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ENVISION<br />
EQUITY<br />
MINORITY AND WOMEN BUSINESS PROFILE<br />
“BLACK FIREMEN SAFETY ACADEMY”<br />
TO BE CALLED<br />
AND MORE!<br />
!1
ENVISION EQUITY NOVEMBER <strong>2019</strong><br />
JCPS CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER DR. JOHN<br />
MARSHALL PRESENTS AT <strong>2019</strong> COUNCIL OF<br />
GREAT CITY SCHOOLS CONFERENCE<br />
By Abdul Sharif—Generalist, Diversity, Equity, and Poverty Department<br />
F<br />
or the first time ever, the Council<br />
of Great City Schools (CGCS) held<br />
it’s 63rd Annual Fall Conference in the<br />
city of Louisville, Kentucky. The CGCS<br />
brings together 76 of nation’s largest<br />
urban public school systems in a<br />
coalition dedicated to the<br />
improvement of education for<br />
Photos, Abdul Sharif<br />
children in the inner cities. The<br />
Council and its member school<br />
districts work to help our<br />
schoolchildren meet the highest<br />
standards and become successful and<br />
productive members of society.<br />
According to their website, the Council<br />
2
ENVISION EQUITY NOVEMBER <strong>2019</strong><br />
keeps the nation’s lawmakers, the media, and the public informed about<br />
the progress and problems in big-city schools. The organization does this<br />
through legislation, communications, research, and technical assistance.<br />
The organization also helps to build capacity in urban education with<br />
programs to boost academic performance and narrow achievement gaps;<br />
improve professional development; and strengthen leadership,<br />
governance, and management.<br />
The Council of the<br />
Great City Schools<br />
accomplishes its<br />
mission by connecting<br />
urban school district<br />
personnel from coast<br />
to coast who work<br />
under similar<br />
conditions. Staff with<br />
responsibilities for<br />
curricula, research<br />
and testing, finance,<br />
operations, personnel, technology, legislation, communications, and other<br />
areas confer regularly under the Council’s auspices to share concerns and<br />
solutions and discuss what works in boosting achievement and managing<br />
operations.<br />
<br />
In addition, joint efforts with other national organizations, corporations,<br />
and government policymakers extend the Council’s influence and<br />
effectiveness outside member school districts to the larger, interdependent<br />
world that will ultimately benefit from the contributions of today’s urban<br />
students.<br />
3
ENVISION EQUITY NOVEMBER <strong>2019</strong><br />
Since the organization’s founding in 1956, geographic, ethnic, language,<br />
and cultural diversity has typified the Council’s membership. That diversity<br />
propels the coalition forward to see that all citizens receive an education<br />
that will equip them with the skills and knowledge to compete successfully<br />
in the world marketplace and to enhance the quality of their lives in a<br />
society changing with phenomenal speed. The wellspring of<br />
accomplishments and innovations rising from our inner cities testifies to<br />
the resounding benefits of investment in the nation’s urban centers and in<br />
their public schools.<br />
At this year’s CGCS Fall Conference, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS)<br />
Chief Equity Officer Dr. John Marshall, presented on the JCPS Racial Equity<br />
Policy, the status of the W.E.B. DuBois Academy, the JCPS Equity<br />
Scorecard, and the Equity Monitoring Progress Tool (EMPT).<br />
4
The Kentucky Center<br />
for the Performing<br />
Arts Performances are<br />
Accessible for<br />
Everyone<br />
By Stacy Ridgway, Senior Manager of Accessibility Services,<br />
Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts<br />
W<br />
hen you attend a<br />
performance at the Kentucky<br />
Center for the Performing Arts,<br />
the Brown Theatre or Old<br />
Forester’s Paristown Hall,<br />
accessibility services are available<br />
to ensure everyone has the<br />
opportunity to enjoy the shows.<br />
This includes shows for PNC<br />
Broadway in Louisville,<br />
Louisville Ballet, Louisville<br />
Orchestra, Kentucky Opera,<br />
StageOne Family Theatre and<br />
Kentucky Center Presents. If your<br />
bringing a group of students on a<br />
field trip to see a show, The<br />
Kentucky Center’s Access<br />
Services can ensure that everyone<br />
taking part in that field trip has the<br />
accommodations they need to<br />
learn from and enjoy it.<br />
For anyone who is blind or who<br />
has low vision, you can seat your<br />
group as close to the stage as<br />
possible and offer Audio<br />
Description. Audio Description<br />
provides live detailed narrative of<br />
the visual elements of a<br />
performance transmitted through a<br />
