Setting the Conditions for Building Collective Equity Muscle

A Star Does Not A Constellation Make

After reading chapter 7, you will understand that the work of equity is a collaborative effort.
Identify the “Stars” at your site that are examples in using equitable practices.
Ask yourself: Under what conditions will other staff become Equity Leaders
After reading chapter 7, you will understand that Leaders cultivate the equity culture and establish the equity floor.
Identify practices that undermine the work of equity at your site.

Equity Culture: This is an organizational identity defined by the wide-spread shared values and common behaviors associated with championing equitable outcomes for students. This requires that we encourage and reward equity - the charge that under the right conditions, every part of a system is uplifted and disparities between parts of a system are reduced.
A Star Does Not a Constellation Make: To help to communicate the need to move away from celebrating isolated bright spot successes to rewarding team efforts that strengthen the entire system. Bright spots, by definition, are a sign of an inequitable system because individual successes mean that other parts of the school or district are not as strong.
Collective Equity Muscle: This is the magnified power of equity-centered leadership when an equity culture becomes the norm.

Equity Leaders are tasked with highlighting the reality of if there are “shining stars” dotted throughout the district and not a consultation, then they are not providing every child with the excellent education that they deserve.
Equity Leaders cultivate the equity culture that will serve as a basic condition to complete their work and have a real impact on students.
Educators in a school or district need to establish an equity floor: that is the practices that simply cannot be accepted under any circumstance - Practices that should make leaders say “Not on my watch!”. (Enter Dr. Hansen’s Call to Action Items)
Equity Leaders understand that everyone who constitutes that organization must be clear about what is non-negotiable.

Create a set of conditions for equity work to have the best chance of long term success.

Our Call to Action:

Continue to reflect on your own mindset regarding race and privilege.
Begin to dismantle inequities for all students and staff (policies, practices, procedures).
Listen to the voices of students, families, and employees (what are their stories?).
Go out and ACT NOW!

Activity from Shattering Inequities-Operationalize an Equity Mindset

Call to Action Focus: 2 and 4 Dismantle Inequities and Act Now

Equity Practice:

Work with RUSD Specialists to create an equity inventory. Take stock of the present equity realities by identifying the stars and contrasting them to the non-stars. Use data to create an Equity Map for a Multi-Tiered System of Supports.
Define equitable outcomes. Decide what the equity outcomes are that you want to see that are not currently part of your reality.
Align risks and rewards in a way that celebrates constellations rather than individual accomplishments to cultivate an equity culture. “Celebrate the bus and not just the bus driver(s).”
Create a progress monitoring system. Design a monitoring system that provides frequent feedback that includes student voice about how well the plan is having the desired effect.

How will you develop and cultivate collaborative teams when addressing equity issues? Reflect back on the concept of the Equity Hook used in the example with site administrator Roy (99), when it was realized that “a star does not make a constellation make” to help communicate the need to strengthen the entire system.
What practices have been established as the “Acceptable Floor” by RUSD? Use Dr. Hansen’s Call to Action to assist you in identifying practices.
What practices at our own site must be addressed immediately because they violate the “Equity Culture”?
What equity outcomes do we want to see that are not currently part of our reality? In other words, how will you know success when you get there?

Page updated

Report abuse