How We Can Support One Another’s Equity Journey

CALL TO ACTION

How we can support one another’s equity journey

By Frederick Brown

Categories: Advocacy/policy, Continuous improvement, Equity, Evaluation & impact, Leadership, Resources, Social & emotional learning

As educational equity has become a heated topic over the last few years, many educators who are passionate about meeting students’ needs have been unsure what to say and do. Aware of the political and cultural battles being waged around them, they are wary of triggering hostile responses to their efforts to honor all students’ experiences and backgrounds, teach a full and accurate curriculum, and address each child’s strengths and challenges. I witness these fears firsthand. Before giving a recent presentation to a school district, I was told, “Please don’t mention the word ‘equity’ because it will cause too many problems.” Colleagues have shared stories of teacher teams trying to figure out how to talk about slavery without offending anyone or worrying that they will

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References

Harper, Y., Merrill, J., & Moore, H.D. (2022). Living equity in your work [Webinar]. Learning Forward. learningforward.org/webinar/living-equity-in-your-work/

Tyner, A. (2021, August). How to sell SEL: Parents and the politics of social-emotional learning. Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

Frederick Brown

President | CEO at Learning Forward | + posts

Frederick Brown is Learning Forward’s president | CEO. Fred is an education visionary who knows firsthand that our nation’s schools need transformational change if we are to meet the challenges of the next decades. Fred advocates that every child deserves to reach their highest potential and every educator must have the opportunity to participate in exemplary, ongoing, professional learning programs to provide students the skills needed to meet their unique needs.

Supporting educators at all levels and improving student achievement are through lines of Fred's career. An elementary school teacher, a middle school assistant principal, and school principal, Fred saw firsthand the impact high-leverage instructional practices and school culture have on school success.

Fred is a frequent speaker on leadership and building high-quality learning in schools. He has co-authored two books that have made significant contributions to the field of education, demonstrating how a comprehensive approach to professional learning can be achieved so that everyone in a system is a learner, and how principals apply a learning lens to their many critical responsibilities to create a productive climate for learning and collaboration. "Becoming a Learning System" and "The Learning Principal -- Becoming a Learning Leader" are time-tested Learning Forward resources for schools and leaders.