small receiver an individual wears<br />
on one ear. This description is<br />
delivered in between lines of<br />
dialogue when the performance is<br />
scripted, so the person using it can<br />
still hear all of the lines from the<br />
5
stage. We require a minimum of two weeks advanced notice in order to secure the<br />
Audio Describers.<br />
For anyone<br />
who is Deaf,<br />
Sign<br />
Interpretation<br />
is available.<br />
Most of the<br />
sign<br />
interpretation<br />
offered is<br />
American<br />
Sign<br />
Language,<br />
but if<br />
students<br />
require a<br />
different<br />
form of sign,<br />
just let us know and we will do our best to meet that need. We do need a minimum of<br />
two weeks advanced notice, so we have time to secure the interpreters.<br />
For those who are deaf, or who have hearing loss, we have both assistive listening<br />
systems and open captioning. The FM hearing devices are available to provide<br />
hearing amplification for patrons with hearing loss in all venues of The Kentucky<br />
Center and Brown Theatre. Patrons can sit anywhere in the theater and use the<br />
headsets. Headsets with induction neckloops are available for patrons who use<br />
hearing aids and cochlear implants with a "T" switch. This is where it is important<br />
for the student or teacher to know if the student has a T setting on their personal<br />
hearing device. No reservations are needed for this service, receivers are available<br />
from the Coat Check at all performance times.<br />
Open Captioning for scripted performances is provided for selected performances for<br />
patrons who have hearing loss and may not benefit from hearing amplification or<br />
ASL. The audible elements are shown on an LED sign, in real time, as each line is<br />
spoken or sung. We can provide Captioning for PNC Broadway In Louisville,<br />
StageOne performance and some of our own Kentucky Center presents<br />
6
ENVISION EQUITY NOVEMBER <strong>2019</strong><br />
programming. We do need a minimum of two weeks advanced notice so we can<br />
secure the Open Captioners.<br />
If you have individuals with limited mobility, who use a wheelchair or other<br />
mobility aid, or even students who cannot do stairs, please share that information at<br />
the time you schedule your field trip. If you learn after you’ve scheduled the field<br />
trip, please don’t forget to contact the arts organization or our Accessibility<br />
Services office to let us know about these changes.<br />
If you have students on the autism spectrum, who have sensory sensitivities or<br />
developmental disabilities, they might benefit from Noise Reducing Headphones<br />
when attending shows, no reservations needed, simply stop by the Coat Check to<br />
pick up the headphones. We also have Sensory Friendly Bags available. These bags<br />
contain a pair of noise reducing headphones, various fidget items and a<br />
communication card. These are also available at the Coat Check, however we do<br />
have a limited number available so if you have a large group with this specific<br />
need, please contact us ahead of time and we can see what we can do. We also<br />
have pre-visit guides available on our website that can allow your students to<br />
familiarize themselves with the venues before attending the performance, this can<br />
be very helpful for students on the spectrum or with sensory sensitivities. http://<br />
www.kentuckycenter.org/about/access-services/sensory-friendly-services<br />
Our Accessibility Services program can make arrangements for any of these<br />
services at performances, or you can make the request with the presenting arts<br />
organization when scheduling your field trip. You can reach Accessibility Services<br />
at 502-562-5111or at access@kentuckycenter.org. If you want to learn more<br />
about accessibility programming visit http://www.kentuckycenter.org/about/accessservices.<br />
7
ENVISION EQUITY NOVEMBER <strong>2019</strong><br />
JCPS STUDENTS LEARN<br />
CODING DURING AFTER-<br />
SCHOOL PROGRAM<br />
By Tonda Mack—JCPS/After-School Program Teacher<br />
J<br />
CPS Diversity, Equity and Poverty Department along with AMPED has once<br />
again collaborated to bring a Coding Program to the Shawnee Satellite Office.<br />
During the<br />
past six<br />
weeks,<br />
middle school<br />
students<br />
received the<br />
opportunity to<br />
learn the<br />
fundamentals<br />
on how to<br />
create their<br />
own game.<br />
Using a<br />
program<br />
called<br />
Stencyl,<br />
students<br />
developed skills on how to solve problems, peer collaboration and understand<br />
programming language. Not only did partnership provide students with the<br />
opportunity to get a headstart on understanding technology but also exciting to see<br />
students develop friendships. Being able to observe how students at the beginning<br />
