Leadership magazine Nov/Dec 2014 V 44 No 2 | Page 34

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s we proceed through this school
your own filter is off to prevent you from
It is our moral imperative to
year, we have the opportunity to
making prejudicial assumptions and passwelcome students and help them
ing judgment on those you serve. Make an
make learning magical
begin their journey of learning.
effort to sit and talk with your local leadfor all of our students,
As educators, it is our moral imperative to
ers, council members or district supervimake learning magical for all students who
sors to hear about the current plans for
in classrooms that reflect their your area.
come to our schools. We need our students to
become problem solvers and creative thinkIf your community is overrepresented
cultures and communities.
ers, and in order for this magic to happen
by a specific ethnic group, invite the genwe need to know our students. Our classeral consul of their country to visit your
rooms need to reflect the cultures of the students we are teaching.
school and share the resources available to your families. If you do
not reside near your school, make an effort to visit your school’s
Understanding your community
neighborhood on a weekend or evening so you can see the dynamics
In order to be culturally competent leaders, we must understand
of your community.
and know the assets and challenges of the communities we are servYou may be surprised to see your school transformed on weeking. We cannot assume that we know this based on what we see or
ends when sports events occur on your fields. If your school serves
hear our students or parents say when they are at our schools. We
students who come from outside of your school’s neighborhood, you
must visit the restaurants, parks, stores, churches, clinics, organizawill need to plot on a map where your students come from and make
tions and agencies in the neighborhood to hear firsthand the needs,
fears, desires and values of community members.
By Mariann Engle and Jose V. Gonzalez
As you make contacts in your school’s community, check that
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Leadership