The Shorewood School District continues to engage with Integrated Comprehensive Systems for Equity in its work to eliminate inequities comprehensively across all schools, by building the capacity of all educators and transforming systems. The work is grounded in the District’s 2020-2025 strategic framework, which identifies social justice curriculum, anti-racist pedagogy and addressing the culture of fear preventing staff and administrators from addressing inequity and injustice among its primary goals. These goals were established by staff and community members during a series of meetings in the 2019-2020 school year.
Throughout the 2020–2021 school year, school leadership teams immersed themselves in ICS Equity training, working weekly through modules that addressed marginalization, asset-based versus deficit-based language, and identity development. ICS training was also conducted monthly at the District level with the administrative council. District staff and Shorewood School Board members plan to attend a summer institute in August to prepare for the second phase of the District’s internal equity work, which includes developing teams that will support deeper, long-term planning to ensure the District is meeting the needs of all students.
To engage the community in the equity work, the District held four Community Equity Ally Academy sessions (March 18, April 15, May 13, and June 10). Led by ICS Equity founders Dr. Colleen Capper and Dr. Elise Frattura, the Academy enabled participants to learn more about the Shorewood School District’s equity work, learn how to support the District’s efforts as an ally, and learn how to advance equity in community spaces (e.g., home, work, church, community). Approximately 50 participants committed to attend all four Academy sessions.
“We feel fortunate to serve in a community that has the courage to put equity at the forefront of its work,” says Superintendent Bryan Davis. “And we are committed to using our resources to evolve our systems toward equity for all.”
More opportunities for community engagement will be shared as the work progresses. For more details about the District’s ICS Equity work, visit shorewood.k12.wi.us/apps/pages/icsequity.
This story is also published in the Shorewood Today magazine.