of the program were apprehensive towards coding and unable to communicate their<br />
digital needs, transformed into problem solvers with an eagerness to learn more! If<br />
interested in learning when then next coding program will begin, contact Vanesssa<br />
Mcphail at vanessa.mcphail@jefferson.kyschools.us or 485-3631.<br />
8
ELIMINATING<br />
BARRIERS TO<br />
THE ACT TEST<br />
By: Clay Hollister and Dr. Whitney M. Stewart<br />
O<br />
ne of our principals was recently quoted in<br />
weekly school newsletter saying, “Whether we<br />
believe it or not, we as educators are constantly<br />
breaking down, maintaining, or erecting new<br />
barriers for students.” That’s a powerful<br />
statement—one that is both hard to accept and<br />
unbelievably true.<br />
the<br />
In a large, urban school district, such as<br />
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), our<br />
students endure a myriad of barriers before they<br />
even walk through our doors. Students grapple<br />
with food insecurity, transience, varied educational support outside of school, test<br />
anxiety, personal safety, and any number of other barriers that educators don’t<br />
necessarily understand. As a result of these barriers, college becomes less accessible<br />
for many students. Entrance exams carry great weight as students work to get into<br />
college and compete for scholarships; their success on tests like the ACT increases<br />
their opportunities and access to college. Therefore, breaking down outside barriers<br />
becomes even more important as students prepare to take these exams.<br />
For the 2017-18 school year, the national average composite ACT score was 20.8,<br />
which is down 0.2 of a point from the 2016-17 (ACT, 2016). However, during the<br />
!9
same school year Kentucky’s average ACT composite score was 19.3, and<br />
JCPS’s average composite was even lower at 18.6 (JCPS Databooks).<br />
Every year,<br />
juniors across the<br />
state, including<br />
those enrolled in<br />
JCPS, are able to<br />
take the ACT test<br />
for free during<br />
the spring<br />
semester at their<br />
respective<br />
schools. The American College Testing—better known as the ACT test—<br />
contains multiple-choice tests in four areas: English, mathematics, reading, and<br />
science. There is also an ACT writing test, however this portion of the exam is<br />
optional and will not affect the composite score. Table 1 displays the ACT test<br />
question and time breakdown for each of the four areas tested. The ACT test is a<br />
college admissions exam that measures a student’s knowledge, understanding,<br />
and skills acquired throughout their schooling experience. Given the testing<br />
format, testers should familiarize themselves with the test instructions, types of<br />
questions, what to expect on the day of the test, and do some test preparation<br />
before test day.<br />
Although preparing for and taking the ACT test in itself is challenging, even<br />
registering for the ACT test poses several barriers to students. This is where our<br />
professional development (PD) “Hacks for ACT Registration” stepped in to give<br />
a helping hand. On Wednesday, September 11, <strong>2019</strong>, we hosted a PD to discuss<br />
how to help schools overcome barriers that prevent students from taking the<br />
ACT. We led round table talks, shared electronic resources, and discussed our<br />
approach and experiences in creating a testing environment without barriers to<br />
!10
aid JCPS school leaders in supporting their scholars through the ACT<br />
registration process.<br />
If you are looking to support<br />
scholars within your building or<br />
community in registering for the<br />
ACT test, here are some helpful<br />
pointers to help you on your way!<br />
For starters, scholars will need<br />
access to a computer with internet<br />
and the ability to print. The only<br />
way to register for the ACT test is<br />
online at www.actstudent.org.<br />
Scholars will need to create an<br />
ACT login account to get started<br />
(Hint: We recommend scholars use<br />
their JCPS computer login and<br />
password because it meets all of<br />
the security requirements).<br />
Scholars will also need<br />
approximately 45 minutes to fully<br />
complete the online application process, and will need a credit card or another<br />
form of payment, a recent digital headshot photo (use the ACT Photo app<br />
available on smartphones), their high school ACT code, and their personal<br />
information, such as their mailing and email address. Should a scholar need<br />
accommodations and English Learner (EL) supports, he or she can request those<br />
too.<br />
Want to learn more about how to support your scholars through the ACT<br />
