National Equity Project Organizational Overview formerly the Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools LaShawn Routé Chatmon Executive Director [email protected]

National Equity Project Organizational Overviewformerly the Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools

LaShawn Routé Chatmon

Executive Director

[email protected] © Kat Nyberg

We believe every child has a right to a quality education. We coach people to become

the powerful leaders who make good on that promise.

Our Moral Imperative to Achieve Educational Equity

The National Equity Project

Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On

its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom,

democracy and sustainable human development.

Kofi Annan

Our Mission

To dramatically improve the achievement, experiences and life trajectory of students who

have been historically underserved.


Current Reality: An African American Male Born in a High Poverty Neighborhood….

• 7 times more likely to be born into poverty• 4 times more likely to have parents with a high school education or less• 4 times less likely to read at grade level in 4th grade• 6 times more likely to drop out/pushed out of high school• If a dropout, twice as likely to be unemployed, and 47 times more likely

to be incarcerated by age 24• On average, likely to die 12 years earlier than his White peer born in an

affluent part of town

Persistent Racial Disparities in Life Options and Outcomes

Neither geography nor race should determine his

destiny.

How do WE address inequity and ensure every child’s preparedness for our

collective future?

Address Root Causes, not Symptoms


“If poverty is a disease that infects the entire community in the form of unemployment and violence, failing schools and broken homes, then we can't just treat those symptoms in isolation. We have to heal that entire community.”

President Barack Obama

Opportunity Gaps Underlie Achievement Gaps

Healing the Broader Community

To achieve educational equity for

vulnerable children, there is a

need to close the

Opportunity Gap

not just its manifestation, the

Achievement Gap.

How the Opportunity Gap is Constructed

• Poverty and lack of social supports

• Limited early learning opportunities

• Re-segregation and unequal schooling

• Unequal access to qualified teachers

• Lack of access to a high quality curriculum

• Dysfunctional learning environments

Linda Darling Hammond

The Flat World and Education, 2010


What We’ve Learned


There’s a gap between our intention for a quality education for every child,

and the actions we take and conditions we provide,

that prevent students from succeeding to their full potential.

What We Do


We coach for

educational equity.

Coaching is the

practice of instructing,

provoking, guiding, and

supporting people to

achieve mutually agreed

upon objectives that

interrupt historical

patterns of inequity.

What We Do


We provide coaching and leadership

development services.

We help you align your everyday

practices with your values and intentions

as an educator and leader.

We are your partner in making good on

the promise of a quality education for

every child.

What We Do


We facilitate productive

discourse about equity.

We believe that honest

conversations about the effects

of biases are necessary, not to

lay blame but to find better

ways to educate every child.

What We Do


We listen and build mutually

respectful relationships.

Our coaches are highly trained to

listen, observe, and customize

approaches to individual client

needs. We elicit solutions and

strategies from the client, enhancing

the leadership skills, resources, and

creativity everyone possesses.

Coaching is our core practice in delivering the following services:

Leading for Equity


Equity by Design

Teaching for Equity

LEADERSHIP is the bridge between plans and effective actions.

Strategic plans

Policies

Intentions


Implementation

Practices

Success!

LeadershipLeadership

Leading for Equity Overview

Leading for Equity


Develops individual and collective leadership to understand, interrupt, and address the negative effects of Institutional & Structural Racism and create opportunities for every child.

Leading for Equity Overview

Leading for Equity


Change the conversation

Create a new vision

Take bold & effective action

Addressing Racial (In)equity Is A Core Element of Our Approach

It is difficult for many Americans to understand how our collective fates are

linked and how the entire nation is harmed by the consequences of

structural racism and racial hierarchy. If we do not engage a transformative

dialogue…will continue to have a polarizing-rather than unifying-outcomes,

and our democracy will suffer.

john powell


Change the Conversation

Increased Understanding of the Role Structures Play in Reproducing Educational Inequity

SCHOOL HUB

Cultural, Language, & Heritage Services

Nutrition & Physical Education Providers

City Parks, Recreation, & Libraries

Medical, Dental, & Health Services

Mental Health Counseling and

Mentoring Programs

Post-Secondary

Linking Programs

Housing and Employment

Services

Parent/Family Childcare and Early Learning

Programs

Create a New Vision


Oakland Unified School District 1999 Academic Performance Index


Take Bold & Effective Action

Oakland Unified School District 2009 Academic Performance Index


Take Bold & Effective Action

LFE Effects and Impacts:

