Featured Teacher
What makes you so passionate about diversity and inclusion ?
My experiences to date have led me to become part of learning communities in the UK , Thailand , Japan and the UAE , each influencing me personally and professionally . It has been an exciting , challenging and incredibly rewarding journey . I have learned so much about people and through people . I have been surprised and challenged in ways I could not have imagined . Along the way , I have become increasingly aware of the disparities that exist between people of different groups . I saw prejudice , discrimination and racism . It did not take me long to recognise that I was part of the problem , and it was my social responsibility to act .
I made a conscious decision to start educating myself and to do my part in as many ways as possible . So , I watched TEDTalks , read books , watched documentaries and participated in various courses . I also intentionally build friendships with people who are different to me ; we can learn so much from one another . People have such different experiences and perspectives . The more diverse the group , the more varied the perspectives , the richer the discussions , and the more creative the solutions to everyday problems .
There is nothing particularly special about me and I do not consider myself an expert in any way . I just believe in doing what ’ s right , not for one but for all . In education we use language like ‘ internationally minded ’ and ‘ intercultural understanding ’, and these are powerful ideas , but if we have biases and do not show the same care and respect to everyone , then we need to do better . We should not underestimate the importance of relationships and empathy . The work of equity , diversity , inclusion and social justice benefits us all .
What steps have you taken as a school leader to make your school more diverse and inclusive ?
As an education leader , my first priority is always the students and their learning . I believe the quality of the learning environment and culture is key to ensuring an effective school . Consequently , I am committed to ensuring that all learners feel valued and are empowered . For me , this extends beyond students and includes all members of the learning community .
One of the most important things is that students see themselves reflected in the school . They need to feel connected and be in an environment that acknowledges and celebrates different cultural backgrounds . The educational resources used should be extensive and varied , not dominated by one culture . If students are to be inspired , they need to be exposed to a wide range of experiences and believe that there is an abundance of opportunities available to them . As such , I am intentional about recruitment and procurement of resources , seeking to increase diversity in appropriate and meaningful ways . This helps students see the world through different cultural lenses .
Our school vision is centred on creating a culture of dignity , whereby all members feel safe , valued and included – a place where they belong . The book Belonging through a Culture of Dignity by Floyd Cobb and John Krownapple has been an inspiration to me . The word dignity is perhaps not used often , but it is nonetheless powerful . It ’ s about the worth of a person . At our school , we use studentfriendly language to communicate this idea with our young learners : I matter and I belong . You matter and you belong . We matter and we belong . This sets the foundation for how we interact and work together .
This is supported by five values , both core and aspirational : openness , care , opportunity , empathy and agency . As a school , we have begun to unpack these together and think about what this means and what it looks like in different parts of the school . It is critical that values are lived ; they need to lead the work . We also need common understandings about the terms to support practical application . For example , if empathy is understanding and sharing the feelings of another , then we use people ’ s names , because little things make an enormous impact . There are three aims : intercultural understanding , personal and collective achievement , and social and environmental stewardship . The culture of dignity and values is embedded within these aims . When initiatives are implemented , they are linked to the values and aims , reinforcing clarity , consistency , alignment and cohesion .
This year , I created some new director roles , one of which is Director of Equity , Diversity and Inclusion . This teacher leader is responsible for a range of tasks including developing and implementing a strategic plan , promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives , developing systems for reporting discrimination , and liaising with community groups and relevant organisations . This will help us continue to raise awareness , engage in challenging conversations and find ways to continue to improve .
What are your plans to make sure that diversity and inclusion stays at the forefront of your school ' s agenda ?
The terms ‘ diversity ’ and ‘ inclusion ’ are nouns . I think it ’ s more helpful , however , to think in terms of action , especially as it relates to the impact on student learning . We need to have a clear sense of purpose so we can set clear targets for what we will achieve and the steps we will take to get there . The word ‘ plan ’ is therefore key . At our school , equity , diversity and inclusion work is built into the strategic plan . This is something that will need to be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure we are always moving forward . As it is built into the language of the vision , values and aims , the foundation is set for continued work .
Lately , I have been reflecting on the recent efforts to promote wellbeing across the world . This is certainly very important , especially during a global pandemic . However , I do wonder how we can possibly have wellbeing without dignity . If equity and inclusion are not valued , then I ’ m not convinced that we can profess to fully value wellbeing .
30 Term 2 Jan - Mar 2022
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