registration process? Feel free to reach out to us for PD or training. We are<br />
happy to share our resources with you!<br />
11
References<br />
American College Testing. (2016). The ACT Profile Report- National 2018. Retrieved from https://<br />
www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/cccr2018/<br />
P_99_999999_N_S_N00_ACT-GCPR_National.pdf<br />
McFarland, J., Hussar, B., Wang, X., Zhang, J., Wang, K., Rathbun, A., Barmer, A., Forrest Cataldi,<br />
E., and Bullock Mann, F. (2018). The Condition of Education 2018 (NCES 2018-144). U.S. Department of<br />
Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved September 16, <strong>2019</strong> from<br />
https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018144.pdf<br />
Stewart, Whitney M., “Student voices: African American high school seniors’ perception of culturally<br />
responsive teaching.” (2018) Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3081. https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/<br />
3081<br />
12
Click<br />
Here to<br />
Listen<br />
Click Here to Listen<br />
!13
<strong>November</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
U P D A T E<br />
JCPS Generalist of Black Male Achievement, Greg Vann, gives an<br />
update on the status of Black Male Achievement initiatives in the district.<br />
Click here to watch<br />
!14
NOVEMBER <strong>2019</strong><br />
15
Minority and Women<br />
Business Profile<br />
Showcase with L.<br />
Watson Trucking<br />
By Delquan Dorsey<br />
Community Engagement & Supplier<br />
Diversity Manager<br />
Last summer, the Jefferson<br />
County Board of Education<br />
passed the Minority and Women<br />
Business Enterprise (MWBE) policy,<br />
which enhances our Model<br />
Procurement 45A policy to be more<br />
intentional of including MWBEs to do<br />
business with JCPS. With the help of<br />
our new partner—the 7PM Group, LLC<br />
—we are reaching out to more MWBE’s<br />
to submit bids on JCPS projects. So,<br />
after the partnership kickoff, we saw<br />
early success with a demolition of<br />
bleachers project at Stuart Middle<br />
School by L. Watson Trucking.<br />
So I wanted to meet and do an<br />
interview with L. Watson Trucking’s<br />
CEO Larry Watson to get some insight<br />
into his business and the recent<br />
project experience with JCPS.<br />
Continue on next page<br />
16<br />
Photo, google images
Dorsey: So how did you get into the demolition business?<br />
Watson: I got started in the trade through working with my father. He did<br />
demolition for over 30 years. I saw his work over the years, so when I was about 23<br />
years of age I decided to try it out myself. Eventually, I opened my own business<br />
and I have been doing for over 10 years now. We had some setbacks, some ups and<br />
downs trying to figure it all out, but business is doing well now.<br />
Dorsey: Are<br />
you from<br />
Louisville? Did<br />
you go to a<br />
JCPS school?<br />
Watson: Yes, I<br />
Photo,<br />
was born and<br />
raised in<br />
Louisville. I<br />
graduated<br />
from Eastern<br />
High School<br />
in 1999. I have<br />
three kids,<br />
and they are<br />
all JCPS<br />
students that attend Crosby Middle and Stopher Elementary. My father is a<br />
graduate of Eastern High School as well along with his 12 brothers and 1 sister. We<br />
grew up in the Berrytown and Eastwood Neighborhood.<br />
Dorsey: That is very important part of your family’s story. You all are a local family<br />
and have built a multiple generation successful business, and now your kids are<br />
students in JCPS. That’s why Supplier Diversity is important because we give<br />
businesses like yours the opportunity to help JCPS be better, and in turn, you’re
aising<br />
your family<br />
to be<br />
successful.<br />
So tell me<br />
about this<br />
project<br />
here at<br />
Stuart<br />
Middle?<br />
Watson:<br />
The goal of<br />
the project<br />
was to<br />
remove the<br />
outside<br />
bleachers that had been here over 50 years. It was easier than what we were<br />
used too because we didn’t have to manage traffic. We had to take out about<br />
200 tons of concrete. There was some aluminum included too, which we<br />
recycled. It was good job we were able to complete in two weeks. My<br />
supervisor and staff managed the project. We used a 200 Komatsu for<br />
excavation and some dump trucks to haul it away.<br />
Dorsey: Was this your first JCPS project?<br />
Watson: Yes, we have tried to submit some bids in the past, but we<br />
were never the low bidder. So, after a few times, we just focused<br />
on doing work with private developers. Then we received a phone<br />
call from 7PM that we were wanted, and we bid on two projects<br />
and we were the low bidder on Stuart project.<br />
Dorsey: What made you want to bid on a JCPS job this time?
