My Biases

I know my biases affect my ability to be a leader when it comes to my effectiveness to share my thoughts to my department. I do not judge people on their appearance and or any other factors. I know this of myself and when I took the test on skin color my results( see below) were “No automatic preference towards light or dark skin.” I get really frustrated when colleagues make judgments on students according to prejudices it may not be skin color but others such as “What their last name is” “Who their siblings were” “If they come from a rich or poor background” or “If they are good at math.”

This frustration impacts my ability to lead without getting upset. The “mama bear” comes out and I feel like I have to stick up for those kids. I know there is an issue with failing Algebra 2 students. We have always had this issue but now graduates need 3 credits to graduate so for the first time this is going to affect who graduates and who doesn’t. I asked my administration for the data

(see artifact Alg 2 failures). https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JOI0ibaIh5DWLCdl8k4y2lyWdHfmtW4RbNg44eqBLvQ/edit?usp=sharing

We had 12 first semester Algebra 2 failures and 15 2nd semester failures. So this year we have 26 seniors that will have to pass 1 or both semesters of Algebra 2 or they will not graduate. These students will need help. Many students were so close to passing (see grades) A 60% is passing grade and many students were only a few points away. This got me thinking that some of these students need help. We as a district, have done so much for those students that are identified and are super low ability wise. (See class schedule attached all highlighted classes are support classes for either pre-algebra, algebra 1 or Geometry). What about that regular kid that does not have an IEP or does not have parents to advocate for them. They may work 30+ hours a week and have no supports in place for them in Algebra 2 or any math class above. An ACT score of 22 is required to be career and college ready and without success in Algebra 2 many students will not reach that score. I have spent many of my prep periods and lunches helping students that are in algebra 2. I do not teach algebra 2, but these students are more comfortable coming to me for extra help rather than go to their algebra 2 teacher. I had 2 algebra 2 students this year that were my teachers assistants during 5th and 6th period so they could ask me for help in algebra 2 class. My capstone project is to work together with NHS students and my seniors students to offer tutoring for algebra 2 and above students. This was developed because I knew from my biases we needed to do something for the regular student that was struggling in algebra 2 or upper level classes. This is not only needed to help the students but also to help our graduation rates. With 2020 being the first graduating class that needs 3 math credits it is a win win for all. NHS students are always searching for volunteer hours and we have many students that need help in math. I am going to create a student led math tutoring program. I realized that I am sometimes on an island when it comes to the way I teach math and over the years I have really tried to help my colleagues adjust how they teach to help students. Students don’t like to be taught in a stand and deliver method. I know that I couldn’t change my colleagues and my frustrations weren’t making things better so I am trying to go about helping students in a different way.