“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
-- Nelson Mandela
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Student Voice: AAPI Heroes |
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Dear Team DPS,
As the whole world has been afflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the hate has been directed to Chinese or those who appear to be Chinese because of the origin of the virus. Today we talk about an Asian American hero, Xiao Zhen Xie. Xie was a 75-year-old Asian elderly woman who lived in San Francisco for 26 years. She was attacked by a 39-year-old man named Steven Jenkins. Jenkins was charged for attacking two elderly people within minutes of each other. Xie was attacked by Jenkins on March 17, 2021, at Market Street and Charles J. Brenham Place. Xie attacked back and left Jenkins in a stretcher with many injuries. Witnesses say they heard her yelling “You bum, why did you hit me?” in Chinese. Xie’s son started a GoFundMe page, initially trying to raise $50,000 to pay for his mother’s medical bills. They raised over one million dollars. Instead of keeping the money for herself, she donated the one million to help stop other hate crimes from happening.
Another hero in my life is Ms. Liu, my Chinese teacher at DCIS at Baker. She is a hero to me, as she has dedicated her time to teach me and many others about the side of China that the media doesn’t represent. Liu Laoshi educates her students about Chinese language, food, history, etiquette, traditions, etc. She has dedicated her life to teaching others, connecting some with their native language and culture, and showing that China can be peaceful and positive. The media misrepresents China as evil and disastrous. She has shown China past the propaganda and scrutiny. My teacher has said that the people are not a representation of their government.
Going forward, we need to be independent and research more into a topic before believing everything on the internet. We also need to address and understand the hate crimes targeting the AAPI community. Both of these women are people who we can look up to as they have impacted me, and maybe they will impact you to do more and respect others.
Sincerely,
Ringo Hope
Student at DCIS Baker
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Our DPS Equity Statement
Racial and Educational Equity is our collective responsibility. We will achieve equity when we dismantle deeply rooted systems of oppression that have historically resulted in inequitable access and distribution of opportunities and resources for those who represent marginalized identities, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, language and ability. We will create conditions where we all belong, are included, have clear purpose (why) and have the autonomy to lead in our respective areas. By creating these conditions, we will eliminate the predictability of success or failure for our students and team members.
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Each month, we'll showcase celebrations big and small, and the work being done to create more equity for students and team members throughout DPS. Share what you and your team have been doing to make a change for a more equitable DPS here.
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Asian Education Advisory Council Nominations and Awards |
The Asian Education Advisory Council (AEAC) presented awards to honor our Asian students, families and community members during their virtual awards breakfast on May 2. An amazing 70 videos were submitted -- watch them here! The AEAC was established, under court order, in 1985 by the DPS Board of Education. AEAC seeks to improve educational opportunities and to provide quality education for all students, particularly students of Asian American/Pacific Island (AA/PI) heritage. Learn more on the AEAC website or Facebook page.
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March Well-Being Survey Results Speak to Equity in DPS |
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Student Results
For the first time in DPS districtwide surveys, students had the opportunity to answer self-identification and equity-based LGBTQ+ questions. In the survey, students shared:
- The need to raise LGBTQ+ awareness, as well as embed LGBTQ+ history and issues in curriculum and schools, to better support students.
- Some shared their schools are already inclusive.
- Students who identify as LGBTQ+ do not feel they belong at their school to the same extent that students who do not identify as LGBTQ+ feel they belong.
- LGBTQ+ students are over twice as likely to report that they have been bullied this past year. A higher percent of middle school students report being bullied.
- Students reported a general increase in “I can see people who look like me in my schoolwork” when December results are compared to March results.
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Students learn the most about people from different races in their schoolwork and about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people the least. You can see student survey results here.
DPS Team Member Results
Team members -- including educators, administrators, Central Office staff, facilities, food services, paraprofessionals, principals, security officers, specialized service providers and transportation staff -- also had the opportunity to state what the barriers and successes have been to Black Excellence Plans. Some team members cited a lack of awareness of school plans, inconsistencies in implementation, a need for more district support, mindset challenges and pandemic-related challenges. Where successful, team members cited their team’s commitment and buy-in and providing 1:1 or small group support to students. See full team member survey results here.
To see all survey results, visit the Impact Office’s site on The Commons, or click here.
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College View Elementary Families Participate in Reading Circle With Spirit of The Sun |
College View Elementary families who identify as indigenous were invited to participate in a reading circle this month to listen to a reading of “Fry Bread, A Native American Family Story” written by Kevin Noble Maillard, a member of the Seminole Nation. The event was hosted by Spirit of the Sun, a local organization "empowering Native Communities one youth at a time." Each child also received a copy of the book, and a backpack full of school supplies!