ENVISION EQUITY NOVEMBER <strong>2019</strong><br />
Black Firemen Safety<br />
Academy<br />
By Greg Vann—Generalist of Black Male Achievement<br />
Photo, Abdul Sharif<br />
Aconversation about the achievement gap with the Jefferson County Fire<br />
Department’s (JCFD) Public Information Officer led to a partnership between the<br />
JCFD and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) called the “Black Firemen Safety<br />
Academy.” Jefferson County firemen volunteer to visit a school bi-weekly to talk about fire<br />
safety and becoming a firefighter with students. The purpose of these visits is not only to<br />
help save lives through fire safety, but to also put Black men in a position to show Black<br />
students that there are no limits on what they can become. “We want to encourage young<br />
Black men and show them that they can do anything they set their minds to,” said Jordan<br />
Continue on next page
Yuodis, P.I.O.<br />
for the<br />
Jefferson<br />
County Fire<br />
Department.<br />
“Somebody<br />
did the same<br />
thing for me.<br />
They’ll<br />
remember<br />
this for the<br />
rest of their lives”.<br />
After visiting Shacklette<br />
Elementary on October<br />
10th, school Principal<br />
Kevin Garner said,<br />
“Thank you for visiting<br />
our school. It meant the<br />
world to our boys and it<br />
meant the world to their<br />
parents!”<br />
The firemen have already visited Shacklette Elementary and Byck Elementary, and<br />
plan to continue to visit schools bi-weekly. To inquire about the B.F.S.A. visiting your<br />
school, please contact Greg Vann at gregory.vann@jefferson.kyschools.us.
DR. CRYSTAL DEGREGORY KICKS-OFF<br />
19-20 GIRLS OF COLOR COMMUNITY<br />
CONVERSATIONS<br />
By Abdul Sharif<br />
Generalist—Diversity, Equity, and Poverty Department<br />
F<br />
resh off the road from<br />
tending to her family<br />
in the hurricane ravaged<br />
island of the Bahamas, Dr.<br />
Crystal deGregory joined a<br />
group of nearly 50 people at<br />
the W.E.B. DuBois Academy<br />
to talk about Historically<br />
Black Colleges (HBCUs) and<br />
a sense of belonging for<br />
girls of color.<br />
Known for her collaborative advocacy and entrepreneurial<br />
leadership, critically-acclaimed historian and storyteller Dr. Crystal<br />
A. deGregory is the founder of HBCUstory. A gifted orator and<br />
sought-after commentator, she offers a wide range of expertise on<br />
multiple topics including history, culture, education, black fraternity<br />
and sorority life, and of course, HBCUs for publications<br />
including TIME, the American Historical Review, and Frankfort’s State<br />
Continue on next page<br />
21
ENVISION EQUITY NOVEMBER <strong>2019</strong><br />
Journal. Recently, she<br />
served as the awardwinning<br />
inaugural<br />
director of the Atwood<br />
Institute for Race,<br />
Education, and the<br />
Democratic Ideal at<br />
Kentucky State<br />
University.<br />
It was great to see so<br />
many young girls of color in attendance at our first Girls of Color<br />
Community Conversation. This was due in part to several Louisville<br />
Metro Community Centers, led by Ben Johnson, bringing groups of<br />
young ladies to our conversation. Many of the young girls had never<br />
heard of Dr. deGregory, but quickly opened up to her interpersonal<br />
style of speaking and her love for Black girls. In addition to<br />
students, there were also several parents, community members,<br />
and Jefferson County Board of Education district 6 representative<br />
Corrie Shull was also in attendance.<br />
Our Girls of Color Community Conversations are opened to the<br />
public take place bi-monthly. Our next Community Conversation<br />
will take place on January 22, 2020 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the<br />
W.E.B. DuBois Academy. The featured speaker will be Dr. Cherie<br />
Dawson-Edwards who will present on the history and examples of<br />
injustice inside the school system.<br />
To register for our next Girls of Color Community Conversation, or<br />
for more information, please contact Vanessa McPhail at 485-3631,<br />
email vanessa.mcphail@jefferson.kyschools.us.<br />
22
DATA MANAGEMENT<br />
RESEARCH TECHNICIAN<br />
Each month we will highlight one of the Diversity, Equity, and Poverty Department’s Data Management<br />
