October 2018 Edition
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J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y P U B L I C S C H O O L S<br />
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND POVERTY DEPARTMENT<br />
OCTOBER <strong>2018</strong> | ISSUE 54<br />
Recognizing Culturally<br />
Responsive and Innovative<br />
Classroom Teachers<br />
Students Work to Make<br />
Library More Inclusive<br />
Taylor Utley &<br />
Shashray McCormack<br />
And More!<br />
Celebrating the Heritage<br />
and Contributions of 1the<br />
Local Latino Community
Gilmore Lane<br />
Students Work to<br />
Make Library More<br />
Inclusive<br />
By Lindsay Dotterweich<br />
3rd Grade Teacher, Gifted & Talented Lead,<br />
Gilmore Lane Elementary<br />
As a second grade teacher last<br />
year, we taught reading units<br />
that were focused around an<br />
overall theme, such as leadership or<br />
perseverance. Starting in February, we<br />
began a unit surrounded around the<br />
theme of diversity. We used fictional<br />
texts with diverse characters based on<br />
their languages, ethnicity, home<br />
countries, interests, and beliefs to help<br />
teach students about cultural diversity<br />
while also working on specific reading<br />
standards and skills related to<br />
literary texts. As we moved into work<br />
with informational texts and<br />
standards, we highlighted two<br />
exceptional child leaders through<br />
articles and video interviews: Malala<br />
Yousafzai and Marley Dias. Malala, from<br />
Pakistan, is known for speaking out in<br />
support of all girls having the right to<br />
Continue on next page<br />
2<br />
Photo, Abdul Sharif
ENVISION EQUITY OCTOBER <strong>2018</strong><br />
go to school in her home country. Marley, as only a 5th grader, started<br />
a campaign to collect books with African-American girls as the main character<br />
because of a problem she noticed in the books that she was reading at her<br />
school having mainly white boys as characters. She then went on to write her<br />
own book as a middle school student.<br />
As a culminating<br />
project for our unit,<br />
we analyzed our<br />
own classroom<br />
library to look at the<br />
diversity of the<br />
books available to<br />
us in our own<br />
classroom. Our<br />
classroom<br />
community is very<br />
diverse in terms of<br />
language and ethnicity, so I wanted to make sure our classroom library<br />
contained books that have characters that our students can identify and<br />
connect with. Every student deserves to have books available to them where<br />
they can see themselves represented and learn about people who are different<br />
from them, as well.<br />
First, we analyzed the books in our classroom library based on the ethnicity and<br />
gender represented in characters, and discussed our observations. Then, once<br />
we had identified our areas of need, students researched books that met those<br />
needs and created a list of books they wanted to have for our library. I then<br />
created a Donors Choose Project to get funding so we could actually get these<br />
books into our library and students’ hands.<br />
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3
ENVISION EQUITY OCTOBER <strong>2018</strong><br />
Finally, we wrapped up the project by connecting our writing standards to this<br />
project. My students chose to write either letters or a script that would be<br />
turned into a video that would be sent to potential donors for our project<br />
during our opinion-writing unit. They had the job of using their writing to<br />
communicate their opinion about what type of books we need and try to<br />
convince their readers or listeners to donate to our project so we can get these<br />
types of books into our classrooms.<br />
I have been so proud of the conversations and realizations we have had about<br />
cultural diversity through this project, and know this has been a truly<br />
meaningful learning experience for both myself and my students. The things<br />
my kids noticed about our classroom library blew me away. It made me realize<br />
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4
ENVISION EQUITY OCTOBER <strong>2018</strong><br />
that social justice<br />
should be at the<br />
forefront of<br />
education early on.<br />
Kids can handle<br />
these big topics,<br />
and we are doing<br />
them a disservice if<br />
we do not include<br />
them in our<br />
instruction.<br />
This experience<br />
gave my kids<br />
ownership and<br />
voice over the<br />
books they have<br />
available to read<br />
within our<br />
classroom. It is so<br />
important that<br />
each of them sees themselves represented in the books they read so they<br />
believe in their own existence and importance in our world and society. This<br />
whole project began because I wanted to make sure all of my students had<br />
access to books that show characters or real people that they identify with,<br />
not just some of my students. And I wanted to provide them with an<br />
opportunity to look at an issue of equity and social justice within their own<br />
classroom so they were equipped with the knowledge and skills to stand up<br />
