Staff Professional Learning & Development
Each year, we make it our goal to solicit the input and feedback of students, staff, caregivers and school and district leadership to create content that is relevant to our school community and that promotes the implementation of culturally responsive and anti-racist teaching practices so that all scholars experience equitable learning experiences. To inform the professional learning and development sessions, we have:
- Conducted focus groups with students
- Reviewed student assessment and student survey (e.g. Youth Risk Behavior Survey and Panorama) data
- Met one-on-one over the phone, in-person and on-line with educators
- Held recurring meetings and one-on-one sessions with school and department leaders
- Reviewed input and feedback from caregiver surveys
- Engaged in one-on-one and focus group sessions with caregivers
Current Professional Learning & Development
Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, CPS instituted district-wide anti-racist, anti-bias professional learning/development (PD) sessions . OEIB delivered two PD sessions called Equity by Design and LGBTQ+ Inclusive Schools at all 18 schools. Each PD was tailored to the school’s needs based on meetings with school leaders and educators.
Over the past two years, the Equity by Design PD has focused on:
- Understanding privilege
- Reflecting on different dimensions of identity
- Targeting the needs of the demographic groups who are least served in a particular school based on data.
- The Equity Continuum (performative, mitigative, transformative)
Equity as a Verb
- The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Schools PD has focused on:
- Reviewing state and CPSD policy
- Sharing best practices for inclusive schools
- Interrupting biased language using the Speak Up at School framework (from Learning for Justice)
- Navigating value-based conversations with students and caregivers
School & District Leadership Through-Partnership
To support school leaders on their journey as actively anti-racist leaders, OEIB provides thought-partnership and other forms of direct support. This support is focused on exploring “What does anti-racist leadership and teaching look like in action in CPS?” through intentional, data-driven, and student-centered conversations and collaboration. Over the past few years, this has evolved from a monthly coaching cycle to on-going and on-demand thought-partnership to intentional support focused on a Transformative Equity Leadership Plan.
Past Professional Learning & Development
Past educator-focused professional development has included:
- Educator Equity Project (2023-2024)
- Choice courses:
- Becoming and Anti-Racist and Anti-Bias Educator (Dec 2021-June 2022)
- Intersectionality and Gender in the Middle and High School Classroom (Jan-May 2022)
- Healing Centered Engagement (Jan-May 2022)