Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 | 2 a.m.
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When I moved from New York to Nevada in 2006, I was eager to begin my career as an educator. I was ecstatic to meet my teaching colleagues and begin building relationships with them — as well as with my students and their families. As I settled into life in Las Vegas, I noticed significant differences between my former home and my new community. I experienced culture shock as I realized that my holidays were not included on the school calendar. I also noticed that there was limited acknowledgment of the holidays that my children and I celebrate.
Over the years, I taught in three school communities in the Clark County School District and I have either been one of two Jewish teachers on staff or the only Jewish teacher in the school community. I’ve had multiple school administration changes and I’ve repeatedly approached my principals to reintroduce myself and explain, “I will need time off to observe the Jewish holidays.” I often have to use sick or personal time off to observe the high holy days and Jewish holidays — and I don’t always have the accrued time to do so.
According to federal law, employers are obligated to make reasonable accommodations that allow a person to leave the workplace when their work schedule conflicts with their faith. How does this work for teachers? How does this work for students and families? As we acknowledge the ever-growing cultural and religious diversity in our communities and in our schools, how might we honor the diversity of our students and teachers? I have three recommendations on how to do so:
1. Make school calendars inclusive. Incorporate non-Christian religious holidays, such as Jewish and Muslim holidays, on school calendars along with the typically celebrated Christian holidays. I recall a professional development training being offered on a Saturday which conflicted with my observance of the Jewish Sabbath; it was also the first night of Passover. I explained the conflict to the coaches who were leading the session and they responded, “Is it really that important? Why can’t you just come (to training) anyway?” Including diverse religious holidays on school calendars honors inclusivity and increases awareness of different religious beliefs.
2. Further diversify school menus and food options. We have diverse populations with diverse dietary needs that could be better reflected by CCSD’s Food Service Department. According to a recent study by Jewish Nevada, there are approximately 70,000 Jewish people living in Southern Nevada. A revamping of the menu could help overlooked communities feel valued. If we offered “kosher style” meals similar to the Halal and Kosher School Lunch Pilot Proposal in New York, it would increase a sense of belonging for Jewish students, families and teachers.
3. Incorporate/include teaching and learning about diverse holidays throughout the curriculum. As our community and student demographics become more and more diverse, we must acknowledge and honor our students and educators’ identities. Nevada law incorporates the addition of multicultural standards, noting,“Our students come from a wide variety of social, racial, ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, and they deserve to see themselves and their histories reflected in these standards.” Yet, I still find myself compelled to teach my scholars and my colleagues about my culture and holidays. Students and teachers should not have to sacrifice or mute their religious identity.
Students and teachers of all religious backgrounds deserve to be recognized and included in school calendars and publications. They deserve to feel seen, valued and heard, as I did when my scholars came up to me after my return from Yom Kippur asking, “How was your holiday? What did you do for the holiday?” We can make them feel seen, valued and heard by acknowledging, creating awareness and celebrating diverse religious beliefs and practices.
Sara Gilbert-Bagwin is an early childhood educator in the Clark County School District. She has been teaching for 17 years and currently teaches kindergarten at a Jo Mackey iLead Academy of the Digital Sciences Magnet School. She is a Teach Plus 2022-23 Nevada Policy Fellow.