for injustices they see outside of my classroom.<br />
5
Diversity, Equity, and<br />
Poverty Resource<br />
Teacher Spotlight<br />
Ms.Taylor Utley<br />
I<br />
would like to formally introduce myself as a new<br />
member of the department of Diversity, Equity, and<br />
Poverty Programs (DEP). My name is Taylor Utley, and<br />
this is my eighth year in education and my fifth year working<br />
for Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS). I am a Kentucky<br />
native, born and raised in Christian County. I have a bachelor’s<br />
degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in special<br />
education, and a Rank I in educational leadership.<br />
Educational opportunities changed the trajectory of my<br />
personal path, and working with children these past ten years<br />
has given my life a greater purpose and meaning. I am very<br />
passionate about equity in education and excited to be a part<br />
of the revolutionary work being done in DEP.<br />
As a DEP Resource Teacher in External Equity, I will be<br />
coordinating initiatives that will help ensure increased<br />
equitable education opportunities for JCPS students. DEP<br />
Special Programs have initiatives that provide everything<br />
from professional-development opportunities for teachers to<br />
help better serve diverse populations, to innovative<br />
enrichment opportunities for students outside of school<br />
hours, to programs in high schools that assist students<br />
interested in becoming future educators.<br />
“Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same. Fairness<br />
means everyone gets what they need.” ―Rick Riordan<br />
I can be reached by telephone at (502) 485-2107 or by email<br />
at taylor.utley@jefferson.kyschools.us.<br />
6<br />
Photo, Abdul Sharif
The Model<br />
Recognizing Culturally Responsive and Innovative Classroom Teachers<br />
Name: Maria Munoz<br />
School: ESL Newcomer<br />
Academy<br />
Maria Munoz earned a bachelors<br />
degree and a teaching certificate<br />
in Social Sciences at the Universidad<br />
Centroamericana (El Salvador) and a<br />
Master in Education and a K-12 ESL<br />
endorsement at the University of<br />
Louisville. Since 2016, Maria has dedicated<br />
her cultural responsive teaching to English<br />
Language Learners (ELLs) at the multicultural<br />
ESL Newcomer Academy. Her<br />
passion for ELLs is rooted on her own firsthand<br />
experience as an ELL herself when<br />
she arrived to Louisville in 1996; she had a<br />
great desire to serve as an educator and as<br />
a contributing citizen in the American<br />
society. Her cultural responsiveness is<br />
inspired by Paulo Freire’s education-forfreedom<br />
and the educational principles of<br />
the Sheltered Instruction Observation<br />
Protocol (SIOP).<br />
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7<br />
Photos, Abdul Sharif
Maria’s teaching strategies are<br />
multiple and contextdependent.<br />
More important,<br />
each teaching strategy is<br />
inspired in her philosophy of<br />
education. For example, she<br />
believes in the strategy of<br />
cooperative learning because<br />
her philosophy of teaching to<br />
the whole child accentuates<br />
skills such as collaboration,<br />
critical thinking, and<br />
communication. Another example is her use of instructional and assessment<br />
differentiation. This differentiation strategy is rooted in her belief that teachers need<br />
to meet students where they are without compromising the high expectations of<br />
learning that characterize her classroom. Maria’s classroom has students from all<br />
over the world, but many are Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE) who<br />
need a differentiated instruction and assessment for effective learning.<br />
Finally, Maria uses a progressive scaffolding as supported by the concept of the zone<br />
of proximal development (Vigotsky). In Maria’s classroom, students will experience<br />
an increased level of rigor as they grow in their English language learning (i.e., oral,<br />
listening, reading, and writing), their US History content knowledge, and their<br />
success skills (i.e., collaboration, critical thinking, global citizenship, innovation, and<br />
resiliency). Throughout their learning process, students will move to higher levels of<br />
cognitive and language ability that allow them to identify root causes behind our US<br />
History.<br />
Click here for video story.<br />
8
Louisville Latino Education Outreach Project (LLEO)<br />
By Dr. Monica Lakhwani, Specialist, Diversity, Equity, and Poverty Department<br />
Photo, Abdul Sharif<br />
The Louisville Latino Education Outreach Project (LLEO) is comprised of representatives<br />
from University of Louisville (Cultural Centers Hispanic and Latino Initiatives office and<br />
Admissions), Americana Community Center, Jefferson County Public Schools (Diversity,<br />
Equity and Poverty Programs and Language Services), ProSpanica Adelante Hispanic<br />
Achievers, 55,000 Degrees, Doors to Hope, Jefferson Community and Technical College,<br />
Catholic Ministries, La Casita, and Backside Learning Center<br />
Vision Statement Create a vibrant and educated Louisville where Latino leaders are more<br />
