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Home My WebLink About2011-03-09 PACKET 04Schools Parents Visitors Departments Staff About Us of 833 Nome Community Advisory 13� Contact Us: OEI Team Culturally Responsive Sheltered Instruction Integration Links g Literacy and Instruction Literacy Links Mission Programs m What's New in OEI ration Office of Equity and Integration 7362 East Point Douglas Rd. S. Cottage Grove, MN 55016 Phone: 651-458-6273 Fax: 651-458-6318 Hours: 6:30am - 4pm The Department of Equity and Integration is committed to enhancing educational opportunities at District 833 through programs which encourage global citizenship. We honor difference by taking a visible stand against prejudice and intolerance, while fostering inclusiveness and tolerance. We acknowledge that today's youth live in a world that is undergoing continuous demographic and social changes, and as the global landscape is transformed so does the local community. OEI Summer /Fail Newsletter dick here x Three Year Integration Flan click here OEI Listening Meetings 2009 -10 click here .,. dick here http: / /www.sowashoo.k12.mn.us /Departments /OFI/OEI.asp 3/3/2011 At District 833, we appreciate the impact that children with intercultural skills (competence in dealing with differences) have on their community and society at large. We therefore dedicate our resources to teaching intercultural communication skills to teachers, staff, and administrators; and are seeking the best methods, programs, and partners that can embed and entrench our values at all levels of the school district. Furthermore, we dedicate our resources to attracting, developing, and retaining the best talents from underrepresented populations as teachers, staff. and administrators and are making tremendous strides in this area. In addition, we offer grants to engender classroom innovations, and are especially interested in funding proposals that focus on ingenious strategies to accomplish the teaching of multicultural education. We support projects that seek to preserve and enrich the diverse cultural heritages of all those who make up our constituents. One of our deepest roots is invested in community involvement We therefore reach out to and invite and sustain relationships with parents, parent - surrogates, and other community stakeholders to be equal partners in our quest to fully embrace difference and make District 833 a groat environment for teaching and learning. Our Community Advisory Board (including parents, staff, teachers, and administrators) is responsible in assisting to develop the district's strategic targets for making institutional change relative to increasing diversity awareness. We aim to achieve workforce diversity (race, gender, ethnicity, etc), behavioral diversity (work styles, learning styles, teaching styles, etc) and structural diversity (teams working cross - functionally, building allies, and breaking hierarchies). http:// www. sowasheol< 12. mn.tts/I3epartments /OEI /OEI.asp 7/3/2011 Jeff Alden Pope Director, Office of Equity and Integration It is the end of summer and school has resumed. Students are eager to meet new teachers and the teachers and staff members have renewed relationships with principals, peers, and colleagues. Many of our schools have students from various backgrounds and cultural differences. As our district experiences changes in demographics, we constantly engage visions and dreams that were introduced at least a half century ago when schools began to desegregate. Because the focus of this office is centered on integrated learning environments, it is important to remember the Brown v. Board of Education, the march on Washington in 1963, and, locally, the Minnesota Desegregation Rule of 1999. As our students enter this year, I draw upon the "bad check' analogy that Martin Luther King gave in 1963. Are all students seen as capable of fulfilling their dreams? Or, when students of color, free /reduced lunch, ELL, and special education students cash in their coupon to be career and college ready, will it be returned "insufficient funds ?" For us to achieve our district goals, school site improvement plans, and department improvement plans, we must make a'deposit" on behalf of all our students. Building better relationships with students, creating "healthy" school cultures, innovative programming, and culturally responsive teaching are evidence based practices that ensure all students success. Our programs such as Advancement Via Individual Determination, International Baccalaureate, Project M, Culturally Responsive Sheltered Instruction, School Partnerships, and others are just some of the many ways we can assist to make an educational 'deposit" for our students. Our "deposit" is deeply rooted in our aspirations for all students to live out equality and the American Dream. In collaboration, Jeff Alden Pope, M.A. kirdstseeme tg tee A mosaic created by St. Paul and South Washington County students at the Concordia Language Camp, Summer 2008 Welcome back! I hope this update finds you energized and rejuvenated. Exciting opportunities are plentiful in Multicultural Literacy this year! MV Role I am excited to announce that I am dividing my position between the Office of Equity and Integration and Teaching and Learning Services. Twill join TLS as a .2 ELL Specialist, which has already proven to streamline the collaboration between our offices. Summer Book Clubs This year was the first time OEI offered summer book clubs to district teachers. The response was so overwhelming; we had to close registration early. We are in the process of reviewing the completed reflections and we are impressed by the thoughtful, practice changing evaluations that were made. The process will continue soon for those who would like to keep making headway. It was our honor to work with such dedicated professionals. Culturally Responsive Sheltered Instruction CRSI kicked off this year with three days of training in August. P.I.N.K. consulting led our sessions with an activity filled morning focused on cultural awareness. Metro ECSU then helped