Joining Cohort 21 is something that I have been wanting to do for quite some time. We have had many teachers go through the program and have spoke so highly about it. I am looking forward to networking with like minded people and working towards a few new goals. One of the main goals I am hoping to work towards more inclusivity within CDS. Since I started here 7 years ago the school is becoming more and more diverse which I love but I feel like as the diversity continues to grow we need to find more ways to celebrate and include our staff and students.
I chose the Diversity and Inclusion strand. I hope to work towards making CDS a more inclusive place as our population becomes more and more diverse. What is urgent now is ensuring that our students and staff feel like they can be themselves. What is important to me is teaching and mentoring our student leaders to include and celebrate diversity more throughout our community. As a school, I believe that we are privileged to have a growing community when it comes to diversity but I would love to see us take advantage of the population and learn from others. We should be doing more to celebrate our different cultures, religions and our LGBTQ+ people.
So glad you joined Cohort 21! Looking forward to your posts.
Hi Geneva,
I feel like Montcrest is in a similar place as CDS with diversity (and perhaps all independent schools are). I really look forward to hearing what ideas you come up with. Cohort 21 also has a book club that is focusing on DEIJ topics, so please reach out if you’d like more information. Perhaps there may be ideas there to bring back to CDS.
Thanks so much for sharing your goals for this @gwinterink! Not sure if you can relate, but I can find it overwhelming to take on something as huge as diversity, inclusivity and equity. I was reminded not long ago that in my sphere of influence (e.g. my classroom), every small change or mindful act is important. I’ve been looking to these social justice standards (https://www.learningforjustice.org/frameworks/social-justice-standards) to help me find small opportunities to build DEI into my classroom.
. @WinterinkGeneva, Geneva thank you so much for sharing your thoughts- they mirror many important conversations that are occurring across our CIS schools. I was really struck by your line, “What is urgent now is ensuring that our students and staff feel like they can be themselves.” Truly, is there anything more urgent than that when we think about education and the crucial role of an educator right now? I don’t think so. If anyone is learning or working in a place, having to hide a part of themselves, then they are not fully present in what they are learning about or the job they are pursuing. This is not the life we want those in our buildings to be living, and we know we have to put in the work and make some big changes for your statement of urgency to be true. I am so glad you found Cohort 21 this year and that there is an expert group that you can tap into to help you in accomplishing this important goal. Please continue to share how you navigate this, as we all have something to learn from those engaging in this work.
Thanks @gwinterink for this post, and based on your thinking ” I hope to work towards making CDS a more inclusive place as our population becomes more and more diverse. What is urgent now is ensuring that our students and staff feel like they can be themselves. What is important to me is teaching and mentoring our student leaders to include and celebrate diversity more throughout our community” you are in the right place for sure.
I recommend that you (1) Step into the network effect and reach out to our coaches and facilitators and see what other schools are doing and their successes and challenges; and (2) Look inwards and examine what your sphere of impact can / might be in the DEI journey. I know that @jmedved @tjagdeo will be great resources for you!
See you soon,
Garth.
@gwinterink
Happy new year! I hope these past two weeks have been ok for you and your colleagues.
We are looking forward to connecting this weekend. If you have a free moment before Saturday; create a 2nd post that answers the following 2nd F2F reflection questions and post your HMW question.
This will be really helpful to your coaches/facilitator in their support of your Action Plan. It should not take more than 5 minutes so don’t overthink it. We just want to pile on the support and the blog is the most efficient way to do it.
1) What was the process like in coming up with your HMW question at the last face-to-face? Where did you land? Share your first attempt so we can see where your action plan is headed.
2) Who should you talk to next to help guide your inquiry? In order to answer your HWM question, what voices and perspectives need to be consulted? What did you learn when you talked to them?
3) Why are you engaging in this line of action and inquiry? What important unmet need sits central to your question?
See you Saturday!
Justin