represented, and institutional bias and structurally racist policies and cultures are<br />
eliminated.<br />
Mission Statement The LLEO core team is an avenue for collaboration, systems change and<br />
relationship building among Louisville Latino education organizations. We advocate for and<br />
empower Latino students and families in Louisville by providing access, knowledge base, and<br />
support to promote success in college, career and life.<br />
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LLEO Core Values<br />
“We are the leaders that we’ve<br />
been looking for” Grace Lee<br />
Boggs.<br />
We strive to create an<br />
organization that amplifies power<br />
with/among vs. power over.<br />
·Nonhierarchical in nature and<br />
where all partner<br />
organizations own the work<br />
and believe in the mission<br />
· Parent and family<br />
engagement is at the core to<br />
the work and drives our<br />
decisions<br />
·We create space where everyone feels included and all voices are heard. We do this<br />
through shared power dynamics<br />
Grace Lee Boggs. Photo, google images.<br />
We create a culture of listening- we are not the experts but we thrive in a community of<br />
valuing all people’s perspectives, experiences, stories and ideas.<br />
Shifting cultures within our institutions and community inspires us to do the following:<br />
· Stay in a state of inquiry- not always seeking the how but also the why<br />
· Being grounded in love and a deep desire for human connectivity<br />
· Creating safe and brave spaces that allow for people to show up as their full <br />
selves and where everyone feels included<br />
o LGBTQ+ friendly<br />
o Pro Indigenous and Pro Black<br />
o Language Justice (Multilingual)<br />
o Women, Gender Inclusivity<br />
o Socio Economic background<br />
o Geographic areas<br />
We believe that parent and family awareness, education, and involvement throughout<br />
their children’s educational trajectory are fundamental to the work of LLEO.<br />
10
Hispanic Heritage<br />
Month Community<br />
Highlight<br />
Marcos G. Morales Gutierrez<br />
By Dr. Monica Lakhwani, Specialist,<br />
Diversity, Equity, and Poverty Department<br />
Photo, Abdul Sharif<br />
Marcos Morales Gutierrez was born and<br />
raised in Okolona, Louisville, Kentucky.<br />
His parents are both from small towns in<br />
Michoacan, Mexico and are of indigenous<br />
Purépecha descent.<br />
Marcos attended both Okolona and<br />
Slaughter Elementary Schools when young.<br />
“As a first generation student, I was an<br />
English language leaner (ELL). Being an ELL,<br />
living in between two cultures, the American<br />
and Mexican culture was a tough battle for<br />
me early on. Still today, I am working<br />
through the educational trauma I<br />
accumulated during these years. I do not<br />
have a lot of recollection of these years.<br />
Other than an overwhelming feeling of<br />
failure and confusion. During second grade, I<br />
remember my teacher praising me for doing<br />
well in math. I remember that very well<br />
perhaps because it was one of the only times<br />
I felt I did something good in my early<br />
education. My career with JCPS ended when I<br />
failed 3 rd grade and my parents moved me to<br />
St. Rita Catholic School.”<br />
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“Life came full circle when I got the<br />
opportunity to work the ESL Newcomer<br />
Academy during the winter of 2016. There<br />
I was a 3 rd grade JCPS flunker serving and<br />
walking alongside my people, the ELL<br />
community. As I began to work here, there<br />
were days when I encountered that child<br />
who was in the JCPS classroom just 15 or<br />
so years ago, lost and confused. This was<br />
both good and bad. Bad or difficult<br />
because it brought up old trauma but<br />
good because I was in a different state of<br />
mind this time. A state of mind that<br />
embraces challenge, pain, and adversity.<br />
A state of mind that is critically engaged in<br />
the transformation of ones reality. And so,<br />
it was this state of mind that I brought to<br />
the lives I served during my time as a<br />
Bilingual Instructor at Newcomer. My<br />
goal, or method was to walk in solidarity<br />
with my brilliance. When I say brilliance I<br />
am speaking about my ability to be a<br />
cross-cultural communicator, critical<br />
thinker, collaborator, innovator, and<br />
11
Marco speaks at the 2016 State of Latinos (SOL) in Louisville.<br />
Photo, Abdul Sharif<br />
and someone who adapts and<br />
flows with the sporadic and<br />
complex way life happens. The<br />
sum of these skills compose<br />
my brilliance and empower me<br />
to exist as a valid and critical<br />
participant of the 21 st century<br />
society I am a part of. Each<br />
day when I assisted this place I<br />
made sure my being, my<br />
presence screamed to these<br />
students, “BRILLIANCE! This is<br />
how it walks, talks, acts, and<br />
thinks.” Passing along my embodied experience of brilliance is what I strived to<br />
pass on during my time at the ESL Newcomer Academy.”<br />
Mr. Morales is currently pursuing a Masters in Counseling with University of<br />
