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The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strives to create and sustain a district-wide culture that universally uses culturally responsive teaching and equitable practices to ensure that all students — regardless of the schools they attend, their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, native language, or economic status — have access to exceptional teaching and resources needed for each to continually experience high levels of academic achievement and social development.
DEISEL Committee (Long Branch Equity & SEL Team)
At Long Branch, we have an equity and social-emotional committee comprised of staff members called the DEISEL Committee. Our DEISEL Committee meets about every other month.
Goal: The goal of the DEISEL Committee is to promote institutional change within the school system to better serve students and staff by ensuring each student receives what they need to reach their academic and social-emotional potential. Our mission is to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, staff, and families. Through DEI initiatives, we aim to celebrate diversity and ensure equity in learning opportunities. SEL programs will focus on students’ emotional well-being, equipping them with the skills to build healthy relationships, manage emotions, and grow both socially and academically.
DEISEL Committee/Equity Team works to:
- Eliminate inequities and disparities in student achievement
- Foster a safe and healthy school climate
- Promote an inclusive culture that engages and draws on the assets of students, families, staff and community members
- Encourage conversations about equity and social justice
Equity Influencer
SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) Lead
Equity Resources for Adults
Books for Adults:
- How to Be an Antiracist – Ibram X. Kendi
- So You Want to Talk About Race – Ijeoma Oluo
- White Kids (Critical Perspectives on Youth) – Margaret A. Hagerman
Resources for Adults:
- Teaching Tolerance – It’s Never Too Early to Talk About Race
- PBS for Parents–Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism
- NPR – Podcast & Article: ‘Raising White Kids’ Author On How White Parents Can Talk About Race
- Raising Race Conscious Children – 100 RACE-CONSCIOUS THINGS YOU CAN SAY TO YOUR CHILD TO ADVANCE RACIAL JUSTICE
More Resources
As U.S. racial divisions and inequities grow sharper and more painful, the work of envisioning and creating systems of authentic racial inclusion and belonging in the United States remains work in progress. We believe that reversing the trend must begin in our homes, schools, and communities with our children’s hearts and minds.
Race and Ethnicity:Views from Inside the Unconscious Mind
As a university-wide, interdisciplinary research institute, the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity works to deepen understanding of the causes of—and solutions to—racial and ethnic disparities worldwide, and to bring about a society that is fair and just for all people.
Disclaimer: This page contains links to websites that are outside of the Arlington Public School network. APS does not control the content or relevancy of these links.
Equity Resources for Staff
Resources for Teachers:
- TED Talk – Liz Kleinrock – How to teach kids to talk about taboo topics
- Teaching Tolerance – What White Colleagues Need to Understand
- Teachers College: Addressing Racism
- As Protests Erupt After George Floyd’s Death, Teachers Grieve With Students From a Distance
- National Association of Independent Schools – What White Children Need to Know About Race
- American Psychological Association – Uncovering the Trauma of Racism
- Dena Simmons: Without Context, Social-Emotional Learning Can Backfire
Resource link provided by Bridget Loft, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning on Sept. 3, 2020
National Network of State Teachers of Year Book List
Resource Link
Leading Equity Podcast The Leading Equity Podcast focuses on supporting educators with the tools and resources necessary to ensure equity at their school. On this podcast, listeners can expect to hear interviews and stories from voices of equity in education today. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and Spotify!
Disclaimer: This page contains links to websites that are outside of the Arlington Public School network. APS does not control the content or relevancy of these links.
Equity Resources for Families
A Great Place to Start:
- Understanding Equity and Inequity from Equity Literacy Institute.
- National Museum of African American History & Culture – Talking about Race
- NPR: Talking Race with Young Children A video for families on how to handle conversations about race, racism, diversity and inclusion, even with very young children.
- Pretty Good Design: Are your kids too young to talk about race? Nope.
Books for Kids:
- Today’s Parent: 27 books to help you talk to your kids about racism
- A Kids Book About Racism – Jelani Memory
- Let the Children March – Monica Clark-Robinson
- We’re Different, We’re the Same (Sesame Street)
- Let’s Talk About Race – Julius Lester
- https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/new/
More book suggestions from: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2020/06/02/books-to-learn-more-anti-racism-adults-kids/5306873002/
- “The Colors of Us” by Karen Katz
- “Let’s Talk About Race” by Julius Lester
- “The Skin I’m In: A First Look at Racism” by Pat Thomas
- Sesame Street’s “We’re Different, We’re the Same” by Bobbi Jane Kates
- “Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice” by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard
- “I Am Enough” by Grace Byers
- “Happy in Our Skin” by Fran Manushkin and Lauren Tobia
- “Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement” by Carole Boston Weatherford and Ekua Holmes
- “Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America” by Jennifer Harvey
- “Daddy Why Am I Brown?: A healthy conversation about skin color and family” by Bedford F. Palmer
- “A Terrible Thing Happened” by Margaret Holmes
- “Antiracist Baby” by Ibram X. Kendi
Videos for Kids:
- YouTube – Animation Series: Something Happened In Our Town – Read Aloud
- YouTube – Systemic Racism Explained
- YouTube – A Kids Book About Racism by Jelani Memory – Read Aloud
- YouTube – The Tutu Teacher – Let’s Talk About Race – Read Aloud
More video suggestions from: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/08/26/kids-tv-shows-teach-anti-racism-celebrate-diversity/5606178002/
- Kids, Race and Unity: A Nick News Special Hosted by Alicia Keys
- Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism – Sesame Street and CNN What it’s about: Elmo, Elmo’s dad Louie, Big Bird, Abby Cadabby and more of your favorite “Sesame Street” friends answer kids’ questions about racism, protests and the world around us. Joining them are Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Philadelphia Police Chief Charles Ramsey, and other experts. The 60-minute special is a team effort from “Sesame Street” and CNN and hosted by CNN commentator Van Jones and anchor and national correspondent Erica Hill.How to watch: Find it on CNN.
- PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism What it’s about: This half-hour TV special will feature PBS favorites like Daniel Tiger, Arthur and Xavier Riddle. According to a press release, the show will have “kids and their parents talking about race and racial justice-related topics in an age-appropriate way, such as noticing differences in race, understanding what racism can look like, and embracing the role we all have to play in standing up for ourselves and each other.”The special debuts Oct. 9 as part of PBS Kids Family Night on the PBS Kids 24/7 channel and will be available on all PBS Kids platforms.
- Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices’ What it’s about: Netflix is launching a new series hosted by 15-year-old activist Marley Dias, founder of 1000 Black Girl Books. The episodes feature Black celebrities like Tiffany Haddish, Lupita Nyong’o, Marsai Martin, and Common reading children’s books from Black authors. As the celebrities read, they talk about the message of the book and share their connection with it. How to watch: Find it on Netflix starting Sept. 1.
- ARTHUR on Racism: Talk, Listen, and Act‘What it’s about: In this video short, Arthur and Buster saw a clip online of someone getting hurt “just because they were Black.” So they seek advice from their lunch lady, Mrs. MacGrady, on ways they can help fight racism. She tells them to talk about racism with their friends, parents and teachers, to listen to those who have experienced racism and speak up when someone is being treated unfairly. How to watch: Find it on PBS.
Disclaimer: This page contains links to websites that are outside of the Arlington Public School network. APS does not control the content or relevancy of these links.