does Equity Really Matter?

Does Equity really matter? Or is it just a catchphrase that we use but don't follow? What about antiracism or anti-bias?

Equity matters to Sofia Woldeab, a Montgomery Blair High School student who produced the film, School Within the School. Equity matters to Camila Sanchez, Asnakech Uhl, Elizabeth Covino, Isabella Vilchez, Rockville High School students who produced ESOL Isolation, and to Jarvinia Thopae, Hasini Shanthakumar, Sneha Swaminthan, and Arav Bhatia, Lakelands Park Middle School students who produced The Power of Words. The titles of these award-winning short films give us a clue as to how these students see the current state of systemic racism and Hate-Bias in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).

Despite our hard work and dedication, these stories are just a few examples of the sheer number of complex issues that get in the way of us truly making MCPS a district where all students, families, and staff feel safe, valued, seen, and heard. But, just because the issues are complex, doesn’t mean that each of us can’t have an impact. For example, after watching School Within the School, read This is What a Scientist Looks Like, below.

Each article and video in this edition were written or produced by MCPS students and staff members from different MCPS offices and schools. We can all make a difference when we act with intention and through an antiracist and culturally responsive lens.

The purpose of EquityMatters! is to remind us that even during this hectic time of year, equity matters for our students, families, and colleagues. For some, the content below could feel overwhelming at first glance. Below are suggestions for how to use this newsletter:

Skim the articles to find one video or story that you find interesting.
Share an article or video with a friend or colleague to have a quick discussion.
Use the videos or articles as activators for team meetings. Most of the content is at most 4 minutes.
Think about one thing you can do differently after listening to one of the student videos, learning about one of the heritage months, or reading This is What a Scientist Looks Like.

In This Edition (find Past Editions & Additional Resources Here)

Minority Scholars Program Inaugural Youth Anti-Racist Film Festival

Districtwide Approach to Educating, Preventing, and Addressing Hate-Bias Action Plan

What Antiracism and an Equity Lens Looks Like in Practice

Holidays and Commemorations

Ramadan (March-April)

Autism Acceptance Month (April)

Arab American Heritage Month (april)

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI) (MAY)

Jewish American Heritage Month (May)

Professional Learning & Other Opportunities

Dr. Joan's Gems

Who is your thought partner for equity?

Minority Scholars Program Inaugural Youth Anti-Racist Film Festival

The Minority Scholars Program (MSP) hosted its first Youth Anti-Racist Film Festival on February 24 at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. The goal was "to encourage, harness the energy of, and give voice to other students as a creative means to push for positive change in our school system". Twelve films produced by MCPS students were presented. The following films won first, second, and third prizes.

These films provide opportunities to bring in voices that may not always be heard. They can be used as activators for staff at planning meetings, or to use with students. As you listen, think about your reactions:

How is the film making you feel? Why?
What questions come up for you as you listen? What do you want to learn more about?
Is there something that we should do differently based on the perspectives and experiences in these students?

School within the school

By Sofia Woldeab

Montgomery Blair High School

ESOL Isolation

By Camila Sanchez, Asnakech Uhl, Elizabeth Covino, Isabella Vilchez

Rockville High School

The Power of Words

By Jarvinia Thopae, Hasini Shanthakumar, Sneha Swaminthan, and Arav Bhatia

Lakelands Park Middle School

Districtwide Approach to Educating, Preventing, and Addressing Hate-Bias Action Plan

Over the past two years, MCPS improved structures for preventing, reporting, investigating, and responding to Hate-Bias. However, staff, students, families, and community partners continue to express concerns that MCPS lacks sufficient coherence, professional learning, and accountability to effectively address this challenge.

A new cross-office committee was formed in November 2023 to ensure a more coordinated and long-term response. The committee:

Met with students, staff, caregivers, and community partners to identify practices, policies, and beliefs that contribute to hate bias in MCPS.
Developed an action plan that addresses the identified problems.
Presented the action plan to the Board of Education on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
Formed a new Anti-Bias Advisory Committee with students, staff, and community partners who reflect the diversity of MCPS. This is a subcommittee of the re-formed Antiracist Action Committee.
Hired a grant-funded coordinator to a two-year position in the Equity Initiatives Unit to assist in the alignment of the Hate-Bias work across offices.