Louisville and has a B.S. Health & Sports Sciences with a track in Public Health<br />
Education with a minor in Wellness. Additionally, he serves as the Program<br />
Coordinator at UofL’s Cultural Center.<br />
Advice to Future Students<br />
“Consider adopting a growth mindset. The growth mindset focuses on learning and<br />
growing instead of winning and losing. This mindset is one that values<br />
collaboration, curiosity and mindfulness. The collaboration aspect helps to remind<br />
me that I am not alone in my educational journey and that asking for help is<br />
essential to my progress as a student (of life). This component also reminds me<br />
that I must be my own best advocate because no one else knows what is best for<br />
me besides me. The curiosity component allows me to mindfully question and<br />
wonder into life’s challenges and triumphs. This means allowing myself to<br />
embrace my mistakes and turn them into learning points while also enjoying<br />
moments of achievement more fully. To conclude, the growth mindset is<br />
responsible for the development of my love for learning.”<br />
12
LAHSO (Latin American and Hispanic Student<br />
Organization) Hispanic Heritage Month Panel<br />
By Dr. Monica Lakhwani, Specialist, Diversity, Equity, and Poverty Department<br />
The Latin American and Hispanic Student Organization (LAHSO) hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month<br />
Panel on September 28 at duPont Manual High School. The conversation that took place during the<br />
panel was intended to make others more culturally aware of their surroundings, to enforce the value<br />
of fighting for what one believes is right, and to teach others about an ethnicity that has been often ignored<br />
and silenced in today’s society.<br />
The list of speakers that participated in the panel included: Dr. Marco Munoz, JCPS employee, Roxana Castillo,<br />
JCPS student, Marco Munoz Jr., JCPS student, Melissa Perello, JCPS student, Tori Vestal, JCPS student,<br />
Francisco Mendes, JCPS student, and Arianna Moya (moderator), JCPS student.<br />
The purpose of LAHSO is to provide an atmosphere of cooperation, innovation, creativeness, and friendliness<br />
among its members; to participate in public service designed to assist other Latinos and the community at<br />
large; to offer a networking group for all students passionate about Hispanic culture; to assist members in the<br />
academic development to ensure successful completion of their high school studies; and to advocate for the<br />
rights of the Hispanic community.<br />
13
Diversity, Equity, and Poverty<br />
Resource Teacher Spotlight<br />
Ms. Shashray McCormack<br />
Shashray McCormack is a resource teacher in the<br />
Diversity, Equity, and Poverty Programs Department of<br />
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS). She is<br />
responsible for providing resources to more than<br />
twenty elementary schools. She works directly with schools to<br />
ensure the district’s newest directives of the Racial Equity<br />
Policy are implemented through its racial equity plan.<br />
Shashray created, taught and implemented an African<br />
American history curriculum for the first and only elementary<br />
school in the district of Jefferson County Public Schools to have<br />
an African-American History class. She earned a Bachelor’s of<br />
Science in Health & Human Performance, a Master’s of<br />
Education in Early Childhood at the University of Louisville and<br />
is currently continuing her education at Bellarmine University.<br />
Her professional interests include the development of<br />
culturally relevant, sensitive and expansive curricula. Her<br />
pedagogical commitments include anti-racist teaching at the<br />
earliest stages of learning in service of fostering a more tolerant<br />
and inclusive society, beginning with its youngest citizens.<br />
Shashray has presented at academic conferences, including<br />
but not limited to, a closing keynote at the 2016 annual NCTE<br />
conference in Atlanta, GA titled “It’s time to re-write the story”:<br />
Active Anti-Racist Teaching through Critical Dance and Visual<br />
Arts Literacies in the Early Childhood Classroom. She presently<br />
serves as a board member of The Early Childhood Education<br />
Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English.<br />
Because of her work in the classroom she has been referenced<br />
in books including We've Been Doing It Your Way Long Enough:<br />
Choosing the Culturally Relevant Classroom Language and<br />
Literacy Series. Shashray is married with three beautiful<br />
children and she believes in the brilliance of students of<br />
color!<br />
Photo, Shashray McCormack<br />
14
ENVISION EQUITY OCTOBER <strong>2018</strong><br />
How to Pay for Your Photo, Google Images<br />
HBCU Education<br />
By Dionne C. Griffiths, Education Advocate<br />
Fall is the time that high school seniors begin to apply to colleges and universities. They may apply<br />
for in-state or out of state colleges and may consider certain regions of the country, and schools<br />
with certain academic, sports or arts programs. There are also students who passionately want to<br />
attend a historically black college or university (HBCU). HBCUs were created in the United States<br />
