Dr. Lisa McCall, Assistant Superintendent and Zinnia Un, District Equity Coordinator are hosting an Inquiry for an Equity Problem: Hate Speech at TTSD
In September, we hosted a two part listening session process. First was for Staff, Teachers, Administrators, and Family, Second was Students and Family.
In October, this information was brought to Building and District Leaders and framed improvement inquiry to address this persistent problem.
- Administrators unpacked the question: "Hate Speech in TTSD is a persistent problem that has and continues to impact all users in the system."
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Systemic Oppression, Systemic Apathy, Lack of understanding of problem, Lack of Empathy for those impacted, Lack of Skills to Address, Normalized by Media, Community Impact, Lack of Parent Partnership in process
In November a review of the process was the topic of a Board Work Session:
Hate Speech is a Complex Issue and Is Controversial
Homework: Please pick one article and be ready to share a few important takeaways
Black Minds Matter - Teaching Tolerance impact on young black minds - Statistics on Impact
It’s time to completely Ban the N-Word in Schools
No, Hate Speech Doesn’t violate the First Amendment
Hate Speech is on the Rise
Can Project based Learning and Professional Learning Communities Counter Hate Speech?
Readings Summary
Hate Speech is a Symptom not a Root Cause
Avoiding the Band-aid Solution - This is not a Quick Fix Problem and Requires a Response that Recognizes the complexity of Transformational Change
S. Kaner’s Chapter 1 about explaining the Diamond of Decision-Making where the Groan Zone happens when bringing a diverse group of people together that have varying perspectives in their roles and identities within the broader community.
What were the expectations of addressing Hate Speech?
Themes Across Stakeholders Board, Administrator, Staff, Students, and Families
- Clear expectations about hate speech and what to do, are we prioritizing this as a safety and well being issue?
- Teach about the impact and empathy for others as a community
- Zero indifference about the impact and know that it includes interpersonal, system, and structural consequences if left unaddressed
- Control and Compliance is not enough to address this complex human problem
- Courage and Models of interrupting hate speech and indignities for those in our community
- All stakeholders need to be involved in this process, specifically students as critical partners in this work.
Dr. McCall and Zinnia hosted a processing session for the Board:
Our priorities are highlighting the root cause
- Human Capital and Talent- diversifying our Teaching force to be more proportionate to our students body
- SEL - Social emotional learning - a healthier humanized educational system for all stakeholders and learning community
- Culturally Responsive School Leadership and Culturally Responsive Teaching- Critical Awareness and Consciousness
- We can’t address what we can’t measure
- What do we currently know about how hate speech is impacting students in our school communities and the frequency of it happening?
- Is there a current system of data collection?
- How will our community understand that this is an important part of our current priorities?
How will this be an ongoing discussion? Who will be a part of this discussion moving forward?
Next Steps: Director Fox and Director Bowman will work on a statement to bring back to the Board at a later session. Further conversations about Policy and Practice at our next Session in December.
Secondary Director Amber Fields and Dr. McCall informed the Board about a Levels Review for any Hate Speech or Racialized incidents. This information will be brought back to the Board in December focused on Follow Through and Follow up.
Stay tuned for December updates
Addressing Mindset with our Equity Lens
Understanding the impact by engaging and partnering with our stakeholders using our TTSD Pillars 
Living our commitment to equity through Improvement Science