The Action Plan

The Districtwide Approach to Educating, Preventing, and Addressing Hate-Bias is organized into three areas:

Prevention through Education
Reporting and Communication
Incident Response and Restoration

Review the Action Plan Here

Read the Memo to the Board of Education

Watch the Board of Education Presentation

Project Interrupt-Tilden MS

Tilden Middle School is working hard to define what it means to be a No Place for Hate school. Listen to staff and students talk about their collaboration with the Equity Initiatives Unit to tackle their issues head-on.

Student Anti-hate Video

The Student Member of the Board and the MCPS Department of Communication are collaborating on a social media campaign to help students understand the impact of hate and bias. The above video is the first product of this collaboration.

What Antiracism and an Equity Lens Looks Like in Practice

It can be challenging to understand what antiracism and an equity lens look like in practice. Below are two examples from the Office of Curriculum and Instruction. As you read, think about these questions:

What are the intentional actions taken that make these two initiatives antiracist?
How can these initiatives impact Hate-Bias?
How do these initiatives relate to your work even if you are not an art or science teacher?

Be a Creative Changemaker!

Every school’s art department received a copy of Be a Creative Changemaker by Paula Liz and an accompanying poster!

Although you may not recognize all of their names, the featured artists transformed history and paved the way for others. Discover their unique stories through colorful illustrations and biographies before getting creative with hands-on art activities based on their artwork.

Gu Kaizhi (b. 344, China): Tell a story through scroll painting.
Luisa Ignacia Roldán (b. 1652, Spain): Construct a sculpture of a historical figure.
Jamini Roy (b. 1887, present-day India): Paint an animal motif.
Emily Kame Kngwarreye (b. 1910, Australia): Use batik to create a design on fabric.
Lygia Clark (b. 1920, Brazil): Make a movable sculpture.
Kenojuak Ashevak (b. 1927, Canada): Print a colorful series of creatures.
Bodys Isek Kingelez (b. 1948, present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo): Build a cardboard utopian city.

The author, Paula Liz, will also be a guest speaker at the Visual Art May Professional Day for setting up the Mall Show to lead us through one of the activities in the book!

This is What a Scientist Looks Like...

As you read this article, think about Sofia Woldeab's message above in her film, "School Within a School". The issues she highlights don't begin in high school.

The idea is simple: Students who see themselves in science are more likely to imagine themselves working in the field.

To that end, a project called “I Am A Scientist” is giving middle and high school students the opportunity to interact with modern-day researchers — breaking down barriers like race, gender, and personal interests. It provides teachers with toolkits containing stories, posters, and career resources showcasing 22 scientists’ range of personalities, backgrounds, pathways, and passions.

“I think that a lot of us have gone onto Google search images and the first thing that comes up when you search for a scientist is a caricature of an old white man with maybe tufts of white hair on the side and glasses falling off his nose,” said Ayanna Thomas, a Tufts psychologist featured in the project.

The MCPS Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs created the slide deck below for schools to use. The first slide can be printed as a poster. Click through the slides to see who you know!

I Am A Scientist

Holidays and Commemorations

One way to reduce Hate-Bias is for each of us to understand the experiences of our students, families, and colleagues. The stories below are meant to provide a peek into their experiences. The stories are listed in chronological and alphabetical order. Each EquityMatters! highlights some of the holidays and commemorations our families celebrate. You can find a full list of dates and resources on this calendar.

Consider these reflection questions when watching the interviews or reading the content.

What is one new idea that you learned from this story?
How does this learning help address Hate-Bias and create an inclusive culture in your office or classroom?
What surprised you or pushed your thinking?
What do you need to learn more about this group?

Ramadan (March-April)

Ramadan ended before the publication of this newsletter, with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr that began on the evening of April 9.

Muslim families across MCPS and the world observed Ramadan this year from March 11 through April 10. Hear what White Oak Middle Students want you to know about Ramadan and find resources developed by MCPS teachers, Manal Agabein and Farhana Shah, about Ramadan and the meaning of fasting.

