Josue Falaise- Gomo Services 

Dr. Josue Falaise is the founder and CEO of GOMO Educational Services. He is a former teacher, principal, assistant superintendent/chief academic officer with experience from suburban and urban school districts. His kindergarten through twelfth grade experience spans over 22 years. During those years, he was a devoted servant leader engineering programs that would level the playing field for his students, building the capacity of staff and fostering inimitable relationships that he maintains with former staff, students and colleagues today. Most recently, Dr. Falaise was the director of the Rutgers Institute for Improving Student Achievement (RIISA) at the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education (RGSE). During his time at RGSE, Dr. Falaise traveled the globe working with over 100 school district/organizational leadership teams and higher education institutions to help them design systems of addressing equity.

Cultural Competence Training

Administrators were trained first, on July 23rd, on the topic of “cultural competence.” 

Description: Through varying examples of social emotional habits, the presenter will provide attendees with a full understanding of the fundamental unifying premise of acceptance towards diversity. True stories and research will illustrate the emotional dynamics and development of more productive communities and spaces.(8 hours)


Curriculum writers were trained next, along with several administrators, on July 28th, on the topic of “writing curriculum with a culturally responsive lens.” 

Description: Attendees will reflect on their cultural practices that shape their thinking process and examine their own cultural filters that influence the curriculum design which drives the pedagogy. (3 hours)

Keynote Address "Turning Adversity into Opportunity"

September 1, 2020 (1 hour) Keynote for ALL Staff

Alhassan Susso is a world-renowned educator, author and speaker who has devoted his career to transforming the lives of young people facing difficulties. Born in The Gambia, Alhassan migrated to America at age 16.  Read his fulll bio here. 

Keynote Description:  When faced with adversity, what determines the outcome?

In these unprecedented times, educators are confronted with many uncertainties. Despite the insurmountable challenges to tackle, educators can learn how to develop resiliency and view these challenges as opportunity to create better outcomes for their students.

 In this keynote address, attendees will learn:

·   Successful strategies with identifying opportunity in obstacles

·   Successful methods of guiding students to turn challenges into opportunity.

·   Development of a clear and compelling vision for the future.

·   Methods of leading uncomfortable conversations that initiate creation of deep and connected communities.

 

Charles Street School Diversity Committee Meeting 

September 1, 2020 (1 hour) PLC Meeting for select group and interested staff 

Teachers met to discuss cultural activities embedded in each grade level. 

Mrs. Tyler facilitated along with the small group who started this planning initiative this summer in one of our curriculum workshops. In addition to infusing stronger diversity in our voices and choices (libraries, lessons, and learning), many teachers discussed identifying specific grade-wide "big" activities or events per grade level. For example, 4th grade has a multi-cultural festival (food and all). The team started to brainstorm, and could take the next step including even more perspectives, on how to flesh this out for the 2020-2021 school year, whether we are remote, hybrid, in-person, or any combo of the three. 

Palmyra High/Middle School Diversity Committee Meeting 

September 1, 2020 (1 hour) PLC Meeting for select group and interested staff 

Teachers started meeting this past Spring to discuss cultural activities and initiatives for improving our diversity, equity, and awareness in these areas at the Palmyra High School and Middle School. 

That team is strongly encouraged to attend and drive this meeting to pick up where we ended and start planning our steps for moving forward with this mission in the 2020-2021 school year. 

Winter/Spring 2021 Training

Culturally Responsive Practices Training

Dr. Robin Daniels has been working with the administrative team and staff to improve understanding, appreciation, and application of culturally responsive practices. Learn more about Dr. Robin Daniels and Inflight, LLC here. 

Sessions: 

Preliminary Planning Meetings with Curriculum and Leadership (Winter ongoing) 

Staff Kickoff: March 5th In-Service Day: Introduction to Culturally Responsive Practices: Culture and Racial Bias 

March 17th: Full Administrative Team Work-session 

March 24th: Culturally Responsive Approaches to Supporting Students from Low SES 

May 2021: Planned Activities: 

Equity and Diversity Series

Facilitated by New Jersey Teacher To Teacher, LLC.

Roughly 10 staff and administrators across the district are attending monthly PLCs focusing on various components of Equity and Diversity

Staff have committed to attending all six sessions as a team and discussing the materials presented and explored together, both during those sessions and in between them. 

Staff are working to use the ideas presented to generate best practices for infusing greater opportunities for equity and diversity in all areas of our district programming.