The Equity Leadership Group

Well, the tide has surely shifted for some people in the U.S. regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion!  For those who are K-12 school leaders, questions are being raised about the sustainability of educational equity initiatives. How do we remain committed? How does our commitment (or lack thereof) affect our students and larger school community? How do we develop a longevity mindset in the equity journey? These are questions worth raising, worth considering, and worth discussing. In this post, I share 3 tips for K-12 school leaders who have a desire to stay committed to educational equity/diversity, equity, and inclusion, amidst an anti-DEI climate. TIP #1) VERBALIZE YOUR LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT: What is your level of commitment for educational equity? Does your level of commitment require others to fully show up and actively participate? Define and articulate your vision for educational equity to the students, staff, and parents within your school community. Share your commitment statement with confidence, clarity and with courage. TIP #2: SHOWCASE THE RESULTS: What results were achieved because of your district’s commitment to DEI? Perhaps the equity committee helped teachers to increase an anti-biased mindset in working with students with disabilities. Or the DEI administrator and team fostered a restorative, non-punitive school culture, thus helping to decrease disproportionate discipline outcomes. Share your wins and accomplishments within your PR & marketing campaigns. Let people know how your commitment to DEI has helped to improve school improvement outcomes. TIP #3) BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS: Who are your local elected officials who support diversity, equity, and inclusion? Are there councilmen/aldermen, committeemen, and mayors within your city who support diversity, equity, and inclusion? What opportunities exist for you all to collaborate and build healthy coalitions? Initiate contact and schedule a meeting with the purpose of demonstrating how student outcomes have improved as a result of effectively implementing DEI initiatives.  ********************************************************************************* What other tips can you add to this list to help school leaders develop an unwavering spirit for educational equity? ********************************************************************************* Follow @The Equity Leadership Group or visit https://lnkd.in/gjz5de89 for more information!

Good day and welcome to Episode 69 of The Equity Experience Podcast! In today’s episode, we have an informative and empowering conversation about equity for Black males in K-12 and higher education. Let’s welcome Alan Baker, Ed. D. , Nathaniel Smith, and Dramaine Freeman and their insights and perspectives! In this episode, we have an in-depth conversation about: 🌟Defining 'educational equity' and educational equity for black males 🌟Unpacking the lived experiences and challenges of Black men in higher education 🌟 Exploring the barriers of access that Black men may experience in college 🌟 Identifying the assets, strengths, and culturally responsive solutions in the context of Black male academic success 🌟Discussing accountability and educational equity 🎧🎤Listen to this episode to receive insights, perspectives, and recommendations to help us create strong educational equity learning spaces for our Black boys. https://lnkd.in/gNQK3fMJ

The Equity Leadership Group is excited to be in full effect! This weekend, we were in Arlington, Virginia representing at the Faculty Women of Color Conference and it was such a pleasure to meet so many amazing, accomplished, and intellectual women! The Equity Leadership Group is eager to partner with individuals and educational institutions who are READY FOR THE WORK🤓🤓 Visit https://lnkd.in/gjz5de89 for more information. To confirm a date and time on my calendar, please schedule here: https://lnkd.in/dG7ETR4r All Eyes on Equity! ~Dr. Karla