Learn about Ramadan from MCPS Students and Teachers

Autism Acceptance Month (April)

“Awareness is knowing that somebody has Autism. Acceptance is when you include a person with autism in your activities."

Christopher Banks, CEO of The Autism Society of America

Across all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups about 1 in 36 U.S. children have been identified with Autism, with boys nearly four times as likely as girls to be identified. April is Autism Acceptance Month. Please review these resources prepared by Kristin Secan, Supervisor of the MCPS Autism Spectrum Disorders Services.

Watch the MCPS Waymaking-Neurodiversity and Social Justice Video with our colleagues Dr. Haley Biddanda and Dr. Christina Chester.
Review the two presentations created by MCPS Autism Unit. The first slide show is designed to help students with Autism. The second slide show provides basic terms and concepts for anyone who wants more information.

Waymaking-Neurodiversity & Social Justice

Autism Acceptance

Quick Autism Acceptance Facts

Autism Acceptance Visuals

Autism Acceptance Visual Supports & Graphics

Arab American Heritage Month (april)

Since the 1880s, Arab Americans have emigrated to the United States from the Arabic-speaking countries of the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The heritage reflects a culture that is thousands of years old and includes 22 Arab countries as diverse as Lebanon, Sudan, and Morocco. Honor Arab American Heritage Month with the following resources:

Watch an interview with Student Member of the Board, Sami Saeed, who is Yemeni American.
Learn about the Olive Harvest Season by former Family Service Worker, Samira Hussein, who is Palestinian American.
Read What Learning to Speak Arabic in America Taught Me About Being Arab American by Wooton High School Teacher, Amani Elkassabany, who is Egyptian American.
Find a book by and about Arab-Americans on this list curated by the New York Public Library.
Finally, watch the video, Living in America, from the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

Interview with Sami Saeed, Student Member of the Board of Education

What Learning to Speak Arabic in America Taught Me ....

Olive Harvest Season in Palestine

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI) (MAY)

AANHPIs in MoCo

What does it mean to be Asian American?

There are over 22,000 Asian American students in MCPS who come from over 20 different ethnic groups.

Take a minute to think about what you know about Asian Americans in MCPS. What is the ethnicity of most AAPI students?
Once you have that visual, look at the slide created by the AAPI Cohort of the MOCO Anti-Hate Taskforce that outlines the ethnic makeup of Asian Americans in Montgomery County.
- Do the numbers and your initial thoughts align?
- Did anything surprise you?
- What do you know about MCPS AAPI students and their experiences?
Watch the interview with Board of Education member, Julie Yang, to hear about her experience in MCPS as a teacher, parent, and the first Asian American Board of Education member.
Read Which Term Should You Use: AAPI or AANHPI?
Explore books for adults, kids, and teens that spotlight a range of experiences within Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.
Watch the video, Being Asian American, a short documentary based on 65 focus groups from the Pew Research Center.
- As you listen, what can you take away to better support your students, families, and colleagues?

In the above clip, Julie Yang, Montgomery County Board of Education member, talks about the circumstances leading to her coming to the United States in 1992 including a grandfather working as an indentured servant in Hawaii, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and the impact of World War II.

See the full interview here.

In a Pew Research Center analysis based on 66 focus groups conducted in the fall of 2021, Asian American participants described navigating their own identity in a nation where the label “Asian” brings expectations about their origins, behavior and physical self.

Jewish American Heritage Month (May)

Interview with Miriam Plotinsky, Instructional Specialist, Secondary ELA & Literacy

Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs

Music, Books, Recipes, Activities

The first Jewish family arrived in Washington DC in 1790. Since then, the community has grown in numbers and diversity. Use the resources below to learn more about what it means to be Jewish American in 2024.

Watch the interview with our colleague, Miriam Plotinsky, about what being Jewish means to her.
Find resources put together by the Montgomery County Jewish Educators Alliance including a playlist of Jewish American artists, slides featuring biographies of Jewish American heroes, book recommendations, and ideas for a hands-on activity with a challah bake event.
Find additional resources at Jewish American Heritage Month.
Learn about the new Capital Jewish Museum that focuses on Jewish life in the DMV.
Learn about Passover, which begins on the evening of Monday, April 22.
Do you know what Ladino is and how it's different from Yiddish or Hebrew? Do you know what the two largest Jewish ethnic groups are in the United States?
- Watch the short video below to learn about the similarities of Sephardic & Ashkenazi Jews and read this article to learn about Mizrahi and Ethiopian Jews.

