Renée Otero
Director of Diversity
While many families were enjoying their last days of summer break, over 50 SFDS teachers and staff member returned to school early for a three day Diversity Forum. This annual event is an opportunity for teacher and staff to focus on the School’s core value of “diversity and inclusion in our community.”
Cultural competency and leadership was the focus of this year’s forum. Through presentations, discussions, and case studies on gender, family structure, and race, educators created a common vocabulary, learned new skill for respectful listening, and discussed the importance of intent vs. impact. Many teachers felt that the idea of intent vs. impact was a valuable idea to remember throughout the school year.
Intent vs. impact is: what was meant by my action versus what my action meant to someone else. As an educator I work diligently to create an environment where all my students have mirrors to their lives in the curriculum I deliver and the physical environment I create. It is never my intent to exclude a student’s or their family’s reality. Likewise, I intend to hear all voice in my classes and in the community. From years of teaching I know that the impact of not reflecting a child’s reality or not providing space for their voice can be detrimental to their personal growth, learning, and school identity.
In order to provide the necessary reflection and space for students, I must have a high level of cultural competency. What is central to one group of students and families is not necessarily true for others. As the teacher it is my responsibility to examine everything I do through many different perspectives. I constantly ask my self, “How might my [insert identifier] student view this material?” If I don’t know the answer I make the necessary calls and visits to try to figure it out. I know I have to make the effort for ALL our children and families, because it is my privilege to be an educator to your children and it is my responsibility to make sure I include everyone and make a positive impact on the lives of our students and families.
You too, as an adult in the SFDS community, have opportunities to examine your cultural competency, learn about other perspectives, become leaders around inclusion, and be aware that the impact you make is great and long lasting to others around you.
