2016-17
Building leadership capacity
framing context
“Imagine that upon your arrival at an airline ticket counter, you are told that only 65 percent of the flights to your intended destination actually even arrive. The remainder crash en route. And, if you are a child of color, or poor, you are required to fly on special, poorly maintained planes—of which only 35 percent make it.
Sounds crazy, right? But this is exactly the deal that, as a nation, we are serving up daily to millions of children in thousands of our public schools.”
from Crash Course by Chris Whittle
leading for racial equity: awareness to action
Leadership Retreat
August 10th
Facilitated by Dr. Nikum Pon, Director Equity in Education, Puget Sound Educational Service District
The district leadership along with the larger community team participate in this training with Dr. Pon.
Leading for Racial Equity: Awareness of Self
Leading for Racial Equity: Action of Self
Products of the meeting: And Then Poem, Opportunity Gap Bill votes for focus areas
Nikum outreach to firm up dates for the year
August 24th
Email from Dr. Pon to Michael and Yvonne-Monique, ". . . I want to follow up with both of you to make sure we solidify dates for this year. Again, I'm fairly flexible in that I can accommodate community partners and parents schedule by conducting evening sessions. In addition, we should schedule times in between the Leadership Trainings with just the three of us for coaching, debriefing, and strategies to make sure everything we do ties back to VISD's mission and vision."
vashon schools Foundation
The schools foundation provides dedicated funding for the district's "Healthy and Compassionate Learning" initiative, an outgrowth of the strategic plan. This includes funds to support racial equity professional learning across the district for the 2016-17, facilitated by the Puget Sound Educational Service District.
Planning with Nikum And Parents & friends E5
October 6th & 7th
Vashon Island School District Center for Educational Excellence Survey Data 3-year Trends (2014-2015-2016)
Marzano Instructional Framework--focus areas for 2016-17:
1.3 Understanding students' interests and backgrounds
1.4 Demonstrating value and respect for typically underserved students
2.4 Asking questions of typically underserved students
2.6 Noticing when students are not engaged
5.3 Demonstrating "withitness"
3.1 Effective scaffolding of information within lessons
3.2 Planning and preparing for the needs of all students
6.1 Designing instruction aligned to assessment
SGG 6.1 & 6.2 Establishing and achieving student growth goals
Michael followed up separately with Nikum and Yvonne-Monique on October 7th to continue the planning.
October 14th
Racial equity focus. Nikum Pon, from Puget Sound Educational Service District, delivers the keynote address and leads a breakout session (offered twice). It is the first full-staff introduction to and engagement with our district's racial equity work.
Keynote: Engaging, Learning and Leading for Equity
At the right is a tree wordle created by the entire staff during Nikum's keynote address. All staff across the district attend the keynote address.
Breakout session: Leading for Racial Equity: Gap Analysis
The purpose of this workshop is to help educators understand the differences between achievement gap, opportunity gap and value gap. In addition, educators will understand how each gap aligns with one another to strengthen students educational outcomes.
Instructional Practices Alignment: Marzano 1.3, 1.4, 3.2
Describe your hope and vision for Vashon Island School District students’ K-12 schooling environment/experience in one word.
teaching & Learning report to the board
October 25th
Teaching & Learning presentation: instructional materials, bilingual program, strategic plan metrics including assessment gap analysis
Achieving Racial Equity through Policy and beyond, Part IV
Puget Sound Educational Service District
November 10th
Formation of ¡La Chispa! at McMurray
November
¡La Chispa! is formed at McMurray and they participated in the regional leadership workshop. They also adopted a school bulletin board to post Latinx cultural material and helped plan schoolwide student activities. Sara Filanoski was their adviser.
Educational Leadership, Disrupting Inequity
November
The School Board received copies of the November issue of Educational Leadership. The Learning Leadership Team also read and discussed the articles this issue.
Disrupting Inequity Study Guide
racial equity cycle of inquiry & action
professional development, planning dinner, community meeting
December 12th
"Dear Leadership Team and Sally,
Nikum Pon, our ESD facilitator, for our racial equity process will be in our district on Monday for three meetings. Sally - I have included you and hope that you can join us for as much of the day as possible. They are:
1) Meeting with my leadership team (LLT and Directors), 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. to learn about "equity walks". The intent is for our team to develop an "equity lense (sic)" by walking about our schools and developing an awareness of "institutional obstacles" to racial equity. Nikum will be our guide. Board members are welcome to join this training - We will meet in my office at 1:30 p.m.
2) Equity team planning dinner, 5:00 - 6:30, VHS lunchroom. In attendance will be my leadership team, 4 community members (E4), and board members. The purpose of the meeting is to review our racial equity planning goals and objectives, to consider the data collected so far, and to discuss next steps in our data collection/analysis, equity learning, and planning process. Nikum will facilitate our discussion about progress so far and future planning.
