On Feb. 5, 2020 at Bigham Knoll in Jacksonville, educators gathered to gain tools to increase attendance at local schools. Increasing regular attendance in Southern Oregon revolves around building school cultures that promote safety, belonging and mattering for all of the students we serve within our school communities. The day of learning was designed around two topics that have been communicated as top priorities by our district leaders:
1. Supporting our LGBTQ+ students within an inclusive school community
2. Supporting our educators in continuing to build trauma-informed practices and systems that increase our ability to help our students and staff stay regulated during the school day and beyond
Creating safe and affirming learning environments is critical to fostering achievement and equity for all students. This work is both personal and professional and invites educators to explore our own biases and behaviors as we develop new mindsets, skills, and practices that empower all students, including those who are LGBTQ+. In this session educators, explored: guiding principles of LGBTQ+ cultural proficiency in schools; insight into the diversity, strengths, and struggles embodied among LGBTQ+ youth; and strategies for building safe and affirming classrooms and schools for LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families.
Ricky Robertson was in town for the week to help focus the equity lens within our trauma-informed practices with practical tools for both educators and their students.
We are so thankful that Ricky is joining us again to continue and deepen the work he began earlier this year through a lens of increasing regular attendance for ALL students and educators.