Friday, Dec. 2, 2016
ED Talks Encourage DPS Educators to Start Tough Conversations
ED Talks Encourage DPS Educators to Start Tough Conversations
 Inspiring Hope for Equity
Dear DPS Community,
Supt. Tom Boasberg

"I'm hopeful we'll be able to begin the conversation about what equity really means."
 
"I'm hopeful that people's willingness to have honest/authentic conversations will lead to needed change."
 
"Access and equity for all"
 
"Diverse teachers, one community = one Denver"


When our DPS Culture, Equity and Leadership Team (CELT) kicked off the first meeting of our African-American Equity Task Force, the conversation started with hope. We all took some time to think about and write down our hopes for what we wanted our equity work to bring to our schools. We got back many caring, thoughtful and inspiring hopes (like the ones above) that speak to the importance of this work and to what a committed group of educators we're so lucky to have in Denver.
 
As  I shared with you earlier this year , the African-American Equity Task Force was put together by our CELT leaders after we reviewed  a pathbreaking report  from Dr. Sharon Bailey. Last spring, in response to concerns from our schools and the community, we asked Dr. Bailey to report in detail on the experiences of our African-American educators and to listen to their perspectives about how our African-American students are being cared for and educated. We're now intently addressing the findings in Dr. Bailey's report.
 
As part of that work, we are hosting monthly "ED Talks," to give voice and discussion to the equity issues raised in Dr. Bailey's report. This month's ED Talk was held Tuesday at Manual High School, led by  Ash Beckham , whose  Ted Talk on compassion and empathy  has received 2.5 million views. It was a provocative and emotional conversation about how to courageously confront difficult issues while also banding together around the values and aspirations we all share. And it's just the start of the dialogue. I encourage you to consider being a part of an upcoming ED Talk.
 
Equity is one of our  Shared Core Values  at DPS. That means it should inform and be reflected in all that we do. And it's important to our leadership team to get feedback from our educators about how well we're doing in living out each of our Shared Core Values. So, every year, we ask for that feedback from the entire school district through our CollaboRATE survey, which was sent to every DPS employee this week. This is another important way to continue the conversation about equity, and the survey is a powerful listening and gut-check tool for us on how our actions are aligning with our foundational principles.
 
The feedback isn't always easy to hear; but we cannot learn and grow without it. T he power of hope and the depth of our community's commitment to our children drives us through the rough spots and toward a brighter future -- and a stronger city. That's what energized the room during the first Task Force meeting, and it's what energizes me about the work ahead. And it was clearly expressed in one more of the "hope" messages that I'll share with you from our Equity Task Force: "My hope is that the spirit in this room spreads throughout all DPS schools."

Best,
Tom

DPS Board Updates on Early Literacy, Social-Emotional Learning
A Foundation for Success in School: Early Literacy in DPS
Watch a DPS Features Video on A Foundation for Success in School: Early Literacy in DPS
Research shows that students who are proficient in reading by third grade are four times more likely to graduate than those who aren't, which is why DPS is working to ensure 80% of our students meet this critical benchmark.  At Thursday's Focus on Achievement session,  Board of Education members received an update on the district's  Early Literacy plan.  Our primary emphasis is on providing additional professional learning for ECE through third grade teachers. Watch the video  about the importance of early literacy as a foundation for success in school (above right), or read the full presentation here .  

Support for the Whole Child | Denver Plan 2020 Update
Watch a DPS Features Video on Support for the Whole Child: A Denver Plan 2020 Update
The Board also heard about how funds from the mill levy override passed in November will be used to support Early Literacy and for social and emotional learning through the district's focus on the Whole Child. Watch the video on support for the Whole Child (right) or read the full presentation on social and emotional supports here

Attend Public Forum on Business Diversity Dec. 7

DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg and the Board of Education invite families and community members to attend a Business Diversity Public Forum from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7 in the cafetorium of Building 7 on the Evie Dennis Campus, 4800 Telluride St., Denver.
 
DPS has partnered with MGT of America to conduct an assessment of the current procurement practices and business diversity program. At the forum, MGT of America will gather input from DPS vendors and community members who have participated in the construction procurement process.
 
Attend this event and provide feedback to help increase awareness and efforts. Please  RSVP online here.
 
For more than 20 years, the DPS Business Diversity Outreach program has been in place to help guide DPS' efforts to involve diverse businesses in our construction projects. The program helps promote diversity in construction and related contracting for bond-funded capital improvement projects. In the past two years, the DPS Board of Education and district leaders have led efforts to provide greater opportunities to diverse construction vendors.
 
Vendors who are interested in doing business with DPS, or if vendors have additional questions about the upcoming public forum, please visit  bond.dpsk12.org/our-commitment-to-equity or email  businessdiversity@dpsk12.org.

Superintendent Parent Forum Focus on College and Career Readiness
Engage with Superintendent Tom Boasberg at the December Superintendent Parent Forum from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 at Temple Emanuel, 51 Grape St., Denver.

This open forum will focus on the Denver Plan 2020 goal of College and Career Readiness, including how to know whether your child is on the right path to graduation, resources available to support your student and information on our new graduation requirements. 

Register online here. Interpretation, meals and childcare (for children ages 3 through 12) are provided for free. If you have questions, email FACE_events@dpsk12.org or call 720-423-3135. 

After the forum, the English Language Acquisition District Advisory Committee (ELA DAC) will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. ELA families are invited to attend and learn more about DPS' commitment to equity and inclusion, shared goals and receive additional updates.


COMING UP...
Dec. 22 through Jan. 9: Winter Break

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