Research Technicians. This month we would like to introduce you to Catherine Collesano!<br />
My name is Catherine Collesano. I have worked at Jefferson County<br />
Public Schools for over 15 years and I am a senior member of the<br />
Diversity, Equity, and Poverty staff. As Data Manager in DEP, I<br />
assist with organizing professional development workshops, co-edit<br />
Envision Equity, complete data requests and reports for colleagues,<br />
maintain the DEP website, and provide support for our team of specialists<br />
on projects we are working on. My favorite part of my job is when I get to<br />
interact with cultural organizations in our community and collaborate on<br />
programs, and see projects that students have worked on. I always like<br />
opportunities to listen to teachers and students, and learn from them –<br />
learn about what their concerns are, what they have accomplished, or<br />
what they need more support on.<br />
I have lived in Louisville most of my life, and I am a graduate of DuPont<br />
Manual High School and the University of Louisville. In my spare time I<br />
enjoy gardening, hiking with my dog, cooking, listening to music, and<br />
traveling. I’ve traveled to several other countries, but the countries I would<br />
still like to visit are New Zealand, Japan, Norway, and Russia.<br />
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about our upcoming<br />
professional development sessions or if you want to submit an article for<br />
Envision Equity.<br />
23
To Be<br />
Called<br />
By Bryan Smith—Teacher Olmsted<br />
Academy North<br />
ENVISION EQUITY SEPTEMBER 2018<br />
W<br />
hile growing up, my<br />
family primarily<br />
consisted of my mother, an<br />
older sister and brother, and<br />
one younger sister. Though<br />
terms like stepbrother or<br />
stepsister weren’t used, it is<br />
important that I explain my<br />
familial structure. As a result of<br />
different dads, the differences<br />
would resonate through some<br />
of our physical features,<br />
mannerisms, and interests. For<br />
example, my brother was often<br />
admired for his uncanny<br />
!24<br />
Photo, LaManda Moore-Rodriguez
esemblance to our grandfather and brilliance. I looked<br />
nothing like the man, and landed in low reading group.<br />
Instances like this propelled my wonderment of selfdiscovery.<br />
It wasn’t until I was praised for my athletic ability during a<br />
game of tackle football. “You’re strong and fast. You are like a<br />
rocket!” an older cousin called me. In my 8 year old mind, I<br />
had finally arrived. I wasn’t called the smartest kid, the<br />
musically inclined child, or even the baby. But boy, could I<br />
run. I spent many years later playing sports in an effort to<br />
fulfill the need to be called athletic.<br />
Though I was a mediocre athlete, the desire to be called good<br />
at something drove my interest. I worked hard on and off the<br />
field, believed I could improve, and committed to team<br />
values. In my heart, I believed I had the potential to succeed.<br />
Question. What would have happened if I was called a good<br />
reader? What about a promising Math student? How about a<br />
prodigious child-chef with unharnessed potential? I’m sure I<br />
would have misspelled words, faltered through equations, or<br />
burned some eggs. Nevertheless, being called impacts the<br />
25
identity of young minds and hearts. This can either be<br />
positive or negative, inspiring or disparaging. I submit to<br />
parents, guardians, and all stakeholders the importance of<br />
being called. As influencers, we wield the awesome power to<br />
call students towards achievement and greatness. Call<br />
positivity over negative behavior. Call academic success over<br />
failure. And by all means, call the untapped potential and<br />
gifts of every student into existence.<br />
Keep Calling,<br />
-Bryan Smith<br />
L.U.V.<br />
Louisville’s Uncles Volunteer<br />
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Books for Young Readers<br />
ENVISION EQUITY NOVEMBER 2018<br />
Proudest Blue<br />
By Ibtihaj Muhammad<br />
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers<br />
(September 10, <strong>2019</strong>)<br />
Prek- 3 rd grade<br />
