A Letter From District Administrator

While shadowing at Ridge Elementary School, I noticed that some of the students seemed to be on different social-emotional scale levels. Some were natural born leaders and some were not which is okay. The natural born leaders would take charge of group assignments and the other children had no problem being a follower. Either way, the assignments that they had got done every time. I perceived almost immediately that an excess amount of the school’s students fell under three complexions. The three were mostly Hispanic, moderate Black/African descent, and few Caucasian. Since the school was mostly Hispanic this lead to the school has a lot of concentration on reading improvement clubs, in other words, bilingual education program which could be a great benefit for students who need the extra assistance. Taking a glance at the religious diversity in the classroom there were hard if any no visible religious diversities. Due to the majority of the school is the same ethnicity I am making an assumption the culture practiced the same religion which is why there is a lack of diversity in that area. More diversity should be added to this school district I believe the most impactful, and teachable moments are derived from a fellow diverse

This document is the Strategic Diversity Plan for the Houston R-I School District. This plan is a 5-year plan designed to help our school district meet the diverse needs of all students. It is our goal to have a school district that is embracive, supportive, and respectful of individual differences. The Houston R-I School District is focused on and committed to providing opportunities for our school and community to work together to develop a pluralistic relationship that supports all students socially, emotionally, and academically. We will strive to be a school

It is my privilege to share with you Trumann Public Schools strategic diversity plan for 2016-2021. It is the mission of Truman Public Schools to educate all students and to that end we have developed a plan to help reach students that we have not reached as well in the past. It is our intent to develop a school that helps to facilitate a more pluralistic society as well as the academic growth of our students and the growth of the community at large. This plan will be used to aid us in implementing researched based methods to improve student achievement throughout the district. It is also our intent to utilize this plan to foster respect for diversity in religion, ethnic background, culture, gender and all other forms of diversity.

First, by developing professional learning communities, HSHS primary goal is to establish an organizational culture of shared commitment to academic excellence and exemplary behavior for all students. As evident, in Document 1. Excerpt from Teacher Survey (see attached) revealed that 30% of the ELA Teachers and 37% of the Math and Science Teachers “My academy receives necessary professional development.” In addition, Document 1. Excerpt from Teacher Survey revealed that 38% of the ELA Teachers and 42% of the Math and Science Teachers said, “I feel safe at the school.” Moreover, Document 2. Excerpt from Parent Survey revealed that 68% of the Latino (ethnic) agreeing or strongly agreeing and 87% of the Black (ethnic) agreeing or strongly

Public schools are beginning to see a shift in demographics in the United States. There is now a culturally diverse student population and educators need to respond to this shift in order to ensure an equal education for all students. Culture aids in determining how students learn, and culturally responsive teaching is a way teachers can educate culturally diverse students and provide an equal education for all. Culturally responsive teaching is defined by Geneva Gay as using the various characteristics, perspectives, and experiences of many cultures to effectively teach culturally diverse students (2000). Culturally responsive teaching prepares teachers to work with and teach a culturally diverse classroom of students and allows teachers to create a classroom environment that is similar to their students’ home environments so students do not have to assimilate to the dominant culture or change from their home culture to their school culture depending on their setting (Brown). Multicultural education is not only important for ensuring equal education for all students, but also creates youth who will be able to function and be effective citizens in a pluralistic society (Gay 2003). In order to implement culturally responsive teaching, teachers must acknowledge potential biases and reconstruct their attitudes, create a diverse knowledge base, be caring and empowering, and create a classroom environment that is conducive to a culturally diverse

Here at The University of Texas at Austin, we embrace and encourage diversity in many forms, striving to create an inclusive community that fosters an open and supportive learning, teaching and working environment. Our strength as a university draws from our wide range of perspectives and experiences, and we support a free exchange of ideas alongside thoughtful consideration of our differences. The UT Austin Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DDCE) offers more than 40 programs and initiatives that support this vision, strengthening diversity on campus and in communities across the state, all while helping to shape the future leaders of Texas and the world

Upon hearing the word culturally responsive classroom one envisions a class where the teacher “emphasizes a comfortable and academically enriching environment for students for all ethnicities, races, beliefs, and creeds.” (Lynch, Matthew 2011) Yet in reality most classrooms and schools are not culturally responsive in my area. Most schools are doing the best they can to differentiate instruction as well as make modifications and/or accommodations. However, as the number of diverse students rises, it our responsibility to educate ourselves on being culturally responsive.