during a time when people of African descent were not allowed to attend all-white colleges and<br />
universities, particularly in the racially segregated south.<br />
HBCUs continue to provide a solid educational foundation, cultivating a positive and grounded<br />
Afrocentric cultural identity in their students. HBCUs are also institutions where black excellence is<br />
15<br />
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considered the standard and not the exception. This is<br />
the expectation of the caliber of the students, faculty,<br />
and staff. As a result, HBCUs continue to produce the<br />
largest percentage of leaders, innovators and change<br />
agents of African descent compared to predominately<br />
white institutions (PWIs).<br />
How can prospective students position themselves so<br />
they can afford an HBCU education? Based on my<br />
research and experience, great options include<br />
scholarships, grants, work-study and part-time jobs.<br />
Searching and applying for scholarships takes time and<br />
effort, but it is worth it. Many scholarship deadlines are<br />
from January to August of any given year. Make sure you<br />
Photo, google images<br />
know the specific deadlines and what documents are<br />
needed in order to have a complete packet. Legitimate scholarship programs do not charge an<br />
administrative fee. Some organizations may encourage or mandate a membership fee for eligibility or to<br />
increase your competitive edge. But that is permitted. Some scholarships are renewable. Once you’ve been<br />
awarded that scholarship, you can apply again for up to three more years while you are enrolled in college.<br />
Although, student loans are a means of paying for higher education, there are other ways to pay for your<br />
education without going into deep debt. This is a very personal and substantial decision to make. Please<br />
keep in mind that student loans must be paid back and there are interest rates involved.<br />
Finally, think about which HBCUs are the best fit for you. Consider the academics, the physical environment,<br />
the culture, the location and the cost. You can also research the ranking of the college through the annual<br />
U.S. News and World Report (https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/hbcu). It is a major<br />
decision and choosing the college that is the best fit for you will make a significant impact on your life. Best<br />
wishes!<br />
Resources:<br />
Scholarships: (Research the websites for eligibility and deadlines.)<br />
• UNCF – United Negro College Fund website (for HBCUs connected to UNCF)<br />
• Tom Joyner Foundation website (for attendance at most HBCUs)<br />
• Thurgood Marshall Foundation (for public HBCUs)<br />
• Gates Millennium Scholars website<br />
• Local YMCA Black Achievers program (You must be enrolled in this program and be in good standing.<br />
The college scholarship application deadline is usually in <strong>October</strong>.)<br />
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16
• Local community foundation<br />
• Local chapter of the NAACP<br />
• Your local church<br />
• Local black sororities and fraternities (graduate chapters) – Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma<br />
Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, and Kappa Alpha Psi. (You<br />
or your parents do not have to be members to be eligible.)<br />
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation (national organization)<br />
• Zeta Phi Beta Educational Foundation (national organization)<br />
• Local chapter – 100 Black Men (of Louisville, etc.)<br />
• Local lodge of the Prince Hall Masons<br />
• Jack and Jill Foundation (and local chapter)<br />
• National Black MBA Association<br />
• Career One Stop Scholarship website<br />
• Your high school’s academic honor societies<br />
• Your intended HBCUs (Contact the Office of Admissions for details.)<br />
• www.Fastweb.com<br />
Other:<br />
• Work-study (You must complete the FAFSA form to be considered.)<br />
• Part-time jobs during college (on campus and off-campus). (Choose reputable businesses that<br />
are flexible with college student class schedules, i.e., coffee shops, retail, etc.)<br />
• Part-time summer job (leading up to college enrollment)<br />
• Fundraisers: Bake sales, art/craft sales, music performance. Money raised goes to your tuition,<br />
etc.<br />
• Family/parental financial support: Talk with your parents to see what they can afford to<br />
contribute.<br />
• Monthly or semester payment plans through the college (Contact the Bursar’s Office.)<br />
Dionne C. Griffiths is a <strong>2018</strong> Martin Luther King, Jr. State Commission Adult Leadership Award recipient,<br />
a former Fulbright Fellow to Trinidad and a freelance writer. She is a graduate of duPont Manual High<br />
School and YPAS, Spelman College (an HBCU) and the University of North Carolina – Greensboro.<br />
Dionne is a current graduate student. She resides in Louisville, KY. She can be reached at<br />
mahoganystyle2020@gmail.com.<br />
17
Diversity, Equity, and Poverty Department<br />
The Model<br />
Recognizing Culturally Responsive and Innovative Classroom Teachers<br />