Thank you for sharing and uplifting LaGarrett King ✨✨

A major way to celebrate Black history, particularly with children, is to read culturally relevant texts with them about the Black experience.  Here are some recommended texts that parents, teachers, and youth workers can read with their elementary-aged children: 📚Book 1: Tar Beach, features the work of the amazing Faith Ringgold and tells the story of Cassie Louise Lightfoot who dreams from the rooftop of her family's Harlem apartment building, belovedly nicknamed Tar Beach. 📚Book 2: The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds, celebrates a little boy named Jerome who discovers the magic of the words all around him. 📚Book 3: The Year We Learned to Fly, written by Jacqueline W. and illustrated by Rafael López. 📚Book 4: Change Sings: A Children's Anthem, written by presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman and Illustrated by Loren Long, takes us on a musical journey that shows us that when we join our voices, we can make a difference. 📚Book 5: The Artivist, by Nikkolas Smith, tells the story of a young one who is moved to action after noticing the injustices in the world. He brings his art and activism together to help heal what's broken by using his gifts, and his murals go viral! We can learn from him how to both be inspired and inspire others. 📚Book 6: Hey Black Child, by Useni Eugene Perkins is a compilation of poems, empowering words, and love letters written to Black children. This poem had been mistakenly attributed to Countee Cullen and Maya Angelou, but Useni Eugene Perkins is the true poet. It was first written in 1975 as the closing song for his children's musical, Black Fairy and Other Plays. 📚Book 7:  Cassie's Word Quilt authored and illustrated by Faith Ringgold.  📚Book 8: Today's book is The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline W. This book tells the story of childlike experiences growing up in Brookly, NYC. 📚Book 9: Today's book, Hair Love, tells the story of a dad styling his daughter's hair for an extra special occasion.   This book is especially important, not only because of the beautiful depiction of the relationship between a Black daddy and daughter but also because of the discrimination often experienced by Black folks with natural hairstyles. 📚Book 10: The Me I Choose to Be, is an amazingly beautiful book that celebrates possibility and potential. It's filled with photo collage illustrations by Regis and Kahran Bethencourt. Source, Inspiration, and Compilation of Book List: Afrika Afeni Mills ************************************************** The Equity Leadership Group consists of a dedicated and talented team of K-12 educators, school leaders, and academic researchers who are available to support your instructional staff. We are eager to partner with school district leaders whose students would benefit from having culturally responsive texts to learn, read, and grow with. 🌱🌿 💻Schedule a discovery call today to begin the conversation: 📞https://lnkd.in/dG7ETR4r

**Did you know?** Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been vital institutions in shaping the educational landscape and advancing opportunities for Black Americans since the 19th century. The bulk of HBCUs were established between 1865 and 1900, with the highest concentration emerging in 1867, just two years following the Emancipation Proclamation. Established during a time of segregation and limited access to education for Black individuals, HBCUs emerged as beacons of hope and progress. The first HBCU, Cheyney University, was founded in 1837, paving the way for a network of institutions dedicated to providing quality education to Black students. Today, there are over 100 HBCUs across the United States, serving diverse communities and offering a wide range of academic programs. These institutions enroll approximately 300,000 students annually and have produced notable alumni in various fields, including politics, arts, science, and business. HBCUs were founded with a mission to empower Black individuals through education, providing them with opportunities for intellectual growth, leadership development, and socio-economic advancement. These institutions have played a crucial role in nurturing talent, fostering a sense of community, and challenging systemic barriers to achieve educational equity. HBCUs have nurtured remarkable talents such as myself, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Oprah Winfrey, Thurgood Marshall, Spike Lee, and Kamala Harris, among many others. As we celebrate Black History Month and honor the contributions of HBCUs, let's recognize the resilience, innovation, and excellence that define these institutions. Together, let's continue to support and uplift the legacy of HBCUs for generations to come! I want to hear from you. Reflecting on the contributions and impact of HBCUs, how do you think these institutions shaped not only the lives of their students but also the trajectory of American history and culture? Write in the comments below!

 🌟Welcome to the Equity Experience Podcast! 🌟 On today's episode, Dr. Karla is sharing 6 ways that K-12 school leaders and educators can support and affirm Black students, 365. Here are some tips that K-12 principals and superintendents can keep at the forefront to help support students all year around:⁠ 1) Identify disproportionate outcomes in data specific to black students 2) Create a racially inclusive school culture that is not anti-black 3) Examine reasons for low recruitment and retainment of Black teachers, principals and staff 4) Diversify classroom and school library with black authors and artists 5) Organize an African American Parent Task Force 6) Conduct a Black Studies Curriculum Audit ************************************************************************** 🎧LISTEN TO EPISODE 68 HERE 🎤https://lnkd.in/gM68W5tf

In celebrating Black History Month, it's essential to recognize the monumental contributions of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a pioneering figure in African American education and historiography. Born in 1875, Woodson rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential Black scholars of his time. His tireless efforts to uplift Black educational leaders and promote the study of Black history have left an indelible mark on American academia.   Woodson's passion for education led him to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University, becoming just the second African American to do so. In 1915, he founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), dedicated to promoting research and understanding of Black history and culture. Woodson's vision culminated in the establishment of Negro History Week in 1926, which later evolved into Black History Month.   Through his scholarly works, including "The Mis-Education of the Negro" and "The Negro in Our History," Woodson challenged prevailing narratives of Black inferiority and highlighted the significant contributions of African Americans to the fabric of American society. His advocacy for inclusive and accurate historical education laid the groundwork for future generations of Black educators and leaders. ********************************************************************************* As a K-12 teacher or school leader, how do you keep the intellectual legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson alive in your classroom? Feel free to comment below!

