In recent years, “equity” has become a buzz word and popular topic in K-12 schools, higher education, businesses, and even in religious organizations. A common definition is that whereas “equality” results in giving everyone the same thing, “equity” equates to giving individuals what they need. In schools, equity results in treating all children fairly and … Continue reading Equity: A Practical Guide for Educators
This article was co-authored with Katya Mocalis. For more resources or if you have any questions, please contact her at kmocalis@illuminateed.com or Dr. Gail Thompson at gthompson@illuminateed.com. ***** A high school teacher in Southern California was shocked one day to learn that one of her students had used a permanent marker to draw a swastika on … Continue reading What You Can Do When the Swastika Appears in Your Classroom
The Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is home to a variety of identities and ethnic groups. But most of the time when the media mentions the AAPI community, they truncate it to mean specifically East Asians. Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are the most commonly referred to demographics when discussing Asian identity in the … Continue reading Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders (AAPI): The Need for Data Disaggregation
During my travels conducting professional development workshops at conferences and in schools throughout the U.S., one of the main complaints that I hear from teachers and school leaders pertains to “student misbehavior.” Although they start their careers with high hopes and a desire to help students succeed, as a result of student misbehavior, many educators—especially those … Continue reading Transform Your Classroom with a Culturally Responsive Curriculum
Back when I was in jail and probation—serving as an assistant principal for a charter school network based within the system—I saw a lot of students from various backgrounds shuffling through. Since I was the AP, referrals were pretty consistent. The reasons were like how the ol’ saying goes, “If I only had a dime … Continue reading Ditch “The Book” & Use Restorative Principles for Interventions
Santee Education Complex is a high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), located in South Central Los Angeles. It was built in 2005 with the special distinction of being the first new four-year high school to open in LAUSD in over 35 years. Immediately after its opening, Santee dealt with issues around … Continue reading How a Low-Achieving School Uses Data to Drive Success
Although President Donald Trump has promised to “make America great again,” the truth is that America has never reached its potential to be a great nation for many U.S. residents. This is especially true for its “stepchildren”—students who have been historically underserved by the U.S. public school system. Test scores, graduation rates, dropout rates, grade-level … Continue reading Becoming Fearless, Serious & Strategic About Equity in Schools