The coronavirus pandemic could have derailed School District 204’s work to improve equity for students, families and staff, but it may have actually strengthened it, said Jennifer Rowe, Indian Prairie’s executive director of educational equity.
“I think with the situation we’re in, it’s put a spotlight on our equity gaps. It’s not something we can put to the side,” Rowe said. “I think teachers have been so open to learning and connecting that (equity) is not something added to the plate — equity is the plate.”
An increase in diversity hirings, positive staff response to virtual webinars, and success at connecting with underrepresented groups were among the things noted when the school board was updated this past week on how the district’s efforts have been progressing.
About 26% of the new licensed teachers hired at Indian Prairie have been people of color, said Rowe and Ann Cluxton, Metea Valley High School’s educator/equity ambassador. Prior to the last year, that number was typically about 11%.
The district’s hiring and interviewing processes underwent revisions, officials said. Changes were made to the kinds of interview questions asked, school principals underwent equitable hiring protocol training and interviewing panels are now more diverse.
A virtual summit this summer with a focus on the Black Lives Matter movement and related topics was exceptionally popular, with 17 professional development sessions/webinars completely booked and waiting lists created, Cluxton said.
“We had to offer seven encore sessions and overall we had over 500 educators that participated voluntarily during their own time during the summer. It was incredibly successful and we were very proud of that event,” Cluxton said.
Indian Prairie has increased the number of “affinity groups” available to teachers, she added. These groups provide educators of similar backgrounds a chance to gather together, foster professional growth and build relationships among one another. The groups include Latinx educators, LGBTQ+ teachers and allies and Black/Brown educators.
In a video shown to the board, Georgetown Elementary School teacher Tyler Hunt talked about his experience last year when he joined a group for new teachers of color. The third-grade teacher has since joined other groups, he said.
“Being able to share support and resources among teachers who look like me gave the confidence and tools necessary to further support my ethnically and racially diverse classroom,” Hunt said.
Rowe and Cluxton noted that efforts to reach out to students and families have been bolstered through the Student Equity Action Committee, the Parent Diversity Advisory Council, partnerships with local organizations, community presentations and discussion circles.
Board president Michael Raczak said he was “humbled” by what he heard during the presentation. He and other board members asked if it were possible for them to receive equity training as well.
“Please look to see what’s appropriate for us to participate in,” board member Susan Demming said.