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in Sky<br />
By Kwame Mbalia<br />
Rick Riordan Presents (October 15, <strong>2019</strong>)<br />
Grade Level: 3 – 7<br />
Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad brings a lovely<br />
and whimsical story of two sisters on their first day of<br />
school. For eldest sister Asiya, it is also her first day<br />
of hijab. Although she finds her hijab to be strong and<br />
beautiful not everyone views it the same way. Little<br />
sister Faizah lifts her sister up throughout the story<br />
and leaves the audience with an uplifting message of<br />
being proud of who you are.<br />
Seventh grader Tristan Strong is grieving the death of<br />
his best friend Eddie after a bus accident and sent to<br />
stay with his grandparents in the middle of nowhere<br />
Alabama. Tristan begins reading Eddie's journal and<br />
is soon transported through the journal to the world of<br />
Alke, where African American folk characters are<br />
gods. As the people of Alke are suffering Tristan<br />
becomes a reluctant hero in this fantastic and diverse<br />
novel for middle schoolers.<br />
Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing<br />
Inspired Generations<br />
By Kelly Starlings Lyon<br />
Nancy Paulsen Books (August 6, <strong>2019</strong>)<br />
Kindergarten to 3 rd grade<br />
Lyons delves into the history of the African-American anthem and how it<br />
has inspired generations throughout persistent racism and oppression.<br />
Wonderful, indepth illustrations add to the impact of the story of this<br />
essential song.<br />
Images obtained from Google Images..<br />
Book list provided by the LFPL.<br />
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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 />
NAACP/JCPS<br />
C O M M U N I T Y F O R U M<br />
The forums are designed to communicate openly and provide information related to<br />
issues of access and opportunity for student success. They are viewed as a means to<br />
enlighten our membership and community about Jefferson County Public School’s<br />
programs, policies, practices, and procedures.<br />
Dr. Carmen Coleman, JCPS Chief Academic Officer<br />
Ms. Kim Chevalier, JCPS Exceptional Childhood Education<br />
Dr. Felicia Cumings Smith, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning<br />
Dr. Alicia Averette, Assistant Superintendent of Academic Support Programs<br />
Thursday, <strong>November</strong> 14, <strong>2019</strong> | 6:30 p.m.<br />
Maupin Elementary School, 1312 Catalpa St.<br />
(In the gymnasium)<br />
Speakers:<br />
Dr. Carmen Coleman, JCPS<br />
Chief Academic Officer<br />
Ms. Kim Chevalier, JCPS<br />
Exceptional Childhood Education<br />
Dr. Felicia Cumings Smith,<br />
Assistant Superintendent<br />
for Teaching and Learning<br />
Dr. Alicia Averette, Assistant<br />
Superintendent of Academic<br />
Support Programs<br />
FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE CONTACT<br />
DONALD DILLARD AT 485-6788.<br />
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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 />
With Dr. Shelley Thomas & Dr. David Owen<br />
The Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Office of Diversity, Equity, and<br />
Poverty would like to invite you to attend our <strong>November</strong> Speaker Series (PD)<br />
with Dr. Shelley Thomas and Dr. David Owen. Our Speaker Series features<br />
presentations from local and national experts in education. The topic of this<br />
month's Speaker Series (PD) is White Allies: Supporting Lived Experiences.<br />
Dr. Shelley Thomas is an Associate Professor of Elementary,<br />
Middle, and Secondary Teacher Education at the University of<br />
Louisville. Dr. Thomas' areas of research include<br />
transdisciplinary social justice approaches to pervasive<br />
challenges in education, the impact of social justice perspectives<br />
on teachers and teacher candidates, cultural competence and<br />
culturally responsive teaching in clinical teacher education and<br />
teaching contexts, and the pipeline for Teachers of Color.<br />
Dr. David Owen is Department Chairperson, Professor of<br />
Philosophy, and Director of the Diversity Literacy Program at the<br />
University of Louisville. Prof. Owen’s research interests are<br />
