Preparing for Conversations on Race and Culture

SDW Team,

With yet another incident approximately 3 months to the day of the brutal murder of George Floyd, we now have another incident involving another black male, Jacob Blake, who was shot 7 times in the back. We as a district must take a stance and make a commitment to seek justice to better support all students, families and staff of color.  The racial and social injustices we have seen taking place across the country is something that the School District of Waukesha will not allow nor tolerate.  We will continue to work to eliminate and dismantle the racial injustices and inequalities that plague people of color. 

 

The School District of Waukesha is committed and dedicated to eliminating racial injustice, implicit bias and stereotypes with equity being the foundation of our district.  As a school district and as a nation, we are struggling with fundamental truths about our world marked by heinous acts of violence and inequitable policies inflicted upon and directed at black, brown, and other marginalized people.  With many of us coming from different backgrounds and experiences, this makes the conversations around race very sensitive and complex.

 

We as a district will continue to apply the learning, we recently received from Dr. Sharroky Hollie, the Executive Director of the Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning on culturally responsive teaching.  We will continue to become better equipped to create more inclusive teaching and learning environments where all students feel safe, welcomed and valued.  We as a district will continue to prepare for discussions on the incidents that have taken place over the summer months in order to help build community, collaboration and togetherness in our classrooms and schools.

 

The conversations around race, culture and bias cannot be avoided with students because they will help set the tone for the year.  Discussing classroom expectations, creating vision boards for your classrooms with the students and allowing students to have a voice is going to be very important to create the type of learning environment you desire.  

If you would like additional resources around anti-racism, bias, stereotypes and race conversations with students for the start of the school year, please visit the Equity course on Blackboard.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  Here is a resource that may be helpful as you plan for the start of the year.  

 

Remember team, WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER! Juntos más fuertes!  

 

Demetri Beekman