Equity at NTPS = Eliminating the Barriers!
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At NTPS, we interrupt factors that perpetuate systemic inequities and/or practices that contribute to over and under-representation of any student group compared to peers. We confront the institutional bias that results in predictability of student success or lack thereof, including but not limited to race and ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, language and culture.
Equity in Focus - Spring 2022
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An ongoing commitment
North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) is committed to interrupting factors that perpetuate systemic inequities. We confront the institutional bias that results in the predictability of student success or lack thereof, including but not limited to race and ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, language, and culture.
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Spring 2022 Highlights
Highlights of the recent & ongoing NTPS equity work include the following:
- Improving the NTPS student complaint process & form.
- Organizing a Community Conversation event focused on equity (with >100 student representatives from all NTPS high schools).
- Fostering ongoing collaboration between the NTPS staff, the NTPS Equity Director, and school Black Student Union groups.
- Facilitating NTPS Community Cafés, including:
- Hosting an educational webinar "Including Everyone: Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth," with a panel including Lambert House, GLSEN, PFLAG-Olympia, & Pizza Klatch.
- Partnering with Embracing Equity to undertake an equity audit of River Ridge High School (RRHS) and to develop a strategic plan of action for Equity at RRHS.
- Training RRHS staff in Restorative Justice Practices. RRHS staff will identify and train student advocates as part of this process.
- Developing RRHS into a Restorative Practice school.
- Updating the Students Rights & Responsibilities Handbook (and informing students of their rights to an advocate and other district policies).
- Designing and implementing advisory lessons to encourage and promote community building at RRHS.
- Developing Ethnic Studies mini-lessons (all teachers) for use in the 2022-23 school year. NTPS Ethnic Studies teachers are leading this effort.
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Safe and Caring Schools
North Thurston Public Schools is dedicated to creating caring climates based on respect, responsibility, and repair of harm. Every student deserves access to a high-quality, inclusive, and safe learning environment.
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Elevating Student Voices
Advancing equity is a collective effort. At NTPS, listening can be a catalyst for change. Listening to student voices and collaborating with students, families, staff, and our community is a critical component in moving forward to improve our schools.
Learn More
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What does Equity mean?
At its basic level, equity means "fairness or justice in the way people are treated", but at NTPS equity means working hard to ensure our actions, policies, and programs at NTPS are free from bias and treatment on the basis of race & ethnicity, gender identity & sexual orientation, income, ability, language & culture.
Phases to understanding
Working towards a goal of equity in our district will be ongoing work. We've divided some of the actions into phases (see below):
Phase 1:
- Identify disparities in student achievement and behavior data in order to create action plans to eliminate gaps identified.
- Understand how our habits, attitudes, beliefs, and expectations can impact relationships with students and their families.
- Accept that we all have scotoma (blind spots) and work to build equitable systems.
- Create an environment in which there is genuine respect for students and a belief in their capability.
- Understand that when teachers have high expectations for students and provide tasks that are engaging and of high interest, students build self-esteem, increase confidence and improve academic performance.
Phase 2:
- Become literate about race, history, stereotypes, socio-political factors that impact our students and families.
- Understand that institutionalized racism exists and negatively impacts people of color, LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and more.
Phase 3:
- Acknowledge that we are conditioned by stereotypes and be aware of their impact.
- Identify unconscious biases and work to understand and if necessary, change them.
- Understand that positive intent does not always equate to positive impact.
Phase 4:
- Build capacity to lean into conversations about race, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, socio-economic status, disabilities, and more.
- Recognize micro-aggressions and know how to intervene in the moment.
- Identify and embrace ways that we can respectfully advocate for others.
Phase 5:
- Embrace and utilize culturally responsive teaching practices.
- Embrace and implement inclusionary and restorative practice
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What are students learning?
Some areas of work happening in our classrooms:
Social Justice Standards
This year, our district is beginning to integrate the Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards into classroom practices where appropriate.
Ethnic Studies
We review our data around academic performance, attendance, discipline and graduation annually. In response, we create plans to close these gaps in behavior and achievement. A component of our this work includes professional development that helps staff become literate about race, history, stereotypes, sociopolitical factors that impact our students and families.
