Administrators, staff, teachers, family members, students and community members came together for a day of collaboration at the Sunnyvale School District’s second annual Equity Summit. At the event, participants learned about District practices, values, and programs, and shared their input about how the District can best serve our students.
The objectives for the day for the 102 participants were:
- build community, empower families, and foster inclusivity,
- recognize the strengths of our community in order to stand up for equity and positive change in our schools,
- develop common language and understanding to hold ourselves and others accountable, and
- provide input and feedback on the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).
The day began with a review of the District’s Equity Statement, followed by a screening of “This is Equity,” a film by the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation. Its message is best summarized by the following quote:
“California students have big dreams. Unfortunately, some students face a much tougher road to achieving them. It’s up to us to remove barriers in the education system that gets in their way.”
Participants reflected on the part they can play as individuals in removing learning barriers as well as how they can enact change as a community.
The afternoon featured a panel of San Jose State University educators, including Professor Marcos Pizarro, Assistant Professor Eduardo Muñoz-Muñoz, and Professor Rebecca Burciaga. Panelists reviewed the historical causes of the achievement gap and drew from their own personal experiences of inequity in education.
Participants received a copy of the book Biased by Jennifer L. Eberhardt, as well as a take-home activity designed to prompt discussions about implicit bias.
The event wrapped up with participants reviewing our District’s Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) through an equity lens. The plan outlines how we intend to meet goals for all students, with a special focus on English Learners, Foster Youth, and students from low socio-economic backgrounds.
The feedback the participants provided at the event will inform current and future goals and action plans. Thank you to all of those who participated and for guiding our practice and priorities using the lens of equity!
