Voices of Color: Using Student Voice to Transform Learning Environments and Achieve

Educational Equity

February 9, 2007CCheryl Greene, Ed.D.

cgreen@kyrene.org

480-783-1780

I invite you to:

• Listen with an open heart and mind to the voices of students.

• Engage in “courageous conversation.”

• Consider how student voice can foster your equity journey.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not of seeking new

landscapes but of seeing through new

eyes.”

-Marcel Proust

Courageous Conversations

To understand the impact of race on the achievement gap…we need to engage in “Courageous Conversations” in order to deeply examine the effects of race.

--Glenn E. Singleton

CourageousListen with an open heart

and mind.

Conversations Maximize the power of

conversations to envision new possibilities and create

a culture of change

The Kyrene Story: “Academic Excellence”

• Kindergarten – 8th Grade• Located in Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler• 6 Middle Schools (Grades 6 – 8 )• 19 Elementary (Grades K – 5)

Student Demographics71% White 13.5% Hispanic 7% Asian 6% African American 1.8% Native American

Kyrene School District

“Kyrene students excel academically. Since the 2000 administration of the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS), Kyrene students in grades 3, 5, and 8 have consistently out performed the state in the percent of the Meet or Exceeds Category.”

Kyrene School DistrictA Top Performing District

The Arizona Department of Education provides each school with a rating based on the state's school accountability system, Arizona Learns.  Based on 2006 performance:

• All 25 schools met or exceeded state performance and progress goals

• 19 Kyrene schools, including all 6 middle schools, received the "Excelling" Rating

• All 25 schools ranked "Excelling" or "Highly Performing"

Kyrene and Arizona8th Grade Math AIMS 2003

450

455

460

465

470

475

480

485

490

All Students

Me

an

Sta

nd

ard

Sco

re

State

Kyrene

Kyrene School DistrictAIMS-Math 2003

Kyrene School District Falls Far Below and Approaching

8th Grade Math AIMS 2003

Kyrene 8th Grade Math AIMS 2003District and State Mean Standard Score by Ethnicity

400

425

450

475

500

525

550

All W A B H

Mea

n S

tan

dar

d S

core

State

Kyrene

Kyrene School DistrictChallenges and Barriers

• A focus on aggregate v. disaggregated data.

• Avoidance of courageous conversations.

• Unwillingness to acknowledge the racial achievement gap.

Think about the racial and ethnic

diversity within your organization,

school or district.

Consider the achievement of students in your school or district.

What are your challenges?

Successes?

Reflect on your experiences regarding educational equity.

Voices of Color

The Power of Student Voice to Foster

Courageous Conversations

• Stereotypes

• Expectations for Student Achievement

• Making School Real for Students

• Parental Support of Education

• Finding Your Voice

Voices of Color What spoke to you?

What are some ways you have utilized student voice to transform your organization?

What are some additional ways you could utilize student voice to address issues of educational equity?

Student Voice

• Race matters! Recognize it! Embrace it!

• Embark on your own racial identity/equity journey.

• Respect students’ need for safety.• Talk less, listen more!• Seek multiple voices; value

multiple perspectives.• Co-create/team up with students.

Utilizing Student Voice to Transform Learning Environments

Voice is…

Unique personal significance –

significance that is revealed as we face our greatest

challenges

and which makes us

equal to them.--Stephen Covey, “The 8th Habit”

The Kyrene Story Post Script

Core Beliefs that Guide Our Equity Work:

• Equity is a priority.• All children can learn (at

high levels).• A focus on in-school

factors is essential.

The Kyrene Story Post Script

• New mission and vision statements: include “all” and “every” child

• District Equity Team• School-based Equity Teams• Moving toward disaggregated

data analysis

Find your voice.Express your voice.

Help others find theirs.

Together, be the voice of equity.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be

changed until it is faced.”

--James Baldwin