Orange County NC Website
17 <br /> 1 <br /> 2 <br /> 3 Slide #22 <br /> 4 <br /> 5 <br /> 6 "Not everything that is faced can be changed.But nothing can be changed until <br /> 7 it is faced."-James Baldwin <br /> . The reopening school subcommittees utilized the Racial Equity Impact Assessment(REIA, <br /> 8 Race Forward)to ensure decisions were equitable <br /> Students were invited to participate in the reopening subcommittees to provide equity of <br /> voice <br /> 9 . Equity specialists will provide staff and faculty professional development focused on: <br /> Trajectory to Identity,Community,Equity and Social Justice <br /> 10 27 Equitable Classroom Practices <br /> How to Talk About Race <br /> 11 Intersectionality as a Compass <br /> My Protest is my Pedagagy <br /> Continued collaboration with Student Services in providing professional development- <br /> 1 2 Building Equity Centered Classrooms <br /> 13 <br /> 14 Dr. Monique Felder said she has worked a number of places, and the equity work here is <br /> 15 so impressive and important for student learning. She said equity is the thread that runs <br /> 16 through the District's work. <br /> 17 Dr. Dena Keeling said equity is a district priority, and everything the District does is <br /> 18 through an equity lens. She said before she was hired, the Board approved some joint funding, <br /> 19 and the district secured two 2-day trainings for district leadership, school counselors, career <br /> 20 advisors, and select teachers. She said these staff members went on to make up school based <br /> 21 equity teams in each school. She said the District cabinet and all school principals go through <br /> 22 monthly equity training, which has moved to an online platform due to Covid. She said the <br /> 23 district is working with Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) through a grant <br /> 24 at the NC Department of Education. She said IDRA analyzes data for OCS and creates <br /> 25 trainings accordingly. <br /> 26 Dr. Dena Keeling said every school based equity team has a lead, and she met with this <br /> 27 team for the first time last night. She said this work is important and she is having staff do a lot <br /> 28 of self-reflection. She said the equity taskforce is recruiting new members, including community <br /> 29 members, teachers, students and parents. She said this task force will make recommendations <br /> 30 to the Superintendent about issues related to equity. She said all current policies will be <br /> 31 reviewed. <br /> 32 Dr. Dena Keeling said she recently started affinity groups for staff, especially African <br /> 33 American staff. She said Orange High School has an excellent student led equity team, and an <br /> 34 African American history course offering has come out of that group. She said she listens <br /> 35 carefully to these students. She said she is a department of one, and it is a big lift to build this <br /> 36 effort in Orange County Schools. She said another challenge is the racial climate, and it is hard <br /> 37 to hear from students about feeling harmed and unsafe. She said it would be helpful if there <br /> 38 was a community wide focus on these issues. <br /> 39 Commissioner Greene said she is very interested in the students input about wanting <br /> 40 more diverse course offerings, and wanted to make sure Dr. Keeling knows about DPI <br /> 41 resources in these areas. <br /> 42 Jim Causby introduced Lee Williams who is the Chief Equity Officer. He said Dr. Lee <br /> 43 Williams was leaving at the end of the month and headed back to Guilford County Schools as a <br /> 44 middle school principal. <br />