An Equity Lens: Sadika Clarke puts spotlight on factors that impact learning

 Southern Westchester BOCES educators at the Irvington High School location were encouraged to view their work through an equity lens and to engage in courageous conversations on the topic. 

In a workshop led by Sadika Clarke, Supervisor of Community, Culture, and Wellness at SWBOCES’ Center for Professional Learning & Curriculum Support and SWBOCES’ DEI Coordinator, two dozen educators were gathered prior to the arrival of students for the professional learning opportunity.  Ms. Clarke’s presentation, An Equity Lens, began with a discussion of what equity looks like in education. She talked about existing educational disparities in such areas as academic achievement, dropout rates, enrollment in gifted and talented programs, and discipline.

Ms.Clarke said it is likely more helpful to think in terms of an opportunity gap that confronts some students rather than an achievement gap. The latter puts blame on students, she explained, while the former focuses on assigning solutions to actions that address systemic racism. As wealthy as Westchester may be, she noted that it is home to many different communities with widely varying resources. She also discussed factors that impact student learning, from racial discrimination and learning disabilities to trauma and the effects of the pandemic. “Where you start doesn’t determine where you finish,” Ms. Clarke said. “But as educators, we can’t ignore factors that affect achievement.”

 The goals of the workshop included understanding the importance of equity and inclusion in the classroom; recognizing personal biases and how they impact interpersonal relationships; gaining an understanding of the Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education Framework (CR-SE) framework and how it supports equity and inclusion; and exploring strategies to create an equitable and inclusive learning environment using the CR-SE framework.

BRIAN HOWARD, SWBOCES Director of Communications