Equity and Inclusion
Monthly Update - January 2023
Equity and Inclusion
Every month, you will find discussion topics, activities and evidence based strategies in the areas of English as a Second Language, Bilingual Education, Culturally Relevant Teaching and Learning and community updates on events related to Race, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Equity 5-10-15
January Theme: Empowerment - Disrupting the Single Narrative
The truth is, we live in a society where the color of our skin, the language we speak, the religion we practice, the amount of money in our pockets, and the gender we identify with are major factors in our prognosis for success in school and in life. Ignoring this truth or wishing it was different will not change the reality. The ISD 719 District Equity Department believes that all of us have a responsibility to act to solve the injustices and inequities we see in our society and in our schools. And we will never know what action needs to occur if we are unwilling to have honest and courageous conversations on the topics of race, ethnicity, religion, poverty, gender, sexuality, and disability. This may make us feel uncomfortable, but the consequences of inaction are far greater than our own personal discomfort.
In an effort to spark these vital conversations, the District Equity Department will be sharing relevant and thought-provoking resources regularly with all staff members of PLSAS. Our hope is that, if you have 5,10, or 15 minutes (or more) to spare each month, you will engage with this shared content. Further, we hope this engagement will lead to meaningful conversations in all corners of our district. We ask that you approach these resources as a learner and that you are willing to model vulnerability and open-mindedness for your peers and our students.
We will know our work has been successful when we can honestly ensure that any gaps in access, opportunity, and achievement for our students are eliminated; Not narrowed – Eliminated. And when every student – no matter their race, native language, religion, economic status, gender, sexual orientation, or disability – are seen, heard, dignified, and eventually leave PLSAS with a world-class education, a diploma in their hand, and hope in their hearts for a bright future ahead of them.
English Learner Strategy
"SIOP" Thinking EL - How we shelter instruction to help meet the needs of EL students
Please click the link below to learn more about the 8 components of the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) to help EL students in your classroom.
https://www.janaechevarria.com/?page_id=55
COMPONENTS OF SIOP
Lesson Preparation
Interaction
Building Background
Practice and Application
Comprehensible Input
Lesson Delivery
Strategies
Review and Assessment
English Learner in the Mainstream (ELM)
The website below provides information to the ELM project. Their resource page contains templates and materials to provide ideas and help you organize supports and best practices for English Learners.
CTOC upcoming Professional Development
Message from the Coalition of Teachers of Color
Hello everyone!
PLSEA's Coalition for Teachers of Color is able to provide another free training for PLSAS staff; we are excited to announce that Seema Pothini will be back in person in February to host another Speak Up At School Training. We hope you will join us. This session will reference elements of the December 2021 training, but will not be the same... similarly, it's not necessary that you attended the last training in order to come this time! This training will contain both a refresher and next steps.
When: Thursday, February 23rd 4:30-6:00 pm (CTOC will provide sandwiches and other refreshments for attendees since we know this is cutting into dinner time.)
Where: Oakview Room, Hidden Oaks Middle School
What to expect: Learning and practicing how to respond to prejudice, bias and stereotypes - in order to help our schools to be as safe for all as possible.
PLEASE RSVP BY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 HERE: https://forms.gle/D8kVVtj5p2YyqDWWA
Additionally, if you've got a small human that needs to be cared for while you attend - we've got you covered! CTOC is partnering with PLHS students in the National Art Honor Society to offer childcare. NAHS will have craft-making stations in Room 389 at Hidden Oaks for the duration of the training. Face painting, ornament making, coloring pages, book making, slime, and friendship bracelets will be some of the options available.
Please fill out this form if you are in need of childcare so we can plan accordingly!
We hope to see you on February 23!
Sincerely,
CTOC Board
Gisela Santiago, Adrienne Young, Carmita Jara, Sarita Rabe & Yenifer Mendoza
PLSAS Parent Engagement
Parent Group Meetings and AIPAC
- Student voice - PLSAS honors and empowers student voices as we work to sustain an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all. Students at PLSAS can take part in various cultural clubs and participate in events that honors their culture and lived experiences such as Caring and Committed Conversations.
- Community engagement and parent engagement - Equity work is work that we do together. PLSAS have a variety of parent engagement events specific to each school. We also collaborate with our city partners and different service organizations to host Coffee and Conversations along with other events in our district and throughout the city.
- Professional development - Teachers and staff take part in high quality professional development throughout the year. PLSAS also partners with other districts in the Southwest Metro Collaborative to put on the annual Southwest Metro Equity Summit that is open to educators and community members in the Southwest metro.
- Policies - PLSAS reviews policies on a regular cycle to ensure that our practices and procedures are equitable to all.
- Curriculum and practice - PLSAS strives to have curriculum materials and texts that are culturally relevant and teaching practices that are engaging and culturally responsive to our students.
For the area of community and parent engagement this year, we have structure parent affinity group meetings for our top 5 language groups: Somali, Spanish, Russian, Cambodian and Vietnamese. We meet quarterly on various topics that bridges the schools and the communities' interests. Along with our American Indian Parent Advisory Committee meetings, all parent group meetings have been well attended. Our goal is to help parents stay engaged and have knowledge of our district's programs and practices. We value our parents as partners in creating the best educational experience possible for our children.
Photos from Recent Events
MLK Breakfast and Teacher of the Year
This year our 2nd annual MLK breakfast was combined with the annual PLSEA Teacher of the Year Recognition. This event was organized by the school district, Prior Lake Rotary and 11 other partners. Please see a list of all who are involved below. The event had three main parts: Breakfast, Presentation, and Service.
Partnered Sponsors: Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, City of Prior Lake, City of Savage, City of Credit River, Spring Lake Township, Savage Rotary, Prior Lake-Savage Lions, Prior Lake Optimist Club, Laker Educational Foundation, Prior Lake-Savage Interfaith Community, and Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church.
Teacher of the year from each building
Jurgis Did performing, "We All Speak Human"
Students performing an excerpt from "I Have a Dream," by Dr. King Jr.
Caring and Committed Conversations
PLSAS students joined with Jordan and Shakopee students to discuss the topic, "The Purpose of Education." The students dove into the investment into free and public education along with the mission and vision of the federal, state, and school. Students learned about the topic, brought in their different perspective into the conversation and then came up with three truths to help move the work forward.