Time: 10:00 am–12:00 pm (Pacific Time)

Location: Virtual

Description: This webinar, the second in a two-part series, will expand on how culturally responsive strategies can be used to support academic and social and emotional development and present systemic leadership approaches and strategies for implementing culturally affirming environments.

Researchers and practitioners will discuss four evidence-based systemic leadership strategies for implementing culturally affirming environments: critically self-reflecting on leadership behaviors; developing culturally responsive teachers; promoting culturally responsive/inclusive school environments; and engaging a diversity of students and parents.

In this webinar, district and site leaders will:

• Deepen understanding of culturally affirming school and classroom cultures and climates and how they shape student and staff outcomes
• Explore systemic approaches for embedding culturally affirming spaces and practices at the school and district level
• Learn about promising leadership practices and adult behaviors that foster culturally affirmative schooling experiences from practitioners in the field

Audience: The target audience for this event series is district and site leaders who are the drivers and stewards of equity-centered efforts in their district. Participants are encouraged to attend in teams of two or more, if possible.

Speakers:

Confirmed Panelists:

• Ayanna Cooper, EdD, Educational consultant and advocate for culturally and linguistically diverse learners
• Brian Knowles, MEd, Manager of the Office of African, African American, Latino, Holocaust, and Gender Studies; School District of Palm Beach County, Florida
• Rosa Perez-Isiah, EdD, Director of Elementary Education, Equity and Access; Norwalk La Mirada Unified School District, California
• Reed Swier, MEd, Associate Director of Training and Development; NYU Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and Transformation of Schools

Facilitators:

• Erin Browder, Senior Program Associate, REL West
• David Lopez, Senior Technical Assistance Specialist, WestEd
• Rawlin Rosario, Program Associate, WestEd
• Lori Van Houten, Senior Program Associate, REL West