July 2022 Teach Plus IL Newsblast No images? Click here From Teach Plus Illinois Dear Teachers, The biggest news stories this month didn’t take place in schools, but they deeply affect the students we serve. If you're feeling disheartened by the events of the past month, that’s normal. We hear you - and we need you. Policy progress isn't a straight line. There will be setbacks, but we can't let that discourage us into giving up -- that’s why we as educators also need to be policy advocates. For the second month in a row, this time in our own state, a mass shooting dominated the news. While the July 4th shooting in Highland Park didn’t take place at a school, schools quickly became healing centers for a grieving community. But we also need to be aware that Highland Park was the site of just one of 17 mass shootings (defined as where four or more people have been shot) that weekend across the country, according to the Gun Violence Archives. In these shootings, 18 people were killed and 102 injured, in states across the political spectrum. Anne Persin, a rabbi whose congregants were wounded in Highland Park noted, “I don’t want thoughts and prayers. I want actions.” We must be advocates to create a safer world for our children. The Supreme Court decision which overturned Roe v. Wade will reverberate around the country for decades. Abortion will remain legal in Illinois, but what about students in surrounding states like Wisconsin and Missouri that have banned abortion (in case of Missouri, without exceptions for rape or incest)? What will happen to those students? They will only have access to the procedure if they have the means to travel to Illinois -- which we know will be out of reach for many of our poorer students. Who knows if one of those students might be sent to Illinois and end up in one of our classes, or what pressures that might put on schools near state borders? How are we as teachers able to advocate for these young women? The ongoing January 6 hearings remind us of how fragile our democracy is, and of the importance for teachers to be able to teach truthfully about history. One shining example of this is Teach Plus Colorado alumna Peggy Wallace, who wrote last year of her attempts to address January 6 in her rural, Republican town. She received threats and needed police protection for suggesting that she could help her young students understand and live in a peaceful, diverse, and democratic world. She is an example of bravely advocating for teaching our students truthfully. As educators, we are on the front line to help our students feel safe, to learn a truthful history of our country, and to be able to pursue their dreams. To do that, we need to be not only educators but advocates. I’m not asking you to do anything right now. Instead, I hope you take the time now to rest and rejuvenate so that you can return to the role of Educator Advocate in the fall. Warmly, Teach Plus IL Voices Guest column: Why our schools need clear racial harassment policies, by Illinois Senior Policy Fellow Lisa Thyer "Students from years ago and current students share the same stories of racial harassment," Illinois Senior Policy Fellow Lisa Thyer writes. Passing the racism-free schools bill would help change that. “The kinds of stories my shares are all too common in schools today. Students of color still experience more than five racist incidents a day, and federal reports of hate crimes related to race have almost doubled. While my students succeeded in changing individual minds and behaviors, these recurring stories prove that addressing racism in schools requires changing systems.” (The Chicago Tribune) Read the full article here. We Need Educators Skilled to Understand Our Students, by Illinois Policy Fellow Maria Onaindia "Culturally responsive teaching is about seeing students’ whole selves and full potential," Illinois Policy Fellow Maria Onaindia writes. “I believe we need loving, compassionate educators with the skills to understand our students’ culture, trauma, and whole selves. That is what culturally responsive teaching looks like in action, and I believe that all students across Illinois deserve teachers who can teach in this way. To do so, teachers like me will need to develop their skills and receive the kind of training that the Illinois State Board of Education doesn’t currently require or provide.” (What’s the Plus) Read the full article here. Alumni Highlights IL TPF Alum Tai Basurto’s Journey from Teach Plus Fellow to new Director for School Leader Development for Chicago Public Schools Tai Basurto is a Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellowship alumna from the inaugural 2012 cohort in Chicago. In the time since her Policy Fellowship, Tai has continued teaching, earned her doctorate degree, served as an elementary school principal, and is now serving in a newly created position as Chicago Public Schools’ Director for School Leader Development. “If we’re going to work toward equity, what better place to do that?” Tai asks. “Education is the greatest lever for change and I have seen it and experienced it in my own family. My parents grew up in poverty and were the first in their families to go to college. Experiencing the social mobility of that makes me really believe that public education, public school is truly transformative.” (What's the Plus?) Read the full article here. Several members of the 2021-22 Chicago Change Agent cohort gathered to celebrate their year together Despite the unique challenges teachers faced this year, more than 90% of their Change Agent projects achieved their goals to improve teaching and learning in their schools. Chicago Change Agent Larue Fitch’s Breaking the Education Code and Virtual Conference Chicago Change Agent Larue Fitch published two books on equitable approaches to teaching and the importance of a culturally affirming approach to education. For more information, please visit: www.laruemfitch.com Teach Plus Illinois Alumni Participate in NEA Assembly About 6,000 NEA delegates from around the country, including Teach Plus IL alumnae Bob Chikos, Arnetta Thompson, and Crysta Weitekamp, met in Chicago or from home in its first-ever hybrid format. They pounded out policy positions in the Illinois caucus every morning, then debated and voted on them at the Assembly-at-large in the late morning up to evening. In addition, they heard from guest speakers such as Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Pritzker, and cast members from Abbott Elementary, who lauded their work and gave them encouragement to continue. They learned about parliamentary procedure as well as ideas for how they can expand their roles in future national and state assemblies. Lastly, they attended the LGBTQ+ Caucus dinner where they got to hear Jim Obergefell, who paved the way for marriage equality. Opportunities Leaders of Color for Systems Change Fellowship Calling all Teach for America BIPOC alumni! A new policy, organizing and advocacy fellowship is launching this Fall! Leaders of Color for Systems Change is a fellowship is designed to develop the next generation of BIPOC system changers who are passionate about making education more equitable in the immediate future. The application window for this fellowship is July 15–August 15, 2022. Chicago Jobs Council Seeking a Training Institute Program Manager The Jobs Council will be hiring a new staff person to continue initiatives that support youth guides with learning about postsecondary pathways. For questions, please reach out to Tanvi Shah, Director of the Job Council's Training Institute, at tanvi@cjc.net. |