Somersfield Academy To Host Workshop Series
Somersfield Academy, a Montessori and Middle Years Programme, is getting set to host a series of workshops on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, focusing on diversity in island schools, preceded by a Professional Development Day.
The series will feature two sessions, with Session 1 entitled “Senior School Students Across the Island,” to be held from 9.00am to 11.00am, and Session 2 entitled “School Diversity Leaders/Human Rights Deparment/CURB/Government Ministers,” to be held from 1.00pm through 3.00pm.
The series’ facilitator will be Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee, a Professional Outreach Specialist.
The event’s promotional flyer says, “Rosetta has been a diversity speaker and trainer on a variety of issues, including cross cultural communication, identity development, prejudice reduction and coalition building, gender and sexuality diversity, facilitation skills, bullying in schools, and gender bias in the classroom.
“She has presented at numerous conferences and nonprofit organizations such as the White Privilege Conference, Junior League, and City Year. She has also worked with over 75 K-12 public and independent schools throughout the US, as well as a number of colleges and universities.
“She has served several years on the faculty of the National Association of Independent Schools [NAIS] Diversity Institute, as well as NAIS’ diversity think-tank cadre, Call to Action.
“Session one will focus on how we learn about our various group identities like female, African American, Buddhist, homosexual, middle class, etc? From whom do we learn the meaning of these terms? What messages have we internalized about ourselves and others?”
“What are the differences that result in one person having a healthy self-identity and another person experiencing own-group shame and hatred? Learn how we co-author peers’ identity as well as our own, how the cycle of oppression and cycle of bullying pressure us to reinforce stereotypes, and what we can do as allies to break these cycles and work toward inclusion of all.
“Session 2 will talk about difficult topics like race can raise anxiety for many people, and yet we must have the conversation in our schools and our lives in order to be more inclusive and change the world for the better. What are the fears and common pitfalls that keep us from broaching topics like race?
“What are ways to interrupt oppressive comments, jokes, and behaviors without shutting people down and losing relationships? What are best practices for creating safe spaces for authentic dialogue? Gain practical skills for facilitating as well as participating in the conversation.
“Rosetta has been a diversity speaker and trainer on a variety of issues, including cross cultural communication, identity development, prejudice reduction and coalition building, gender and sexuality diversity, facilitation skills, bullying in schools, and gender bias in the classroom.
“She has presented at numerous conferences and nonprofit organizations such as the White Privilege Conference, Junior League, and City Year. She has also worked with over 75 K-12 public and independent schools throughout the US, as well as a number of colleges and universities.
“She has served several years on the faculty of the National Association of Independent Schools [NAIS] