California Safe and Supportive Schools

Making Space: Educator Listening Circles

Audiocast

Making Space: Educator Listening Circles

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With a growing evidence base attesting to increased stress and burnout among school-based staff, many schools are launching efforts to support educator well-being. Castle Park Middle School enlisted the support of the National Conflict Resolution Center to facilitate confidential listening circles for educators, helping staff gain a shared sense of understanding, connection, and collaboration.

Featured Speakers:

  • Melissa Rains, Science Teacher
  • Roberto Barraza, Curriculum Specialist & World Cultures Teacher
  • Luis Ruan, Restorative Justice Specialist, NCRC
  • Bill Walsh, Principal

View the transcript from this audiocast

Download the brief

Growing a District Rooted in Anti-Bias, Anti-Racist Action

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Hayward Unified School District passed an anti-racism, anti-bias policy in 2020 to support practices ranging from resource allocation and instruction to professional development that promotes the well-being of students and staff throughout the district. In this audiocast, you’ll hear some examples of classroom strategies that have emerged from this commitment to equity and anti-racism.

Featured Speakers:

  • Candace Cofield, AOSA for Equity
  • Michelle Root, AOSA for Professional Development
  • Myldret, Student

View the transcript from this audiocast

Download the brief

Youth Perspectives on School Safety

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School safety has become an increasing concern for education leaders, especially as recent years have marked record highs for shootings, wildfires, and other emergencies on school campuses.

A few Youth Advisory Team members described how school staff tend to emphasize order, control, and hierarchies in their exchanges with students, which harms their ability to express themselves and build relationships at school. Part two of this two-part brief  examines the role that school safety plays in students’ classroom experiences in addition to the overall well-being of school communities.

Featured Speakers:

  • Alexa Southall, 10th grade student
  • Jubia Chavez, 12th grade student
  • Amiya Farias, 11th grade student
  • Julian Berkowitz–Sklar, 12th grade student
  • Aisha Bilgrammi, 10th grade student

View the transcript from this audiocast

Download the brief

Meaningful Youth Engagement to Guide School Climate

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Partnering with students, caregivers, and community partners is crucial in creating environments that are safe, supportive, and inclusive. School leaders can achieve a higher level of participation by offering students collaborative roles in affecting change based on their critical examinations of learning conditions. Collaborating with students is especially important for secondary students, as creating opportunities for youth to practice decision-making skills aligns with the neurological and developmental needs of adolescents.

The CCSC has prioritized youth engagement through the creation of the Youth Advisory Team (YAT), a group of six high school students who provide input on climate needs based on their lived experiences in public schools throughout the state.

Featured Speakers:

  • Alexa Southall, 10th grade student
  • Jubia Chavez, 12th grade student
  • Amiya Farias, 11th grade student
  • Julian Berkowitz–Sklar, 12th grade student
  • Aisha Bilgrammi, 10th grade student

View the transcript from this audiocast

Download the brief

Improving Student Wellness With A Multi-Tiered System of Support

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The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) recently developed a model to formalize school-based health offerings throughout the 32 LEAs, public charter schools, and early care and education programs it supports countywide. Based on a multi-tiered system of support, the SCCOE wellness center model addresses the root causes of mental, physical, and social health issues within the community through a range of preventative, group, and individual services.

Featured Speakers:

  • Dr. Mary Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools
  • Amanda Dickey, Director, Government Relations
  • Dr. Chaun Powell, Director, Youth Health & Wellness Professional Learning & Instructional Support Division

View the transcript for this audiocast.

Download the Santa Clara County Office of Education brief.

Engaging the School Community in the Transformation Process

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The perspectives of diverse school community members are integral to school climate improvement efforts and ensure that a shared vision for safe and supportive learning environments is authentic and effective. In this audiocast, you’ll hear how San Diego Unified’s Horace Mann Middle School has engaged in team-based climate and connectedness improvement work to promote supportive student-staff relationships.

Featured Speakers:

  • Dr. Nea Hearn, District–level Instructional Coordinator San Diego Unified School District
  • Sarah Schulte, Site–level instructional coordinator at Horace–Mann Middle School
  • Nate Leboff, Math teacher at Horace–Mann Middle School
  • Catherine Fox–Copeland, English teacher at Horace–Mann Middle School
  • Gladys, 7th grade student
  • Ahn, 8th grade student 

View the transcript for this audiocast.

Download the Horace Mann brief.