• Measurable reductions in disparate outcomes

• Aligned contributions of partners (whole greater than the sum of its parts)

• Realigned structures and increased opportunities for children and families

• Leaders with skill and capacity to effectively lead change in their communities


Recent Leading for Equity Partners

• Ready Schools Miami, Miami, FL

• KIPP Schools, New York, NY

• E3, Portland, OR

• Newberg Pubic Schools, Newberg, OR

• Roosevelt High School

• San Rafael City Schools, San Rafael CA

• San Francisco Unified School District, San Francisco, CA

• Kellogg Learning Labs, Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Kellogg Education & Learning Team, Battle Creek, MI


Leading for Equity Testimonials


“I attend many training sessions. Many are good. Few are life-changing. The Nat’l Equity Project session was one of the few. You provided me with knowledge and gave me skills in developing leaders and teams who can change the conversation and transform instruction in our schools. Thank you for a visionary approach to training.” - Mary Jane Burke, Marin County Superintendent of Schools

“Anti-racist approaches to education leadership require constant learning and re-training. I do not know of a more effective, progressive, and professional organization from which to draw practical learning on this topic that can be used ‘real time’ in the field.” - Salomé Portugal, School Support Manager, New Leaders New Schools

“The Leading for Equity experience was more than I had imagined it would be! Amazing! Each of you made such a great contribution. I feel incredibly fortunate to be in this work with each of you. I look forward to all that is ahead.” - Mike Watenpaugh, Superintendent, San Rafael City Schools

Equity by Design: Current Services

Equity by Design


1. Listening Campaign

2. Equity Analysis

3. School Design

4. District Redesign

5. Team Development

6. Organizational Development

7. Executive Coaching

Equity by Design Our Approach

Equity by Design


Equity by Design services help schools and nonprofits become

more collaborative and democratic in their leadership,

structures, operations, and communications. This improves

adult culture and practice in order to reduce racial disparities

in effects, impact, and outcomes.

Principal Testimonials


“This school would not exist if it were not for the Project. If someone tells me they want to start or redesign a school, I tell them they have to work with the National Equity Project – they create the conditions for success.”

David Silver, PrincipalThink College Now CA Distinguished School

Teaching for Equity Overview

Teaching for Equity


Coaches educators to assess and address problems of student learning by developing authentic, effective partnerships with vulnerable students to increase motivation and achievement.

Formative Assessment shifts educator focus from

What is taught


What is learnedtoto

AccomplishmentsClosing the Gap in English Proficiency:Three Long-term Oakland Elementary School Partners


Teaching for Equity: Current Services

Teaching for Equity


1. IMPACT 2012 Inquiry Initiative

2. Teaching with a Cultural Eye Institutes & Engagements

3. Instructional Practice Development Services

Oakland Principal Testimonials


“I don’t think we’d be where we are today without the ongoing support of The National Equity Project. They have been a completely committed and vital partner… helped us tackle incredibly challenging issues and my Project coach has helped me personally be a more transformative leader.” Kimi Kean, Regional Executive Officer, Oakland Unified School DistrictFormer Principal, Acorn Woodland Elementary

AccomplishmentsOakland Unified has been the most improved urban district in CA for the last 5 years.


More AccomplishmentsOakland Small Schools Movement Leadership

• Partnered in a three-way MOU with OUSD and Oakland Community Organizations to create new small schools in the city.

• Built and managed small schools “incubator” for 32 new small schools

• Facilitated community engagement for new schools

• Coached school design teams of teachers, parents, students in small school design, instructional practices, and data-based inquiry

• Developed and implemented a Principal Credentialing Program (LEAD: Leading for Equity, Achievement, and Democracy) with Cal State University East Bay. Trained more than 50 principal leaders.

• Advised central office on new district structures

• Granted over $13 million to new schools in Oakland

• Provided Leadership for Equity Institute and coaching to new school teams (change the discourse, set equity goals, develop action plans)


More Accomplishments: Now in Eight States


www.nationalequityproject.org

Documents

National Equity Project Organizational Overview formerly the Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools LaShawn Routé Chatmon Executive Director [email protected]