Creating a Culturally Responsive Climate

MSAA Professional Development Workshop for Administrators, Principals, Assistant Principals, Special Education Leaders, Co-Teaching Teams, School Leaders, Evaluation Team Leaders, and School Counselors

Creating a Culturally Responsive Climate

Helping our students feel like they belong is an important starting place for real learning. This workshop will focus on how we as educators include the rich diversity in our classrooms and schools to ensure all students succeed by creating culturally responsive learning environments where culture and identity are viewed as assets, valuable resources and where what is being taught connects to a student’s lived experiences. By promoting and respecting our students' cultural backgrounds we can improve and deepen learning, promote educational equity, and create a community of learners among individuals from different cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds; thus, developing students' agency, efficacy, and empowerment.

Educators will be introduced to culturally sustaining pedagogy that affirms and values students’ cultures, and that prior experiences ensures learning is more relevant and effective while building community and developing student agency. Participants will learn strategies to promote teaching and learning principles of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy to achieve academic achievement, cultural competence, and sociopolitical awareness. This encourages students to accept and affirm their cultural identity while they develop critical perspectives that challenge inequities.

Participants will develop an understanding of:

·         Teachers' and Administrators’ roles and responsibilities in creating a learning environment that values each student's culture

·         The aspects of culturally responsive teaching as defined by Dr. Zaretta Hammond

·         Developing a common language of what culturally responsiveness means in your classroom and building

·         Approaches to changing course materials to reflect cultural diversity

·         Alignment of culturally responsive teaching practices to Standard II – “Teachings All Students”

This workshop will provide all participants with the tools necessary to return to school with an implementation plan.

When: Thursday, November 7, 2024, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am

Delivery Method: In-Person Workshop

Location: The MSAA Office, 33 Forge Parkway, Franklin, MA

Presenter: Philip Conrad, Seaside Educational Consultants

PD Hours: 3 in Content Area Leadership and Administration

Fees: Member $150 / Non-Member $205

MSAA Contact: Ethel Kawesa, ekawesa@msaa.net 

Philip Conrad | Seaside Educational Consultants

Philip joins Seaside Educational Consultants with a proven track record of effective leadership based on rational relational partnerships designed to have a positive impact on student learning, educator satisfaction, and community continuity. His leadership experience extends from the classroom to the superintendent level. Philip has represented MSAA on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) “Leading the Nation” campaign to celebrate 20 years of educational excellence in Massachusetts and DESE’s Principal’s cabinet. In addition, Philip was a contributor for the department’s Educator Effectiveness Guidebook for Inclusive Practices publication and a lead author for “Building a School Culture That Supports Teacher Leadership,” both published in July 2015.

Philip has spoken at national, regional, and state-level conferences on topics of student choice, high school scheduling, the importance of accreditation, adding additional opportunities for students through partnerships, and how educational leaders can regain their professional footing.