Ethnic Studies is the interdisciplinary study of race and ethnicity and draws from many disciplines and areas of thought to comprehend the sociocultural, intellectual, and historical experiences that inform the construction of racial, gender, and cultural identities.
Black Lives Matter at School Resources
We celebrate Black Lives Matter at school during the first week of February. Teachers are provided resources to recognize black history and more.
Books
My Footprints by Bao Phi, illustrated by Basia Tran
This text expands students’ perceptions and understanding of the diversity that exists in families and builds a foundation for all students to feel acknowledged and valued in our learning spaces. When a student at school makes fun of her, she goes through a range of emotions. Notice how Thuy's footprints change along her walk- how our life experiences and emotions can affect the world in many ways. Discuss the impact of bias and stereotypes as it relates to gender and family composition. Highlight the culturally responsive methods Thuy's moms use to address her emotional needs.Milo Imagines the World, words by Matt de la Peña pictures by Christian Robinson
Milo looks around at the people on his bus and draws pictures about the lives he imagines they have. Use this text to explore stereotypes and bias. How do visible characteristics incorrectly inform our biases and create barriers for relationship building? How do our similarities and differences impact the relationships we have with people inside and outside our own identity groups? How do race, class, and gender stereotypes influence Milo's drawings?Student Conferences
Many students, through clubs and activities, attend equity-related conferences, such as:
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How does NTPS connect with families & the community?
We partner with our students, families, and community around equity initiatives. Some ways you can get involved:
- North Thurston Community Leadership (NTCL): The NTCL is a parent & community leadership team dedicated to co-creating race and equity best practices throughout our district.
- Multicultural Action Council: Comprised of parents, students, educators, and citizens interested in facilitating communication and understanding between diverse elements of the NTPS student body, staff, and community. More information >>
- NTPS Equity Advisory Team (EAT): This Team consists of community members & organizations, parents, and staff throughout our district. They help guide our goals and policies and help draft mini lessons for classrooms.
- Minoritized Educators Roundtable (MER): This team consists of NTPS educators (teachers) who are Black & Indigenous People of Color (BIPoC) as a way to connect and support BIPoC staff and students.
- Mentors! Program: A program designed to match students with community members to share experience. Connections are made that best serve students strengths & goals.
- Tribal Partnership: An ongoing effort to partner with the Nisqually tribal community, including student programs, land acknowledgement, curriculum & culture classroom lessons, and school board / tribal council work sessions. More information >>
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What are the District's goals?
Our work in equity is really about ensuring that every student has the resources and support they need to be successful. In an equitable classroom, individual factors don’t hold back students from reaching their full learning potential. We ask our teachers to:
- Model equity for our students
- Hold students to high expectations
- Create an equitable classroom environment
- Give students a voice
- Embrace culturally responsive teaching
Policies & Practices
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Have more questions?
Feel free to contact us at equity@nthurston.k12.wa.us
2021-22 News & Announcements
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NTPS Community Cafés - Be a Part of Change
Change is possible, one conversation at a time. Attend a Community Cafe this spring to help us create more inclusive and equitable systems in NTPS. Each cafe will focus on a specific community - Latinx (April 21), Native (May 19), & LGBTQIA+ (June 2). Learn more & register to attend >>
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2/4 *Updated 2/17*: Letter from Superintendent Clemens and School Board President Newkirk regarding River Ridge Student Walkout
Our district is committed to creating a compassionate, equitable, and inclusive school environment. This week, River Ridge High School students sent a clear message that we have work to do. Continue reading >>
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2/3: NTPS Statement: Update on RRHS student walkouts
Student and staff safety remains our top priority. There is still a group of students who have chosen to participate in this non-school sanctioned walkout event. Administration has requested they be respectful and to not disrupt the school environment as classes and finals are in session. Continue reading >>
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1/31: NTPS statement regarding Student Strike
North Thurston Public Schools values student voice and is committed to continuous improvement. We have created opportunities to hear directly from students through annual student surveys and expansion of student organizations. Continue Reading >>
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1/20: NTPS statement regarding racist slurs at basketball game
The incident that occurred at the recent Capital High School basketball game against River Ridge is evidence that racism is still a horrible reality in our community and is extremely harmful to our children. We must not and will not tolerate racism in North Thurston Public Schools or against our staff or students. Continue reading >>