Diversity In Action (DIA) Team

1. Diversity In Action (DIA) Team September 6, 2012

2. DIA Norms: • Focus on the work and stay on task • Experience discomfort • Speak from Your personal experience • Listen to others and suspend judgment • Accept/Expect Non-Closure • Reflect on your students and co-workers with whom you interact on a daily basis • Accountable for results of DIA Team

3. DIA Roles and Responsibilities: • Attendance at DIA meetings (District, Level, Area meetings) • Adhere to duties as outlined in DIA Leader job description • Facilitate DIA/SJ Team at Building (DIA Leader and Administrator) • Lead the DIA District Action Plan (Co-chairs and Focus Area Leaders) • Keep Parkway’s Mission and Vision at the center of our work • Understand the plan, share it, and help address misconceptions that may arise. • Encourage and promote the positive work of the district.

4. DIA Goals 2012-2013 • DIA will connect our work to Parkway district initiatives and buildings initiatives. • Accomplish 2012-2013 goals set in the DIA District Plan’s specific Focus Area’s (e.g. HRRP, Assessment, Curriculum, etc.) • Examine effectiveness of DIA building level programs through surveys, observation, and feedback. • Continue to implement Building Level Action Plans.

5. History of DDRC/DIA • Incident in October 2003 • Established the DDRC (Discipline and Diversity Review Committee) Major areas of focus were: • The revision of Policy JK-Student Discipline • The creation of policies to address racial discrimination and harassment, and procedural guidelines. • The enhancement of resources and programs intended to promote diversity awareness, appreciation for differences, and the academic achievement of all students.

6. Purpose of DIA • Achievement Gaps are a life-limiting tragedy for the children who have been left behind. They are also tangible evidence of institutional racism and social alienation in America’s public schools. If the Achievement Gap continues to exist, as well as the factors that support its existence, it will continue to perpetuate many race-related problems that exist today. • The Achievement Gap is due to factors that help support it. School related factors, such as school atmosphere, teacher expectations, and prejudice/racism are factors that are within the control of the school district, its programs, and employees. • If the school-related factors are addressed, the gap should narrow. Only then will we, as educators, be doing our part. (www.achievementgap.info)

7. Parkway Discipline Data: • Parkway Student Population: • White - 65.1% • African American - 14.9% • Asian– 11.4% • Hispanic - 4.6% • Multiracial - 2.8% • In Parkway, the risk of being suspended for 10 or more days for black students is more than five times that of white students (5.28 times to be precise) -Obtained from 2011-2012 statistics

8. Parkway IEP data: • Total number of Parkway Students with IEPs: 16.2% • White students with IEPs: 16.7% • Black Students (all) with IEPs: 21.3% • VST students with IEPs: 29.3% • Asian students with IEPs: 6.6% • Hispanic students with IEPs: 15.7% • Multi-racial students with IEPs: 17.1% - 2011-2012 statistics

10. District Cum. GPA:

11. MAP- Math district scores:

12. NOT students’ problem! • This is a system’s problem. • We need to fix it…

14. DIA Data Number of African American students in:

15. DIA Data: ACT Scores of students in AAA/ASAP compared to other African American students in Parkway (2010-2011): The scores of AAA/ASAP students rose at a significantly higher rate than the scores of all other African American students.

16. SJ Scenarios • Please look at the puzzle piece on your table. • Read the scenario and discuss: • Who is being targeted in the scenario? • What steps could you/your building take to prevent this from happening?

18. DIA Co-chairs • DIA Co-chairs: • Charlotte Ijei and Sara Moulder • Elementary Co-chairs: • Joe Hawkinson, Lisa Luna, Lisa Thompson, Robert Villigram, Beth Wendling • Middle School Co-chair: • Monyee Wright • High School Co-chairs: • Moyenda Anwisye and Jenny Marquart

19. Level and Area info • Levels: • Decide times and locations of future meetings (15 min.) • Level meetings (October, February) • Areas: • to decide times and locations of future meetings (15 min.) • Area (December, April) • Email to Whitney Cameron

20. Expectations: • Complete tasks as outlined in your DIA responsibilities such as: • Building Level Action Plan- October 18 email to Whitney Cameron • Student support ASAP/AAA- Names to Mary Theriot by Nov. 1 in excel template • SOE- throughout year • Others as described

21. Expectations: • Attendance • All members must be in attendance at whole, district, area, level meetings • AND District Events • SOE • VICC Parent meeting • If you can’t attend, please send someone in your place to gather/give essential information. • SJ Advocate and Liaison for DIA

23. Breakout- Focus Areas • New members please choose group to join • Breakout rooms: • HRRP- Pupil Personnel Room • Assessment- Room A • Professional Learning- Room 1800 • Curriculum- Room 1801 • ASAP/AAA- Room 1301 • Relationship Building- Room A • Parent Involvement- DRC

24. Breakout- Focus Areas • Remaining time to: • Finalize Action Steps • Begin work on steps for 2012-2013 • Discuss information needed/shared at DIA District Meeting • REPORT OUT to group (if time)

25. SJ Quote: “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry and we must understand that all the treads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.” -Maya Angelou