Name: Janelle Henderson<br />
School: Mill Creek Leadership<br />
Academy<br />
Janelle Henderson is a third grade<br />
teacher at Mill Creek Leadership<br />
Academy and has been teaching for<br />
four years. Her research interests include<br />
culturally sustaining pedagogy, critical<br />
inquiry, and practices to make school<br />
more inclusive for Black students,<br />
specifically Black boys. She is a current<br />
member of Heinemann Fellows, a<br />
national group of 11 K-12 educators<br />
working on action research in their<br />
classrooms and writing about it on the<br />
Heinemann blog. She is also a past<br />
member of the Professional Dyads of<br />
Culturally Responsive Teaching, a<br />
national cohort with the National Council<br />
of Teachers of English (NCTE), where she<br />
and six other primary teachers across the<br />
nation worked with professors to research<br />
Continue on next page<br />
18<br />
Photo by Abdul Sharif
and implement<br />
culturally relevant<br />
teaching practices<br />
in an elementary<br />
classroom.<br />
Janelle is a whole<br />
language reading<br />
instructor who<br />
focuses on<br />
students' being<br />
aware of their<br />
reading processes<br />
and reading books<br />
that the<br />
predominantly black students in her class can identify with, reading authors,<br />
illustrators,<br />
Click here for<br />
and<br />
video<br />
protagonists<br />
story and<br />
that<br />
check<br />
look<br />
out<br />
like them. She most recently co-presented<br />
a<br />
Mr.<br />
closing<br />
Peters’<br />
keynote<br />
article<br />
presentation<br />
on the next page.<br />
at NCTE on how the inquiries she wrote and<br />
implemented about greatness using Muhammad Ali's life as a mentor text to the<br />
greatness of her students, how black hair is political, and and on the history of<br />
the West End, an area she's from. The presentation demonstrated the tenets of<br />
culturally sustaining pedagogy and provided context on how the inquiries helped<br />
students be more engaged, show more agency, and critically think about the<br />
world around them.<br />
Click here for video story.<br />
19
ENVISION EQUITY OCTOBER <strong>2018</strong><br />
Photo, Kentucky Center for the Arts<br />
Brown-Forman Midnite Ramble:<br />
Dance Theatre of Harlem<br />
By Christian Adelberg, The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts<br />
The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to welcome the internationally<br />
renowned Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) back to Louisville for a special performance Friday,<br />
November 9, <strong>2018</strong>. This is a historic event, as DTH is celebrating 50 years of transforming lives<br />
through the power of its art and its vision of inclusion and access to all. Founded in 1969 by the<br />
legendary Arthur Mitchell and his former teacher, the late Karel Shook, DTH is a globally-acclaimed<br />
dance institution that has occupied a distinguished place in New York City’s cultural landscape and at<br />
the forefront of American artistic achievement.<br />
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As part of this celebration, there will be a student<br />
matinee Friday, November 9 from 11a.m.-12 p.m. in The<br />
Kentucky Center’s Whitney Hall. The Dance Theatre of<br />
Harlem's renowned Lecture Demonstration/<br />
Performance is an informal presentation on the art and<br />
science of dance. Through engaging commentary and<br />
dancing, students learn the rudiments of classical ballet<br />
Photo, Kentucky Center for the Arts<br />
as well as the building-block training process that allows<br />
dancers to achieve excellence in this exacting art form.<br />
The program also includes repertory excerpts, audience engagement activity, and a Q&A. This is<br />
offered for Grades 3-12.<br />
For more information and to secure tickets, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/DTH<strong>2018</strong> or contact<br />
Cecilia Reyna, Kentucky Center Education & Community Arts Program Coordinator,<br />
creyna@kentuckycenter.org or (502) 566-5151.<br />
About Dance Theatre of Harlem<br />
Located on a block officially named “Dance Theatre of Harlem Way” in testament to its enduring<br />
legacy, DTH now comprises a professional touring Company, a school, and a broad range of<br />
community programs. Under the leadership of Virginia Johnson, a former prima ballerina with the<br />
Company who was appointed Artistic Director in 2010, the DTH mission has been revitalized to:<br />
- Present a Company of African American and racially diverse artists who perform the most<br />
demanding repertory at the highest level of quality;<br />
- Maintain a world-class school that trains young people in classical ballet and allied arts; and<br />
- Provide arts education, community outreach, and positive role models for all.<br />
The Company is a racially diverse, 17-member professional dance ensemble that tours across<br />
national and international stages. The DTH Company has performed in 41 countries on six<br />
continents, in 44 states, and more than 250 cities across North America. Last year alone, the<br />
Company performed for nearly 60,000 audience members across the U.S. and reached more than<br />