3) Community meeting, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., VHS lunchroom. In attendance will be my leadership team and members of the faculty/staff and members of the community who have indicated an interest in this work. This could be a group of about 50, or so. The meeting will feature a brief presentation by Tazi Flory, a 2012 VHS grad and graduate of Whitman, who will discuss her racial identity journey through our schools and college as a Japanese American. Following her presentation will be "table chats" facilitated by Nikum Pon. Again, purpose is for learning about racial equity issues, and developing a lense (sic) for understanding. Board members are welcome and encouraged to join this meeting- m"
Afternoon training
Nikum's slides: Setting the Stage for Equity Walks
Some key takeaways from this training
"A system produces what it is designed to produce."
"We need to see ourselves in the problem to lead effectively!"
Family dinner
Nikum's presentation
Reflections from the community meeting
"Tazi was quite amazing and nailed so many important points, including:
sense of isolation, not fitting in, exclusion
development of coping mechanisms, including "dissing" her own culture
lack of allies for students of color
no language for systemic racism
lack of faculty diversity, as well as student diversity
need for diversified curriculum, support for students of color, school-wide conversations."
Participant feedback/reflection regarding the evening.
Article about the meeting from our high school newspaper, The Riptide, Japanese Alumna Recounts Racial Inequality in Classrooms by Sequoia Gregorich
Proposal for Growing a Restorative & Collaborative culture
December 16th
Amanda Blaine submits a proposal to Michael Soltman and Yvonne Monique Aviva. Amanda proposed the following areas of focus and starting points:
restorative justice system--support staff who are implementing restorative justice practices
kindergarten classes--strategic coaching and setting up a sustainable classroom culture (restorative circle work)
racial equity--as work deepens, be available for training and support
general--offer coaching/training to grade level or content area teams; communications coaching
leadership team--coaching around power dynamics; facilitate restorative justice culture shift
MLK aSSemblies
January 13th
McMurray hosted the theater group from the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts. They performed, Nihojin Face: A Civil Rights Legacy Tour. The assembly was funded by a Partners in Education (PIE) grant written by Karen Stendahl, humanities/special education teacher.
"It’s 1942, the country is engaged in World War II, and the US Government has incarcerated 120,000 Japanese Americans for reasons of national security. Inspired by true stories of South Sound families, the play follows a family as they are forced to leave their home in Tacoma for an unknown destination. During their three years of incarceration, the family learns the impact of incarceration and develops empathy for others facing civil rights challenges.
Examining how this chapter of American history – which was unaddressed until President Reagan’s 1988 apology, but still resonates to this day – this new play connects with the Civil Rights era of Dr. King, and examines how we can uphold civil rights for all today."
latinx family focus group
January 19th
A meeting is scheduled "to discuss strategies for engaging the Latino community, and to develop a plan for doing so. Specifically attending this meeting will be Sally Adam, Alejandra Tres, Toby Holmes, Yvonne Monique-Aviva, Rebecca Goertzel, Alanah Baron, Chelsie Irish, and me [Michael Soltman]." Notes from the meeting written by Sally Adam and Alejandra Tres.
district & Community Equity leaders meeting
January 30th
Nikum's slides, Leading for Racial Equity: Systems Transformation Framework & Planning
Notes from the meeting including the "values" we listed and the brainstorm of possible activities through the fall.
Nikum_Systems Tranformation Planning_Leading for Racial Equity_1.17.pptxsuperintendent message to staff
March 17th
Michael sent out an email to staff, students and community members reminding them that “The Supreme Court Case from 1982, Plyer v. Doe, ruled that undocumented students have the same right to attend public schools as U.S. citizens and permanent residents.” and that “Although we are required to collect information about a student’s race, ethnicity and address, that information cannot be disclosed to the public. To be clear, our state’s public education system exists to help our students learn. It does not function, nor will function, as an arm of federal immigration services.”
planning with Alejandra Tres
March 31st & April 21st
Friday, March 31, 2017, 10:00 – 11:00am
Friday, April 21, 2017, 8:30 – 9:30am
Racial equity plan discussed by the school board
April 6th
Spring Hecht and others from Parents & Friends for Racial Equity discussed their work with the school board.
seal of biliteracy program introduced
Our Seal of Biliteracy program was initiated by Dr. Stephanie Spencer, director of teaching and learning, following the Washington State model. The program honors all students who demonstrate competency in English and at least one other world language. In the inaugural year, 19 students participated. 18 students qualified for the Seal of Biliteracy representing these languages: Spanish, German and American Sign Language. Two of these students had previously been served in our English language development program. And, the student who didn't qualify for the Seal did earn 3 competency credits in French. Why did we do this? A combination of factors led to our district adopting this program: student voice, staff and family advocacy as well as outreach by OSPI. The program gives heritage speakers, and others, the opportunity to earn up to 4 graduation credits (more than 1 semester's worth of credits). It also provides the opportunity for students to earn the Seal, to more likely graduate on time, and to improve employment and higher education opportunities. It is culturally and linguistically responsive.
dia del niÑo assembly & evening celebration
April 27th
Racial equity plan approved by school board
April 27th
Vashon Island School board approves racial equity plan, Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber, May 2, 2017
Letter: Thanks community group, school board for approving racial equity plan, Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber, May 16, 2017
planning with Dr. nikum Pon
May 3rd & 17th
May 3, 2017, 2:30 – 3:30pm
May 17, 2017, 8:00 – 11:00am
vashon-maury island beachcomber commentary
May 9th
Addressing universal racial equity problem in schools requires engagement, honesty by Amanda Blaine
Board Policy 3212: Ensuring Educational and Racial Equity
First reading
May 11th
Year End Celebration
June 13th
13th screening & discussion
June19th
Community Event
Film screening and discussion at the Vashon Island High School Theater hosted by Backbone, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) and Vashon Island School District.