Miss Kane’s first grade class at Lutie Lewis Coates Elementary School (also known as Coates Elementary) has twenty students and seventeen of them are considered English Language Learners (ELL) (E. Kane, Personal Communication, October 4, 2016). This is very frustrating for both Miss. Kane and her students because it is very difficult to communicate with many of her ELLs. Out of Miss Kane’s twenty students eight students are Hispanic, five Indian, five Black, and three White. Miss Kane’s class is very diverse and this allows students to feel more accepted because not all students are similar. Coates Elementary as a whole is very diverse: Asian 28.86%, Black 18.26%, Hispanic 37.32%, and White 12.08% (Fairfax County Public Schools, 2015). Miss Kane’s classroom reflects similar diversity as Coates Elementary does. Both Miss. Kane and the Coates staff really show their appreciation for diversity and attempt to treat all children equally giving all students equal opportunity. Coates Elementary is a Title I school; about fifty percent of students receive free and reduced lunch (Fairfax County Public Schools, 2015). This school was placed in the center of poverty and many of these students who participate in the free and reduced lunch program are English Language Learners.

Understanding a community is essential when planning for instruction. My current placement is at Kofa High School which is a located in an urban community –Yuma, Arizona- with an estimated population of 93,000 people. It is fundamental to recognize that Yuma’s population mostly consists of Hispanic and White people. Although English is mostly spoken in this area, Spanish is commonly heard in the community due to the high Hispanic population.

Without a doubt, in current times the public school’s roster reflects the demographic makeup of its neighborhoods; racial and culturally, and these are the results of economics, more than a racial circumstance. That said, in continuing to change there will be more court cases on isolated discrimination and beyond the school system to allow changes needed. Currently, being able to have schools with diversity opens the minds of our youth to explore the world’s culture, it provides early on people to steer

Let’s imagine a school with small group classroom sizes, preparing students for college and careers after high school. Also with diverse AP and honor classes by creating a program to help aid students to learn about these classes and the benefits. Since they haven’t created a program to prevent students falling into the government system. In my eyes this is an ideal school that can help and benefit students and the future way of learning. Although Denver South High School is doing well in the areas of diversity and culture, south could improve on preparing students for future careers, enlightening students on the benefits of AP and honor courses provided at the school and also creating

I believe the fundamental goal of teaching is to foster, support and respect a safe learning environment for all students. In addition, to be passionate and commitment to give high equality education by providing an equal opportunity. Furthermore, my goal for students to explore, express themselves using effective communication and provide an open ear to listen to every in relationship and partnership in connection with each ELL/Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students to be successful Academic Achievement in learning. I believe learning takes place in many different learning styles, contexts, within a multicultural setting using different age appropriate activities, clues, learning strategies, and updated research through technology

The Cabot School District is committed to meeting the needs of all students not only academically but also socially and culturally by creating an atmosphere that embraces diversity and provides students with meaningful diversified and multicultural educational opportunities. The goals and objectives set forth in this strategic planned are aimed at providing a

Step 6: The larger issue stems at the school administration. They need to make new policies about implementing lessons into the classroom about diversity in families. They should also make a parent meeting once a year about the different families at the school and how everyone can be more understanding and compassionate for diversity in the schools.

My first goal is to find and learn ways to add more diversity in my classroom and throughout the center. We read books and have posters, but is there more I could be doing? We are a mostly upper class, Caucasian center. There are a few ethnic families at the center, but not many. I can count on one hand how many diverse families we have.