Hopkins Public Schools hosts three-day Equity Symposium

Hopkins Public Schools hosted an Equity Symposium on June 7, 8 and 9. Each day was devoted to a different topic around equity and education. About 60 people attended each session, which was open to equity specialists, equity team members, principals, master teachers, and school board members. Three facilitators led the symposium. The lineup is listed below:

• June 7 – “Undoing whiteness: calling out the wizard behind the curtain.” Led by Dr. Heather Hackman.
• June 8 – “Teaching BeBe’s kids: methodology for teaching ‘hard to teach’ students.” Led by Dr. Lucian Yates, III.
• June 9 – “Race matters when teaching and reaching African American students.” Led by Dr. Mack Hines, III.

The purpose of the seminar was to give teachers and staff the tools, knowledge and instructional methods to reach the knowledge base of all students and teach to their strengths. These tools increase the self-confidence and self-esteem of students, which also broadens the potential for academic success.

“In order to become culturally proficient, we must constantly be in search of opportunities to grow our knowledge of the cultures and races represented in our schools and classrooms,” said Dr. Stanley Brown, coordinator of equity and inclusion for Hopkins Public Schools.

Hopkins Public Schools is committed to equity and inclusion for all students. Currently, 36 percent of students are of color and 34 percent qualify for Free and Reduced Price Lunch. About 7 percent are English Language Learners.

Participants left the symposium with a greater knowledge of the importance and the relevance of teaching with race and culture in mind. Each day was constructed to challenge thinking, provoke courageous conversations on race and expand perceptions on teaching and learning.