Courageous Conversation: beyond diversity
Pacific Educational Group, Inc.
June 28-29
Part I: Michael Soltman, Amy Sassara, Ashley Christophersen, Harris Levinson
continued celebration of english language learners & bilingualism
2017 "graduates" of the English Language Development Program representing 5 heritage languages: Spanish, Japanese, Romanian, Indonesian & Czech. All families received information regarding the opportunity to participate in the newly adopted Seal of Biliteracy testing for students in grades 7 through 12.
additional training with an equity focus
August 15-16, 2016, Sound Supports
Restorative Justice
Positive Behavior Intervention and Support, Tier II
August 30, 2016, Teaching & Learning Forum
Marzano Instructional Framework: Elementary Assessment Practices/Standards Based Report Card
Achievement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Site-wide Strategies
Discussion Group: Best Practices for Launching your Classroom
Fall 2016, SIOP Training for Teachers Virtual Institute
October 14, 2016, Teaching & Learning Forum
English Language Learners: Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) Strategies
Marzano Instructional Framework--Standards Based Grading
October 28, 2016, Dual Language Institute: Teaching for Biliteracy
January through June, 2017 Teaching for Biliteracy Webinar & Book Study
February 11, 2017, Tukwila School District "Seeing Beyond"
February 11, 2017, Dual Language Washington, Spanish Literacy and Literacy Instruction Approaches
March 9, 2017, Standards-based grading--school board
March 10, 2017, Professional Development Day
Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences in the Classroom
Standards Based Grading Gradebook Q & A (Current Users)--middle school
Standards Based Grading in Secondary Schools Q & A--middle school
Standards-Based Scales and Grading (aligning to the report card)--elementary
Vashon Schools Foundation
3-year funding commitment
The Vashon Schools Foundation makes a commitment to support the racial equity work in our district for the 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years. The commitment ensures the district has sufficient funding to support ongoing training over time to keep the work moving forward without having to make reductions elsewhere in the budget.
School libraries
Diversifying collections & supporting culturally inclusive learning
Chautauqua Elementary Library, Kathleen Lawrence, PIE Grant, Expanded CES Library Collections: 50 multicultural books every child should read, $1000
"This list of must-have multicultural books was originally compiled by the Cooperative Children's Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
We have an obligation to our students and community to represent our diverse population through the beauty of literature, illustration and storytelling. Sharing stories visually and through text share the message that the stories and history of all communities have value, are interesting, and are beautiful and meaningful. School students and staff desire to share and know more about each of our histories. These beautiful books, stories and illustrations communicate this message."
McMurray Library, Julie Jaffe, PIE Grant, "Reading without Walls," $2000
"This grant would fund the purchase of books for the McMurray Library in support of our “Reading Without Walls Challenge,” a national effort spearheaded by Gene Yang, a graphic novelist who was chosen as this year’s National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and who recently was awarded a MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant. Yang’s challenge to expand young people’s reading horizons is simple but profound: (1) read a book about a character who doesn’t look or live like you (diversity comes in many forms: race, religion, gender, geography; sexual orientation, class, ethnicity, and more); (2) read a book about a topic you don’t know much about; and (3) read a book in a format that you don’t normally read (nonfiction, graphic novel, book in verse, memoir, etc).
We want to empower our students to function effectively in the wider world. The vicarious experiences that books provide help prepare our students to participate in this ever-changing world with curiosity, empathy, gratitude, resilience, and respect."
instructional program
Instructional Practices
Marzano Instructional Framework focus for the year (components): VISD Mission Document 2016-17
Instructional Materials
created online course for recognizing bias in instructional materials; posted to SafeSchools so that it can be assigned to teachers, parents and students who participate in our review of materials
adopted new materials for the following programs/classes: AP Comparative Government and Politics: An Essential Coursebook, 7th ed.; Integrated iScience 1-3, Physical iScience, Life iScience, Earth-Space iScience by Glencoe/McGraw Hill (middle school science); Big Ideas Math Algebra 2 by Larson & Boswell; Calculus by Larson & Battaglia
Learning Support Programs
increased the dedicated staffing in each building to support our English language learners
began the English language program screening process at preschool in June
initiated a trial enrichment program for highly capable students at the elementary school during the spring
implemented new highly capable selection process including universal screening in kindergarten (CogAT screener) and grades 4 through 12 (with state assessment results) as well as the use of Renzulli Behavior Scales
reviewed proportionality data for all support programs