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ToC Mentorship Program
February 2024
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Defusing Stereotype Threat: Reclaiming Our Power as Educators of Color
On February 21, 2024, the members of the Teachers of Color Mentorship program had their 5th meeting at the School of Environmental Studies. This meeting was a workshop style event where guest speaker Rebecca Slaby gave a presentation on how to defuse the impact of stereotype threat. Rebecca Slaby is the Executive Director of AmazeWorks, an organization that works with schools and communities to create equity and belonging for all. Members were engaged in learning about what stereotype threat is and how to disrupt its effects not only on them but most importantly on their students. During the session, the discussions were brave, vulnerable and empowering. Mentors and mentees were able to listen to each other as they shared their own experiences with Stereotype threat and strategize ways to defuse it. Read more about the workshop by clicking here. Attendees can access resources by clicking here.
Ways to Connect
Use the board to support your monthly check-ins. Mentors, after each check-in, complete the Teachers of Color (T.O.C.) Connection Ticket. One ticket per space covered on the tic-tac-toe board.
Rejuvenation Phase
“Teachers in this phase feel more hopeful and begin to focus on their students’ academic growth and their own teaching competence. Rejuvenation can last into the spring” (Boogren, p. 8). This would be a time for mentors and mentees to talk about instructional support. Since neurons that fire together, wire together, hold supports around Catalyst skills. Some questions to consider are:
What are you communicating with your words, voice, body, breathing, and eyes? (Catalyst Workbook, p. 7)
Which of the four contexts are you working on? (Catalyst Workbook, p. 5)
Which Catalyst skills are easy for you? What skill will you add to what you are already doing? (Catalyst Workbook, p. 30)
Reach out to each other and/or any of the ToC Coordinators - Steph, José, Drew, or Yen for more support.
Source: Supporting Beginning Teachers by Tina H. Boogren & The Catalyst Approach: Whole Group Classroom Leadership and Support by Nancy Burns & Jacki Brickman
Catalyst Support Day
Reflecting on practice
Catalyst Support Day
Demonstrating a skill
Catalyst Support Day
Recalling a moment
Postcards are Due Friday, March 1, 2024
Have You Read the Book, The Pedagogy of Confidence?
🤔 Consider:
- Which High Operational Practices (HOPs) have you tried or would like to try?
- Which gifted and talented development strategies do you use or would like to implement?
- How are you strengthening your students' intellectual capacity?
- What connections did you make to Rebecca Slaby's Workshop on February 21, 2024?
✍️ Write about it on your postcard!
📬 Mail it to Yen Huynh-Vue, DO (District Office), to earn CEUs!
⌛ DUE: Friday, March 1, 2024
Amplifying Student Voice
March 13, 2024 Teachers of Color (ToC) Mentorship Program Meeting (6 of 8)
During the ToC March 13 meeting, participants will dive deeper into how to implement high operational practices. In her book, The Pedagogy of Confidence, Yvette Jackson shares how educators can optimize the experience that students have in the classroom. The focus will be on different ways in which amplifying student voices is implemented in classrooms. Program participants will also learn about CASEL's Social Emotional Learning practices that can be used throughout a teaching day.
Come, connect with your partner, eat, and learn more ways to strengthen your practice on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Eagan High School, Commons.
Second Annual "Looking Inward for Wisdom"
Lessons and Practices Shared by 196 BIPOC Colleagues Workshops
This year, the coordinators of Affinity Unite (AU) will join the coordinators of the Teachers of Color (ToC) Mentorship Program to host the second annual workshop created by District 196 educators of color for educators of color.
SAVE THE DATE!
Districtwide educators of color are invited to attend all three workshops on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Falcon Ridge Middle School, 150 House.
More information to come from the coordinators of AU and ToC!
District 196 Strategic Roadmap
The work of the Teachers of Color Mentorship Program aligns with the District 196 Strategic Roadmap. Resources that are provided align to one or more of the four strategic priorities of Wellbeing, Achievement, Equity, and Resources.
Wellbeing: Students Can Solve Many of Their Own Problems
Teachers shape resiliency by creating learning opportunities that invite students to grow through the productive struggle while normalizing mistakes during the learning process. Read more here.
Achievement: The Power of Believing That You Can Improve
Carol Dweck researches “growth mindset” — the idea that we can grow our brain's capacity to learn and to solve problems. In this talk, she describes two ways to think about a problem that’s slightly too hard for you to solve. Are you not smart enough to solve it … or have you just not solved it yet? A great introduction to this influential field. Read more here.
Equity: Confronting Bias: Ethics in the Classroom
The Youth Collective is a Generation Z media and education initiative focused on amplifying youth voices to shape a more ethical world by exploring ethics, confronting bias, and increasing civic engagement. Resources and tools provide suggestions to support ethics education, how to navigate biased conversations, and welcoming and understanding multiple perspectives. Read more here.
Resources: Future Me
Need a boost or pick me up to get through the rest of the school year? Consider a small act of self kindness by visiting www.futureme.org to write a letter for your future self. The image is a possible example to cheer yourself on as you grow through the rest of the school year.
Adult Pathways Program
"Grow Your Own (GYO) is a teacher preparing program strategy focused on developing and retaining teachers from the local community. GYO is often used to address teacher shortages and increase the diversity of the teacher workforce."
~ New America ~
District 196 GYO-Adult Pathways Program is seeking 15 future teacher candidates & 3 mentor/coaches for the second cohort.
Learn more at www.district196.org/GYO or contact Yen Huynh-Vue in the Equity and Inclusion Department at 651-432-7941 or yen.huynhvue@district196.org.
Missed a Newsletter?
They are located on the Equity and Inclusion Department Website.