“Our students and families connected to the content and tradition of fry bread, and it was powerful to see our students' pride and excitement when seeing representation of their culture in the text,” said College View Principal Shelley Boberschmidt.
“As DPS continues to work to become an anti-racist district and we prioritize this work in our schools, it is our responsibility to celebrate the brilliance and rich culture, traditions, and history of the students and communities we serve. As we run our schools on the stolen land of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute Nations, we must center and elevate their excellence and experience.”
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ICYMI: Introducing DPS’ New Ombudsperson Role |
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As we continue to strive to become an equity school district, one of our more important priorities is building more equity for all of our students and team members. It’s with this guiding value in mind that we’re excited to announce DPS’ new Ombudsperson role, which will be filled by Dr. Sharon Bailey.
As our organizational Ombudsperson, Dr. Bailey will work with team members across DPS to hear concerns and assist in resolving conflicts. Dr. Bailey will sit on the Senior Leadership Team, where she will be able to serve as a voice for the experiences of team members without sharing the source of concerns. The Ombuds especially will work to confidentially elevate the voices of team members who may not feel heard, such as our team members of color, LGBTQ+ team members and team members with disabilities, and bring attention to systematic concerns that arise. This work offers a confidential, neutral and safe space where our team members will have the opportunity to discuss their experiences and work on options to determine a resolution, and receive support in navigating the systems in place at DPS. Dr. Bailey can connect team members with supports from experts in the DPS community on the specific concerns being voiced.
Our Ombudsperson will report directly to the superintendent, and while they will work alongside Human Resources, they will not be part of the Human Resources reporting structure. More information will be shared soon about how to work with Dr. Bailey in this capacity. Learn more about the Ombudsperson and how they can support you on The Commons.
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ICYMI: Educator Institute for Equity and Justice
Join A Queer Endeavor’s annual Educator Institute for Equity and Justice in Education (EIEJ) on July 29-30 for a two-day professional learning experience aimed to support K-12 educators and youth-serving adults to learn and enact equity and justice-focused practices. Sessions will focus on anti-racism, abolitionist teaching, gender and sexual diversity, bi/multilingualism, equity in rural communities, supporting first-generation and undocumented students, critical dis/ability studies, trauma, and healing -- among others topics. Register here.
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Last Chance: Call for Submissions: DPS Healing through the Arts
There is still time to join other members of Team DPS in a collective spirit of healing by making a contribution through the arts and releasing this trauma through artistic expression. Submit a video that highlights your art form of dance, poetry, vocal or spoken word, instrumental music, or visual art that demonstrates rejuvenation and healing through the arts. All submissions need to be sent to DPSEquity@dpsk12.org no later than Friday, June 4. For submission instructions, click here. Chosen submissions will be shared in a celebration at the beginning of the school year.
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North Black Masque Theatre Presents ‘Working’
Presented by North High School, North Black Masque Theatre will stream "Working" May 20-22, at 7 p.m. There were 35 students who gained valuable theatre experience through this socially distanced production during a time when productions have been limited. Based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book of interviews with American workers, “Working” paints a vivid portrait of the people who the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the phone operator, the waitstaff, the millworker, and the stay-at-home partner, just to name a few. This new 2012 version of “Working” is a musical exploration of 26 people from all walks of life.
While most of the professions have been updated, the strength of the show is in the core truths that transcend specific professions; the key is how people's relationships to their work ultimately reveal key aspects of their humanity, regardless of the trappings of the job itself. Please note, the show contains some mature language and content. Tickets cover the cost of production, and can be purchased here.
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Resources to Support Educators of Color |
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Black Belong Group End-of-Year Celebration
What a year! Please join the Black Belong group members from 4-5 p.m. today, May 21, to celebrate the end of the 2020-21 school year. We'll take time to talk about our celebrations and challenges, goals for the 2021-22 school year, and then end with a friendly game. Come with your open heart and mind, and your competitive energy, as we close out the year. Join on Google Meets!
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Osharron Awatt
Special Education Paraprofessional,
Inspire Elementary
Equity
"Osharron has worked tirelessly to support the kindergarten student she works with. She goes above and beyond to collaborate with school staff, his family, and outside service providers to ensure consistency. By setting concrete, actionable goals, she has helped her student gain independence, access academics, manage emotions and form friendships. Osharron intuitively knows how to hold high expectations while also being flexible to her student’s needs, and she manages to incorporate a whole lot of silliness and fun into the day. Osharron and her student are often found 'camping' at recess, doing reading time on 'Mystery Island,' or giggling at jokes as they move throughout the school. She embodies the values of Equity, Students First, Collaboration and Fun. She is a rock star!"
-- Lizzie Miller, Inspire Elementary
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Calendar of Upcoming Events |
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