Written by: Dr. Brandy Lovelady Mitchell, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Kent ISD

Covid-19 did not create the inequities that we are currently experiencing, yet it promises to intensify the impact of these inequities. Many Michiganders were aware of the number of students and staff who were struggling with foundational elements of life like food security, housing security and the struggles to access quality healthcare. Most P-12 educators can trace the benefits, the privileges and the suffering related to having and not having these vital resources – physical, social and emotional.

As we close brick and mortar learning spaces and continue our learning plans online and/or via paper packets, the disparities of who has access to resources and support are amplified. Some of the previously described situations are due to years of structural conditions in society that have been baked into our decisions, policies and practices. Covid-19 offers an opportunity for more people to collaborate to address these inequities on a systemic level.

On a more individual level, we are offering an opportunity to look at Zaretta Hammond’s book, Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students. The hope here is to bring educators together to connect, and to create a community that illuminates the mindsets, strategies, skills and identity that look at the tragic inequity of remaining a dependent learner versus becoming an independent learner. Our dialogue and chapter highlights will focus on the moves that students need to make and the intentional steps that we will take in fostering more student agency through building their intellectual capacity. 

Starting on May 6th, Kent ISD will be hosting an online book chat that is designed to create a community that supports practitioners in exploring and integrating culturally responsive practices and brain research. This group will be grounded in Zaretta Hammond’s work. (Participants are encouraged to seek their own book and/or just join the dialogue.)

Click here to register today for this online book chat!

#AddressingInequities #WeLeadLearning #KentISDpd