TABSE WORD
============= November 2021 =============
NABSE National Conference
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Your Voice And Vote Are Important
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----------------- The Shoulders We Stand On -----------------
Someone You Should Know
Professor Hayes serves as an advisor and board member to numerous Organizations. The joint Austin Independent School District and City of Austin Task Force on African American Education and Quality of Life, Texas Black History Preservation Project (TBHPP).
As one of the founders of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators (TABSE), he along with other distinguished educators met in 1986, to plan, organize and establish our proud organization. Mr. Hayes resides in Austin, Texas, and remains active in several educational and civic activities. TABSE says thanks to Mr. Roland C. Hayes for his years of service and dedication to education.
Mr. Roland C. Hayes
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Black School Leaders Need Support as Rising Tensions Threaten Recruitment
All school leaders are under tremendous stress due to the pandemic, but Black school leaders are facing added pressure due to racial tensions amid backlash to critical race theory and other highly charged issues. If things continue as they are, Texas districts will not be able to retain Black school leaders or recruit the next generation from the teacher workforce.
For decades, Texas has taken effort to diversify school and district leadership to better reflect student demographics, but those gains will be lost if policymakers do not better protect Black leaders from attacks.
The latest example is James Whitfield, the first Black principal of Colleyville Heritage High School in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Whitfield was placed on administrative leave and subsequently was not rehired for the next school year after facing criticisms during a school board meeting and being accused of promoting critical race theory.
Earlier this year, Chalisa Fain, a Black woman serving as the director of diversity, equity and inclusion in the Midlothian Independent School District, came under fire after parents started a petition alleging that “Mrs. Fain only cares about protecting and promoting the black race,” despite any information related to her job performance.
In Cornoe ISD, a group of white parents attending a school board meeting accused the district of enacting Marxist policies as a ploy to prioritize skin color over merit in the hiring of teachers. The sole Black school board member believed the parents.
These examples illustrate that Black school leaders have reason for concern — and this will affect retention rates. The pressure on Black school leaders is palpable, particularly as angry parents raise concerns about what they believe is critical race theory and its impact on their children’s education. This is not what we need.
We need to create an environment in our public that enables Black school leaders to focus their attention on improving schools for all students. Researchers consistently find that Black school leaders are often more adept at recruiting teachers of color and building relationships with families, which in turn promotes student achievement. This work is more important than ever as schools address educational difficulties brought on by the pandemic.
Presently, Texas’ Black student enrollment is proportional to the percent of Black principals leading Texas public schools (approximately 13%). That’s good. Yet, these numbers, which took decades to reach, will decline if we don’t recognize the immense value Black principals and other leaders bring to their communities and invest in their safety and success under these very difficult conditions.
As part of the Texas Education Agency’s 2017-2021 Strategic Plan, the state is prioritizing recruiting, supporting and retaining educators and school leaders, which includes diversifying educator pipelines. Texas has invested in “Grow Your Own” programs that aim to increase and diversify the pool of educators and leaders. We need more of this.
Texas lawmakers also need to ensure policies are in place to safeguard school leaders from workplace discrimination and community threats. The state can allocate additional money to investigate discrimination and threats and establish a protocol for ensuring threats or incidents are reported to local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies as appropriate.
Simply put, our policymakers need to invest to further cultivate more racially diverse educator, principal and superintendent pipelines. The pandemic and rising racial tensions have placed Black school leaders under tremendous pressure and may cause increased rates of turnover. Black school leaders deserve to be treated fairly and fully supported as they navigate this political environment that has placed undue burden on them, their families and their students.
David DeMatthews is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at The University of Texas at Austin.
Kimberly Clarida is a doctoral student in the educational policy and planning program in the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin.
Columns appearing on the service and this webpage represent the views of the authors, not of The University of Texas at Austin.
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Thanksgiving, let us give thanks for all of our blessings and teach History with truth!
We have much to be thankful for
Bless the families
Let's teach the truth to everyone.
Mr. Jamal Robinson
Congratulations to Mr. Jamal Robinson, who has been appointed to the position of Communications Coordinator within the Lamar CISD. Mr. Robinson serves as a TABSE Executive Board member and TABSE is proud of his contributions.
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Walden University
Walden is grateful for the commitment of Texas Alliance of Black School Educators members who make wishes and dreams come true every day in your classrooms and communities. We are dedicated to supporting your classroom and your career.
