Members of the Shawnee Mission School District community are working together to strengthen inclusion, equity, and excellence in our schools.
More than 220 teachers, principals, board and cabinet members, coordinators and directors recently attended Deep Equity presented by Corwin Equity Professional Development. The training focused specifically on personal culture and personal journey, growth toward cultural competence, and connecting adult cultural competence with student outcomes. Individuals who attended this phase of training will help implement further Deep Equity training across the district in the coming weeks and months.
The Shawnee Mission School District’s goal for deep equity is outlined in Strategy 2 of the Strategic Plan, developed by the community and adopted by the Board of Education in June. The strategy states: “We will relentlessly create a fully unified, equitable and inclusive culture.”
The work is rooted in district beliefs adopted in the Strategic Plan, noted Superintendent Mike Fulton.
“We embrace diversity as a strength,” Fulton said. “We are consciously choosing to create learning environments where every student has a personalized learning plan that leads them to academic excellence and helps them develop the interpersonal skills they need for life success.”
This most recent training marked a second phase in an ongoing process. The Shawnee Mission Board of Education approved the Corwin professional development contract in April. In July, district administrators and principals attended a first phase of Deep Equity Training at the Center for Academic Achievement. In coming months, staff members across the district will receive Deep Equity professional development.
“Our Deep Equity work is a journey, not a destination, and we will implement a variety of strategies along the way to improve our ability to accomplish the essence of Strategy 2,” said Tyrone Bates, coordinator of diversity, equity, and inclusion.