6,000 during its Home Season at New York City Center.<br />
Focused on a future that is characterized by expansion and engagement, the Company brings<br />
together artists from various dance styles and disciplines (e.g. music, fashion) to create new works<br />
that influence and enhance the ballet art form. Committed to cultivating a community for dancers,<br />
choreographers, and other artists, the DTH Company also serves as a pipeline for talent and an<br />
ambassador for connection on a local, national, and global level.<br />
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The Model<br />
Recognizing Culturally Responsive and Innovative Classroom Teachers<br />
Name: Alyssa Riedy<br />
School: Olmsted Academy North<br />
A<br />
lyssa Riedy is a 6th year<br />
teacher at Olmsted Academy<br />
North. She is originally from Ohio,<br />
where she received her bachelors in<br />
education from University of<br />
Findlay. Alyssa has since received<br />
her Masters in Instructional<br />
Technology and plans to operate a<br />
paperless classroom in the near<br />
future. She works as a co-chair for<br />
her school’s (Science, Technology,<br />
Engineering, Art, Math) STEAM<br />
committee and is active in JCPS’s<br />
twitter Professional Learning<br />
Network under the handle,<br />
@MissRiedy.<br />
Click here for video story.<br />
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Photo by Abdul Sharif
ENVISION EQUITY OCTOBER <strong>2018</strong><br />
The Day You Begin<br />
by Jacqueline Woodson<br />
Nancy Paulsen Books (August 28, <strong>2018</strong>)<br />
For Kindergarten – 3rd<br />
Books for Young Readers<br />
Bruja Born<br />
by Zoraida Cordova<br />
Sourcebooks Fire (June 5, <strong>2018</strong>)<br />
For grades 6-12<br />
National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time<br />
Pura Belpre Illustrator Award winner Rafael Lopez are a winning<br />
combination in this beautiful picture book about the ways we feel<br />
different from one another. When we find the courage to share<br />
our stories, our similarities can bring us together.<br />
When Angels Sing: The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana<br />
by Michael James Mahin<br />
Atheneum Books for Young Readers (September 4, <strong>2018</strong>)<br />
For Preschool – 3rd grade<br />
<br />
This is the second book in the Brooklyn Brujas series, although it<br />
is not necessary to read the first book because this book does<br />
standalone. Lula Mortiz feels like an outsider in her own family<br />
and to make matters worse her steady boyfriend dumps her. Then<br />
a bus crash changes Lula’s life. Her classmates are all dead,<br />
including her boyfriend Maks, but Lula has healing magical<br />
powers and she’s convinced she can bring him back with help<br />
from her sisters. Lula doesn’t realize she will be defying the laws<br />
of magic and death herself. Her actions spark a zombie invasion!<br />
No joke. An epic zombie invasion! Now it’s up to Lula and her<br />
magical sisters to battle it out in a wild and crazy showdown.<br />
A vibrant and magical picture book biography about Carlos<br />
Santana as he developed the unique sound that would come to<br />
define his career as a musician.<br />
Images obtained from Google Images..<br />
Information provided by Heather Lee, Louisville Free Public Library<br />
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ENVISION EQUITY OCTOBER <strong>2018</strong><br />
Community Announcements<br />
Doing Business With JCPS Workshop<br />
This event is for minority and women business<br />
partnerships with Jefferson County Public<br />
Schools. It will be held on <strong>October</strong> 9, 1:00 to<br />
3:00 p.m., at C.B. Young Jr. Service Center. To<br />
RSVP, visit http://bit.ly/jcpsmwbe.<br />
West Louisville Chess Club<br />
Monday, <strong>October</strong> 08, <strong>2018</strong> - 04:00 PM - 05:00<br />
PM<br />
Come out and learn how to play chess with the<br />
West Louisville Chess Club. Learn basics,<br />
fundamentals, most effective tactics and<br />
checkmate strategies to compete in our<br />
tournament for Grades K-12. Adults are<br />
welcome to participate in the chess sessions<br />
and observe the tournament as well. A chess<br />
tournament will be held on Saturday <strong>October</strong><br />
20 from 11am-1pm. For more information or if<br />
you would like to sign up, please call (502)<br />
574-1779.<br />
W.E. Women Engaged<br />
Saturday, <strong>October</strong>, 27 - 9:30 a.m. - Noon<br />
Louisville Urban League, 1535 W. Broadway<br />
Women Engaged aims to encourage, empower,<br />
excel, equip and explore life for the good of<br />
ourselves, our families and our communities<br />
We want to see women everywhere, standing<br />
strong in unity, investing in our communities,<br />
and supporting, strengthening and celebrating<br />
one another in spirit, wisdom and truth<br />
Core Values:<br />
– Improve self and increase overall awareness<br />
of who we are<br />
– Initiate conversation, interact with, include<br />
and seek to build relationships with all people<br />
– Involve and invest ourselves in our<br />
neighborhoods, businesses and stakeholders in<br />
the community<br />
