Nineteenth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

This paper focuses on my graduate degree research and study in education policy, organization, and leadership with a concentration in global studies in education as well as related international experiences, elementary classroom teaching practices, and current initiatives within the School District in which I teach in suburban Chicago. I discuss the use of best practices for teaching global citizenship in the elementary classroom as well as the initiatives of the District’s Diversity Advisory Committee, on which I serve. This committee includes administrators, classroom educators, school specialists, and community members. Collaboration among stakeholders led to the hiring of a Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the District. The committee’s current and ongoing work includes assessing strengths and opportunities for growth as they relate to the District’s culture and climate, curriculum and instruction, student input and voice, recruitment and hiring, academic and discipline disparities, family and community engagement, as well as staff training and development. District outcomes include partnering with diverse stakeholders, creating a social media presence, and revising recruitment efforts. Classroom outcomes include celebrating all students’ cultures, creatively engaging all families, promoting student exploration of unknown places and cultures, and using literature to facilitate rich conversations around diversity and inclusion. Next steps for me include facilitating a District professional development course and starting a multicultural club for students. Next steps in the District include a required professional development series starting with the topic of implicit bias and an audit of curriculum for cultural bias.