mainly in social philosophy, including critical race theory, the<br />
philosophy of diversity, Habermas, and the Frankfurt School. His<br />
previous publications and current projects include developing a<br />
philosophical approach to diversity and a critical theory of<br />
whiteness that will explain the structural and unconscious<br />
mechanisms by which racial oppression is reproduced.<br />
Monday, <strong>November</strong> 11, <strong>2019</strong><br />
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.<br />
Marion C. Moore School<br />
6415 Outer Loop<br />
PD# 19-20106461<br />
Or<br />
Wednesday, <strong>November</strong> 13, <strong>2019</strong><br />
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.<br />
Southern High School<br />
8620 Preston Hwy.<br />
PD# 19-20106462<br />
For more information, please contact Telva Hogan at 485-7318 or telva.hogan@jefferson.kyschools.us.<br />
Please register for Professional Development (PD) sessions on pdCentral.<br />
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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 />
D I V E R S I T Y , E Q U I T Y , A N D P O V E R T Y D E P A R T M E N T<br />
The Winter <strong>Edition</strong><br />
During the Literacy & Hip-Hop<br />
camp students will read the story<br />
Brothers of the Knight by Debbie<br />
Allen, work on engaging reading<br />
and craft activities, and learn about<br />
the history and fundamentals of<br />
hip-hop from a professional dance<br />
instructor!<br />
For more information, please call Taylor Utley 485-6331<br />
or register online at: http://bit.ly/jcpslitandwinter.<br />
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ENVISION EQUITY NOVEMBER 2018<br />
Title Session Code Date & Time Location Contact<br />
Equity Institute 19-20106747<br />
(morning session)<br />
19-20106749<br />
(afternoon session)<br />
<strong>November</strong> 4<br />
8:00 to 11:00 a.m.<br />
12:30 to 3:30 p.m.<br />
Galt House Hotel<br />
and Suites<br />
(Downtown<br />
Louisville)<br />
Dr. Monica<br />
Lakhwani<br />
(502) 485-7269<br />
Diversity Mobile<br />
Summit<br />
Search “Mobile<br />
Summit” on<br />
pdCentral to see the<br />
session codes.<br />
<strong>November</strong> 7<br />
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.<br />
Zachary Taylor<br />
Elementary<br />
Dr. Monica<br />
Lakhwani<br />
(502) 485-7269<br />
White Allies:<br />
Supporting Lived<br />
Experiences<br />
19-20106461 <strong>November</strong> 11<br />
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.<br />
Marion C. Moore<br />
School<br />
Vanessa McPhail<br />
(502) 485-3631<br />
Intelligent Lives 19-20105679 <strong>November</strong> 11<br />
3:30 to 5:00 p.m.<br />
Muhammad Ali<br />
Center<br />
Dr. Monica<br />
Lakhwani<br />
(502) 485-7269<br />
A Mile in My<br />
Shoes: Homeless<br />
Education<br />
19-20107409 <strong>November</strong> 12<br />
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.<br />
JCPS Shawnee<br />
Satellite Office<br />
Giselle Danger<br />
(502) 485-3650<br />
White Allies:<br />
Supporting Lived<br />
Experiences<br />
19-20106462 <strong>November</strong> 13<br />
4:30 to 6:00 p.m.<br />
Southern High<br />
Vanessa McPhail<br />
(502) 485-3631<br />
Integrating Art<br />
With Underserved<br />
Populations<br />
19-20105576 <strong>November</strong> 13<br />
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.<br />
Seneca High<br />
Dr. Monica<br />
Lakhwani<br />
(502) 485-7269<br />
I Am Rohingya 19-20105749 <strong>November</strong> 18<br />
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.<br />
Muhammad Ali<br />
Center<br />
Dr. Monica<br />
Lakhwani<br />
(502) 485-7269<br />
Civil Rights Trail<br />
Markers<br />
19-20105150 <strong>November</strong> 20<br />
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.<br />
UofL College of Arts<br />
and Sciences Fine<br />
Arts Center (1616<br />
Rowan Street,<br />
Louisville, KY)<br />
Dr. Monica<br />
Lakhwani<br />
(502) 485-7269<br />
To view a complete list of DEP professional development sessions, visit https://www.jefferson.kyschools.us/node/1350<br />
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ENVISION EQUITY NOVEMBER 2018<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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