us to understand how to apply what we learned to our instruction for English Language Learners. Those who could not attend the August dates had an opportunity to begin training September 17th and 18th. The cohorts will work collaboratively together for three years gaining and refining their skills. Multicultural Curriculum This is just a friendly reminder to continue checking the Webrary. OEI has added almost 527 titles to the Webrary in the last year and we are continuing to add more every day! Diana Noto deserves great praise for her continuous work, so please show her your appreciation by checking out a few books this fall! _ A ttention: Middle School Teachers OEI continues to support your curriculum mapping process. This summer, we purchased several picture book titles that align with the English and Social Studies curriculum. Pictures books are fantastic resources for introducing and furthering topics because they are short, often provide a streamlined overview and use limited vocabulary. These titles will be emailed to you and will be posted on the OEI website. I challenge you to use one this year! N (R In its pilot year for District #833, this student/family program was impactful on many levels for students, staff, and families who participated at Woodbury High School and Woodbury Middle School. The data and feedback gathered from students, core -team members, and family members at both sites illustrated this clearly. Overall, Project M aims to bring the students' and staff hearts and authentic selves to the forefront of their journey through our school system in efforts to shape their dreams as practically as possible for post- secondary readiness. This experience was transformative and positive for nearly all involved, which is why Project M is being expanded this year to include both Cottage Grove Middle and Oltman Middle schools. To learn more about the intent, impact and framework of Project M, contact Warren and /or Richard in the Office of Equity and Integration or either of our pilot sites from last year, Woodbury High and Woodbury Middle. You may also view this brief video, which uses students', staff, and parents' stories to articulate the impact that Project M's strength- based, relational context provides for students as they move inexorably to post- secondary reality. (click here to view the Project M Videa �, .c,- Staff and Students atwloodhury High School loin hands and wlorktogether toward common goals and now possibilities through project M. Partnerships South Washington County Schools participates in partnerships with St. Paul Schools as required by the MN Deseg Rule. Students enrolled in programs were transported to and from the program or school site. OEI and St. Paul Schools provided snacks or lunches for all students. Students tend to excel academically and socially when engaged with their St. Paul partner. 2009 -10 Academic Year • 15 elementary students participated in the Science Saturday's program at the Science Museum of MN. • 18 students from Oltman and Cottage Grove Middle participated in the Eagles after school program at Washington Technology Magnet in St. Paul. Students studied science, technology, engineering, arts and math. • Grade 3 students at Grey Cloud Elementary were in partnership with Maxfield Elementary in St. Paul. • 152 students enrolled in the summer Eagles program at Washington Technology Magnet. • 35 high school and middle school students attended the Cultural Academic Arts program, St. Thomas University. • 8 high school students participated in a leadership experience at St. Thomas University. ® 43 elementary students attended the summer World Language program at St. Thomas University. ® 37 elementary students attended the summer Native American program at the American Indian Magnet in St. Paul. 115 students attended the summer Valley Branch Nature Center program in Afton. Fundamental Beliefs, Mission and Accountability Richard Webb, Professional Development Coordinator I would like to extend a warm thank you for all staff members who continue to participate in the professional development opportunities supported by our Office of Equity and Integration. This truly will be a year of listening, growth and very challenging work. The 2009 -2010 school year was the first year of implementation of the Office of Equity & Integration professional development plan approved into the Minnesota Department of Education to meet requirements for the usage of integration revenue. Click here to read the OEI Professional Development Plan or contact our OEI Office to request a hard copy of the document. During the first year of professional development, the focus was on cultural awareness. Several approaches were accessible and utilized by individual sites and district offices. This year we will continue to build on the success and challenges of year one. The theme for year two is PRACTICE. We will offer some great learning opportunities! Learning opportunities: ® Intercultural Development Inventory ® Intercultural Conflict Style Assessment • Equity Audit • Post Secondary Equity Awareness • Building Relationships within a Cross - Cultural Environment d Project M ® Transforming School Culture ® Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity (SEED) ® Urban Leadership Academy Journey to the Happier "if we're growing, we're always going to be out of our comfort zone." John Maxwell 4 P r M � D r Jeff Alden Pope; Director 651 - 458 -6346 aldenpo @sow Lynn Delman, Office Manager 651 - 458 -6273 Ideiman @sowashco.k12,mn Sarah Sims, Multicultural Literacy Coordinator 651 - 458 -6259 ss1rna @sowashco.k12mn.us Warren Taylor Families and Integration Coordinator 651 - 458 -6316 wy a ylor@sowash In partnership: wvvw.sowashg2.k12.rnn.us/equitj Mark T. Porter Superintendent, South Washington County Schools Dave Bernhardson, Assistant Superintendent, Elementary Rick Spicuzza, Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Assessment Keith Ryskoski, Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Mike Vogel, Assistant Superintendent, Operations Newsletter editor: Lynn Delman 5