on bullying prevention. It collects detailed information about bullying behavior, groups who may be at highest risk and therefore, has practical program implications.
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PD Offerings Related to Cultural Competence and Social Justice
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Our classrooms have become increasingly diverse environments which require that educators have the knowledge and skills to effectively interact with students and families with backgrounds different from their own. These changes coupled with recent real-world events have brought issues of racism, equity and social justice to the forefront of our daily conversations. These conversations will, no doubt, make their way into the classroom and as this happens, we must be prepared to have difficult but meaningful conversations in order to ensure that students feel heard, respected and safe. Workshops can be tailored to achieve objectives related to accepting and respecting differences, understanding different cultures and communication styles, and increasing self-awareness so we understand how our values and attitudes shape our interactions with others.
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EXAMPLE WORKSHOPS:
- Introduction to Cultural Competence in 21st Century Schools
- The Impact of Privilege and Implicit Bias on School Climate
- Addressing Disproportionality and Behavior through SEL
- SEL Through an Equity Lens
- Handling Difficult Conversations: Strategies to Build a Community of Respect
- Purposeful Youth Involvement to Promote Equity
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Reading Lists About Race and Social Justice
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Articles and Tips for Parents and Families
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Upcoming Webinars and Virtual PD
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"Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism. A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Kids and Families"
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Webinar: Racial Justice and Our Schools: A Blueprint for Action
Friday, June 12 at 10:00 a.m. ET
LEGAL ONE Director David Nash, George Guy, Jr., George Scott, and other speakers to be announced soon will lead the webinar to provide an overview of key legal principles and best practices related to addressing issues of racial justice, and provide participants with resources to effectively address this complex issue.
Register here
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Webinar: CASEL CARES:
SEL As a Lever for Equity and Social Justice
Friday, June 12 at 1:00 p.m. ET
In response to the painful events that have highlighted ongoing systemic racism and violence against the black community, we invite our network to attend these discussions intended to prioritize equity and discuss racial injustice through the lens of SEL. This week we discuss how we can advance SEL in ways that support districts and communities in their larger efforts toward educational equity and excellence.
Register here
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For questions about SSN meetings, contact Liz Warner
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For questions about or difficulty with registration, contact Leighann Garland
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