– Identify needs individually and collectively,<br />
proactively taking action whenever possible<br />
– Inspire, influence, inform and equip our youth<br />
and young adults to become productive<br />
citizens<br />
– Increase care for our bodies and souls<br />
For more information, please contact:<br />
Dianne Lewis Brown<br />
502.939.5622<br />
dl_brown@bellsouth.net<br />
The University of Louisville Student Parent<br />
Association in collaboration with the<br />
Women's Center is sponsoring Student parent<br />
advocate, author and businesswoman Sherill<br />
Mosee on campus Thursday, <strong>October</strong> 11, <strong>2018</strong><br />
at 7 p.m. She will speak on “From Diapers &<br />
Degrees to Handbags: My Entrepreneurial<br />
Journey.”<br />
This free and open to the public event will take<br />
place in the College of Business (Horn<br />
Auditorium) at 7:00 p.m. (A light reception will<br />
follow).<br />
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ENVISION EQUITY OCTOBER <strong>2018</strong><br />
Title Session Code Date & Time Location Contact<br />
Speak and Film Series:<br />
Viva La Causa<br />
Equity and Inclusion<br />
Unit<br />
18-1996505 <strong>October</strong> 3<br />
3:30 to 5:00 p.m.<br />
18-1997888 <strong>October</strong> 8<br />
8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.<br />
GOLD DAY<br />
Muhammad Ali Center<br />
Kentucky Exposition<br />
Center<br />
Dr. Monica Lakhwani<br />
485-7269<br />
Dr. Charles C. Davis, Jr.<br />
485-7898<br />
Culture, Attitude,<br />
Students, and Equity<br />
(CASE) Fall Cohort<br />
18-1997925 <strong>October</strong> 11 and 24,<br />
November 7 and 18,<br />
and December 3<br />
4:30 to 6:30<br />
Marion C. Moore<br />
School<br />
Dr. Toetta Taul<br />
485-8304<br />
SBDM: Continuous<br />
Improvement Planning<br />
18-1996897 <strong>October</strong> 15<br />
4:30 to 7:30 p.m.<br />
Middletown Elementary<br />
Dr. Shawna Stenton<br />
485-3056<br />
Neurodiversity<br />
Approach for Learners<br />
18-1996491 <strong>October</strong> 15<br />
4:00 to 5:30 p.m.<br />
Fern Creek High School<br />
Dr. Monica Lakhwani<br />
485-7269<br />
Student Empowerment<br />
and Inclusive Pedagogy<br />
18-1997698 <strong>October</strong> 15<br />
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.<br />
Farmer Elementary<br />
School<br />
Telva Hogan<br />
485-7318<br />
Girl Trauma:<br />
Misbehavior or<br />
Misunderstood<br />
18-1997204 <strong>October</strong> 16<br />
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.<br />
Atherton High School<br />
Vanessa Posey<br />
485-3631<br />
Culturally Responsive<br />
Reading<br />
18-1996488 <strong>October</strong> 18<br />
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.<br />
Engelhard Elementary<br />
School<br />
Dr. Monica Lakhwani<br />
485-7269<br />
Hip Hop Summit:<br />
Making Music Matter<br />
for Diverse Learners<br />
18-1997375 <strong>October</strong> 18<br />
4:30 to 7:30 p.m.<br />
Central High School<br />
MCA<br />
Vanessa Posey<br />
485-3631<br />
Book Study: Between<br />
the World and Me<br />
18-1996507 <strong>October</strong> 22 and 29, and<br />
November 7<br />
4:00 to 5:00 p.m.<br />
VanHoose Education<br />
Center<br />
Dr. Monica Lakhwani<br />
485-7269<br />
Language Learners and<br />
Language Services<br />
18-1996495 <strong>October</strong> 24<br />
4:00 to 5:00 p.m.<br />
W.E.B. DuBois<br />
Academy<br />
Dr. Monica Lakhwani<br />
485-7269<br />
LGBTQ Support<br />
Coaches: Resources<br />
18-1996511 <strong>October</strong> 25<br />
4:15 to 5:45 p.m.<br />
Shively Branch Library<br />
(3920 Dixie Highway)<br />
Dr. Monica Lakhwani<br />
485-7269<br />
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ENVISION EQUITY OCTOBER <strong>2018</strong><br />
Announcing...<br />
"The Model"<br />
Starting in the September edition of<br />
Envision Equity, we will highlight sample<br />
lesson plans and videos of Jefferson<br />
County Public Schools (JCPS) classroom<br />
teachers who are culturally responsive and<br />
innovative. This new section of Envision<br />
Equity will be called “The Model.”<br />
If you are a JCPS teacher or know of a<br />
JCPS teacher who should be highlighted as<br />
a model of culturally responsive and<br />
innovative classroom practices, please<br />
submit his or her contact information to<br />
abdul.sharif2@jefferson.kyschools.us by<br />
the 15th of each month.<br />
Editor—Catherine Collesano<br />
Editor, Photo Contributor—Abdul Sharif<br />
Credits<br />
Special thanks to all of our community partners and educators who helped make this special edition of<br />
Envision Equity possible.<br />
Envision Equity is a publication of the JCPS Department of Diversity, Equity, and Poverty Programs. All<br />
submissions should be sent to Catherine Collesano at catherine.collesano@jefferson.kyschools.us or Abdul<br />
Sharif at abdul.sharif2@jefferson.kyschools.us. If you are interested in becoming a subscriber or a<br />
contributor to Envision Equity, please contact one of the editors at the above email address.<br />
www.jefferson.kyschools.us<br />
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Offering Equal Educational Opportunities<br />
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