Jewish American Heritage Month is a wonderful opportunity to explore Jewish history in the national capital region. The brand-new (opened 2023) Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum focuses on Jewish history in Washington, DC, and the Maryland and Virginia suburbs.

School tours are now available! The Museum also provides resources on classroom activities such as a Structured Academic Controversy about the National Menorah.

Learn about the Capital Jewish Museum

What are the differences and similarities between Ashkenazi & Sephardic Jews?

Professional Learning & Other Opportunities

Get Updates from the Equity Initiatives Unit

The Equity Initiatives periodically sends out resources and opportunities for professional learning around equity. If you are interested, please join PDO course 90211 (Equity Updates) to stay updated.

Learn how to facilitate dialogues about race & inclusion (Study Circles)

Join us for another round of Study Circles facilitation training. In this session, you will learn how to build relationships across diversity, understand differences in lived experiences across race, and use various tools to sharpen bias interruption and move dialogue to action.

The facilitator training Is designed to provide attendees with the skills to:

Create an environment where everyone feels safe to share their perspective
Identify the structures required for productive dialogue
Take conversations below the surface
Observe and manage group dynamics
Move participants from dialogue to action

Study Circles Facilitators Training (PDO Course #91995, Section 135976)

This training is in person and will take place May 13, 24, and 29 from 8:00-4:00 pm

Learn how to lead Elementary School students in Equity Dialogues

What is the best way for educators to help elementary school students learn about the negative impact of stereotypes, be respectful of cultural differences, and become upstanders when someone is being mistreated? Equity Dialogues are a four-part series for 4th and 5th-grade students that can be facilitated by educators, counselors, staff development teachers, and administrators. These dialogues help to improve the culture/climate of schools and the well-being of students and staff. These lessons are a critical part of building and sustaining the inclusive school environment that school staff and students work together to create.

This facilitator training Is designed to provide attendees with:

A four-session curriculum
Skills to facilitate Equity Dialogues with fourth and fifth graders
Thought partners to determine how these dialogues can work at your school.

Facilitator Training

Ongoing through April
Facilitating Equity Dialogues with Elementary School Students
PDO Course #92233

Honoring Humanity to Halt Hate Bias

The professional learning module, Honoring Humanity to Halt Hate Bias will build participants' knowledge, fill “consciousness gaps” and/or clarify understanding about:

the terminology related to hate bias
the history & current state of hate-bias laws in the United States
current hate bias processes in Montgomery County and MCPS
the ways hate bias is developed, demonstrated and the impact on various protected groups/classes
approaches to preventing and redressing hate bias in the classroom, community, and amongst colleagues.

#92431 FY 24 EIU - Honoring Humanity to Halt Hate Bias

Dr. Joan's Gems

Each month, Equity Initiatives Instructional Specialist, Dr. Joan Mory, will provide new, specific resources (articles, strategies, videos, techniques, activators, etc.) that can be used at meetings, in planning, in the classroom, at home, or in the community. They will address different themes associated with teaching, learning, and leading. The focus this month is the value and importance of a sense of belonging and identity within a supportive learning environment.

Dr. Joan's Gems

Who is your thought partner for equity?

Every school and every office has different needs. Call your Equity Specialist to talk over the best ways for you to move forward.

Click for Your Equity Specialist

Please Give us your feedback

Your feedback helps us to make EquityMatters! a resource that is more useful for all members of the MCPS community.

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The EquityMatters! Newsletter is produced by the MCPS Office of Strategic Initiatives. Special thanks to the Department of Instructional Programs, the Equity Initiatives Unit, and the Autisum Unit. It was written with support from John Landesman, Marya Hay, Dr. Daryl Howard, Dr. Joan Mory, Ashley Ashman, Daphney Ado Ado, Rebecca Brown, Frances Frost, Marjorie Jacob, and Rebecca Hughes.