Hopkins Public Schools Hosts Three-day Equity Symposium

(The following announcement comes from .)

Hopkins Public Schools hosted its second-annual Equity Symposium on June 13, 14 and 15. Each day was devoted to a different topic around equity and education. About 40 people attended each session, which was open to equity specialists, equity team members, principals, master teachers, school board members, and educators from surrounding school districts. Three facilitators led the symposium. The lineup is listed below:

• June 13 – “Literacy Development and Reading Instruction for Children of African Descent,” led by Gevonee Ford, from the Network for the Development of Children of African Descent of St. Paul, Minn.
• June 14 – “Culturally Relevant Math Instructional Practices and Strategies,” led by Shahid Muhammad, a math consultant from the Chicago area.
• June 15 – “Racism: Their Perspective, Our Reality?,” led by Dr. Rosalind Caroll, professor emeritus from The Center for Urban Education of Hamline University, St. Paul, Minn.

The purpose of the seminar was to give teachers and staff the tools, knowledge and instructional methods to reach the knowledge base of all students and teach to their strengths. These tools increase the self-confidence and self-esteem of students, which also broadens the potential for academic success.

“In order to become culturally proficient, we must constantly be in search of opportunities to grow our knowledge of the cultures and races represented in our schools and classrooms,” said Dr. Stanley Brown, coordinator of equity and inclusion for Hopkins Public Schools.

Hopkins Public Schools is committed to equity and inclusion for all students. Currently, 36 percent of students are of color. About 7 percent are English Language Learners.

Participants left the symposium with a greater knowledge of the importance and the relevance of teaching with race and culture in mind. Each day was constructed to challenge thinking, provoke courageous conversations on race and expand perceptions on teaching and learning.