Enter to win a $125 Amazon gift card.*
Spruce up and restock your classroom—Walden University wants to make your wish list come true!
Eight winners will be selected at random.
Additionally, Walden will donate $2 to Make-a-Wish for each contest entry received
(up to 1,250 entries) to help fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness.
Learn more about Walden’s programs and tuition reductions: WaldenU.edu/TABSE
*No purchase necessary. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit WaldenU.edu/walden_wish_contest_rules to review the complete rules.
This tuition reduction and/or grant is not a promise of preferential treatment of Walden students in hiring or a guarantee of employment at any entity.
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.
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TABSE Business Partner Of The Month
Imagine Learning, a nationally respected developer of digital instruction in math, language, and literacy, celebrates its thirteenth birthday this month by reflecting on past milestones and anticipating unprecedented growth ahead.
In 2004, a group of six employees began with a bold mandate: to teach English to the children of the world. Since those humble beginnings, Imagine Learning has expanded its mission to teach language, literacy, and mathematics to the children of the world, changing lives and opening doors of opportunity.
Imagine Learning delivers award-winning language, literacy, and mathematics solutions for K–12 students, revolutionizing the way kids learn. Students and teachers love Imagine Language & Literacy, Imagine Español, Imagine Math Facts, and Imagine Math because they are research based, data driven, instructionally differentiated, and incredibly fun to use. The Imagine Learning family is dedicated to changing lives and opening doors of opportunity for kids.
Today, over three million students use Imagine Learning programs in over 30,000 schools, including the 20 largest school districts in the United States.
For more information on Imagine Learning visit: https://www.imaginelearning.com/
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TABSE School District Of The Month
A. W. Brown Leadership Academy
Nestled in the heart of South Dallas, The A. W. Brown Leadership Academy is a third generation elementary school presently serving students from pre-kindergarten three-years old through eighth grade. Founded in 1999 by the Reverend Armond W. Brown, this charter represents the most contemporary and aggressive trend of thought in public pro-choice education today.
The mission of A. W. Brown Leadership Academy is to produce smart, effective, efficient, disciplined scholars by creating an environment in which scholars feel safe and motivated to learn and teachers feel safe and free to teach.
The school is committed to the mission of “building a firm academic, attitudinal, and moral foundation that will support a lifetime of high achievement for each of its students in the classroom, the home, and society.”
A. W. Brown is currently under the leadership of Superintendent Anthony Jefferson.
For more information about A.W. Brown Leadership Academy visit: https://www.awbrown.org/
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Save The Date
TABSE State Conference
Who Should Attend: TABSE members, supporters, superintendents, principals, higher education administrators, school and college board members, education human resource professionals, deans, professors, education department heads, administrative/educational support staff, teachers, parents, curriculum specialists, students, clergy, employers, job seekers and any individual or organization concerned about the education of our state’s children and adult learners.
Featuring Concurrent Workshops on Important Topics:
Leadership – Relevant issues faced by district leaders, principals, higher education administrators, and aspiring leaders, including counselors and school/college board members.
Student Achievement – Curriculum alignment, instructional design, and assessment development strategies that result in improved student learning. Specifically addressing topics such as literacy, college developmental education, Science, Technology, and Math (STEM).
Parent and Community Involvement – Practices that promote parental/family engagement, as well as building sustainable partnerships that benefit local communities.
Diverse Learners – Discussion of the unique academic needs of diverse learners, including underserved students, SPED, and ELL learners. Exploration of best practices to better understand and incorporate insight into diversity on campus and in the classroom.
Higher Education Connection – Addressing issues that pertain to higher education personnel and students obtaining undergraduate and advanced degrees and those aspiring to work in higher education.
Higher Education/RESEARCH – Researchers may present their discoveries and general research on topics relevant in higher education.
College, Career & Military Readiness – Addressing issues that relate to college access and job attainment, including ACT/SAT success, advanced placement, and military opportunities for minority students.
Educational Technology – Sessions will explore successful and/or innovative tools to enhance student and professional learning.
Discipline/CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS/RESTORATIVE PRACTICE – Special strand to explore specific strategies that will help educators address guidance and management for students of African descent.
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Renew Your TABSE Membership For 2021-22
Join your state and local affiliates now and take part in the exciting and rewarding things being planned throughout the state.