Safe and Supportive Learning Environments Deep Dives
This six-part series, Talking About Race as Healing Practice, takes educators and education leaders on a deep dive into racial literacy and its role in safe and supportive learning environments. Part of what can stand in the way of deepening racial literacy skills is the belief that conversations about race are only “difficult” or “challenging.” This series invites participants to see these encounters instead as key elements of safe and supportive learning environments, even spaces of healing. Participants work closely with their peers and SSLE facilitators in a collaborative learning community to develop the mindsets, knowledge, and capacity to engage in conversations about race from a mindful rather than reactive space in their work within schools, districts, and agencies.
Key Dates
Deep Dives: Six (6) synchronous sessions held every two weeks on Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Session Dates: February 15, February 22, March 1, March 8, March 15, and March 22
Costs
For a limited time, course fees are covered by the CCSC. There is NO COST for participants to attend.
What You Will Learn
With the facilitation, coaching, and technical assistance from our multidisciplinary team,
self-reflection, and close collaboration with fellow participants, you will learn how to
- cultivate a shared, healing-centered learning community,
- define the skills and mindsets associated with “racial literacy,” and
- practice engaging in the behaviors and habits associated with racial literacy both from within and across racial groups.
Who Will Benefit
- K–12 school district superintendents and administrators
- Principals and site administrators
- Teachers, teacher leaders, behavior specialists, and intervention coordinators
- Counselors, school psychologists, and mental health professionals
Who Should Apply
The K–12 educators and education leaders best suited to successfully participate in the SSLE Deep Dive Virtual Professional Learning Series
- can commit to participating in all synchronous sessions and asynchronous practice, reflection, and collaboration between sessions;
- possess the prior knowledge and experience to discuss how race, racism, and racial equity shape their lives and the world (Note: If you don’t currently meet these criteria, stay tuned for upcoming professional learning opportunities with a more foundational racial equity focus through the Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety.);
- are looking to cultivate and/or deepen their racial literacy skills in both personal and professional settings; and
- have support from decision-makers and supervisors (as appropriate) to attend sessions, work collaboratively between sessions, try out new strategies and practices, and share learnings and takeaways with colleagues.
Principles and Elements
Comprising a practical and manageable scope and sequence for learning and application, the SSLE Deep Dive series includes the following principles and elements:
- Offers collaborative and experiential learning with weekly opportunities for practice and self-reflection
- Fosters a healing-centered and engaged learning community in which to learn and grow with education peers across California
- Centers the role that race and racial literacy play in creating and sustaining safe and supportive learning environments
- Draws on several different approaches to talking about race, including mindfulness, storytelling, somatic awareness, and role play, among others
Synchronous learning occurs via Zoom. Asynchronous practice and reflection occur via Canvas Learning Management System between sessions.
Learning Sequence
The SSLE Deep Dive Virtual Professional Learning Series comprises six sessions. Each session will be from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
SESSION | THEMES/TOPICS/FOCUS |
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Session 1: Welcome and Framing Our Time Together
February 15, 2023 |
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Session 2: Sharing Our Stories
February 22, 2023 |
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Session 3: Navigating Racial Stress and Conflict
March 1, 2023 |
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Session 4: Responding to Current Racial Dilemmas
March 8, 2023 |
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Session 5: Practicing Vulnerability
March 15, 2023 |
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Session 6: Reflecting On and Celebrating Our Journey Together
March 22, 2023 |
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For more information, email us at schoolclimate@wested.org.