Happy Black History Month! Here are some tips that K-12 principals and superintendents can keep at the forefront to help support students all year around: ⁠ ✅ 1) Identify disproportionate outcomes in data specific to black students – According to a 2020 study by The Learning Policy Institute, Black students lost 103 days per 100 students enrolled, which is 82 more days than the 21 days their White peers lost due to out-of-school suspensions. Disproportionate outcomes in student data may be at play in discipline rates, academic rates, special education placements, and graduation rates. ⁠ ✅ 2) Create a racially inclusive school culture that is not anti-black - Leaders can create a school culture that promotes psychological safety for Black students by changing practices to be more culturally responsive and affirming (i.e. removing hair bans, book bans, exclusionary & punitive discipline practice.). ⁠ ✅ 3) Examine reasons for low recruitment and retainment of Black teachers, principals and staff- Oftentimes school districts will reflect on their inability to hire and retain a Black staff. It can be helpful for district leaders to develop specific strategies that are aimed at recruiting, hiring, and retaining Black employees. This may look like identifying biases in performance reviews, offering equitable compensation and salary benefits, and supporting equitable promotion opportunities. ✅ 4) Diversify classroom and school library with black authors and artists.  When teachers are intentional about providing students with curricular materials that represent their cultural and racial identities, there are more opportunities for students to advance in their literacy comprehension, fluency levels, and becoming better readers overall. ⁠ ✅5) Organize an African American Parent Task Force-.  An African American Parent Task force can be established with the charge of helping to close opportunity and achievement gaps for Black students. A task force can be made up of parents, educators, and community leaders who dedicate their time to strategizing on ways to improve outcomes for African American students and educators. ⁠ ✅6) Conduct a Black Studies Curriculum Audit-.  A Black Studies Curriculum audit assesses and investigates a school district’s K-12 history curriculum in regard to the following questions: Does the district's curricular material, no matter the format, contain a current unit on African American history? Does the district's curricular material, no matter the format, contain a current unit on African American history? (Questions Accessed from the Illinois State Board of Education, 2017, The Black History Curriculum Task Force Report: Statewide Survey Results). While Black History Month is about celebration, school district leaders can ensure that they are implementing practices to help improve educational outcomes for Black students, 365.

Today, The Equity Leadership Group enjoyed leading a workshop with a group of assistant principals. Our topic for today was “Using Data & Disproportionality Analysis to Advance Educational Equity”. The purpose of this workshop to teach school leaders about disproportionality, what it means for educational practices, and how to calculate disproportionality. K-12 School Leaders should be concerned about disproportionate student outcomes because this analysis process provides an opportunity to identify and reflect on equity gaps that may exist. For example, a dispro analysis can determine if Black male students are experiencing inequities or disparities with discipline referrals and suspension rates. A dispro analysis can also help to determine if there are gender or racial disparities with students having access to advanced coursework (more boys being referred to honors class than girls; more White and Asian students being referred to the AP program compared to Black & Latino students) After this workshop, participants will learn how to: 🔑Define disproportionality and its relationship to educational equity 🔑Identify biased-based beliefs and their relationship to disproportionate student outcomes 🔑Acquire three (3) formulas associated with disproportionality 🔑Calculate data to determine if disproportionality exists 🔑Reflect on calculated findings and discuss findings with an equity lens **************************************************************************** The Equity Leadership Group is a consultant firm partnering with school district leaders, university faculty, and nonprofit leaders. We support in our clients in helping them to achieve educational equity with our training, coaching, and consulting services. We provide customized staff development workshops, learning resource guides, and small teams coaching. Contact us today to get the conversation started! https://lnkd.in/dG7ETR4r