Crockett Cougar Chatter
June 2020
A Letter to our Community
Crockett Community,
As the deaths of Georgy Floyd, Mike Ramos, Breonna Taylor, and many other love ones who have lost their lives due to the systemic racism that permeates the institutions that sustain our nation have unfolded, our community is feeling the emotional weight of the impacts that these events are having across our city, state, and nation. We are always thinking about what we can do to improve the care and support of our staff and students and want to find ways to do what's right for our students and, in particular our Black community.
As a white woman with a multi-racial family and a partner who is a Black police officer, our conversations at home have been hard, and currently are becoming even more worrisome for our community. I am grateful that Crockett ECHS spent this year laying the foundation regarding race equity work. This work was launched because we were responding to the needs of a group of our Black students who were directly experiencing racism. Those students came to me, confided in me and pushed me to action last year. This resulted in our partnership with the Austin ISD Cultural Proficiency and Inclusiveness Team to provide our entire staff training in Isolating Race and Speaking Up against bias. That work made us stronger and empowered our staff and, more importantly, it empowered our students to be positioned to respond in this moment and the school year to come. In a short time, our Students Organized for Anti Racism (SOAR) have become ambassadors at a campus, district, and national level. The work doesn't stop here though. This is life long work and, in order for us to tackle these conversations with our students, we must all continue to educate ourselves.
This work aligns with our Crockett vision and mission (above) - empowering an inclusive community, leading with courage, compassion and service, and collaborating with people of different beliefs and cultures. As a school community, it is our responsibility to understand that our system is intertwined with the history of our country, state, and city in the form of policies, beliefs, and practices that marginalize Black students, staff, and families. At Crockett, we have begun the work of reimagining and dismantling these systems and practices, however we must acknowledge that there is still work to be done as this history lives in our building today. As our work continues, we will continue to educate and train our staff in interrupting bias in all spaces. We will continue to reflect and change the way we respond to behavior at an individual and policy level in a way that is preventative and maximizes student learning and repair of harm. We will recruit and retain a diverse teaching staff that is reflective on their craft and committed to the belief that it is possible to normalize high achievement for all students. We will continue to change our curriculum to reflect the true, diverse, lived experiences and history of our students and recognize their power to be liberators of change in their community. Most importantly, we understand we must do this work with humility and we will create opportunities to hear multiple perspectives so we do not cause harm to our community.
This summer, some of our staff will be engaged in a book study for How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. Additionally, Austin ISD will be hosting a Social Emotional Learning Symposium next week that is equity centered. Participants will gain access to sessions that provide opportunities for critical self reflection. We know that this work goes beyond training and professional development. This work will truly live and breathe in each and every interaction and decision we make as leaders and staff members, and ultimately be evidenced in equitable outcomes for our students.
The Crockett administrative team recognizes our community is in pain and we are here for you.
We have always stood together and supported one another, and that solidarity is very much needed right now! As much as we, the adults, sometimes struggle to make sense of what is happening, we know our students may not understand their world right now and we wanted to provide the Crockett families with some resources you can use to discuss the current news.
With so much love,
Kori Crawford, Principal, and the Crockett Administrative Team (Travis Barrett, Jordan Benson, Tiffany Farris, Cynthia Julian, and Shana King)
Mental Health Resources
Liberate Meditation: The only meditation app by and for the Black & African Diaspora. https://liberatemeditation.com/
Vida Clinic: Our school based mental health partner, Vida Clinic, is offering teletherapy services to the Austin ISD community beginning Wednesday, Mar. 18. These services will allow adults and students to access quality mental health services right from their own homes. To learn more or schedule services, contact our Vida Clinic Care Team at 512-518-2209 or by email at vidacare@vidaclinic.org.
Travis County Integral Care
Adult & Children Mental Health Services Update: Most Integral Care adult and child mental health services are now being provided by telephone or telehealth. Please call 512-472-4357 for telephone and telehealth services. Press 1 for English, then 4 to speak to our staff. Hours: Monday – Friday, 8am to 5pm
24/7 Crisis Helpline: Our 24/7 Crisis Helpline continues to provide immediate support to people experiencing a mental health crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For help, please call 512-472-4357. Press 1 for English, then 1 for crisis support.
Please call 512-472-4357 for telephone and telehealth services. Press 1 for English, then 1 to speak to our staff.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8am to 10pm; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, 10am to 8pm
Resources for Adults, Children, and Families to Build Racial Consciousness
Crockett Early College High School
Principal
Email: kori.crawford@austinisd.org
Website: crocketths.org
Location: 5601 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-2532
Twitter: @AustinCrockett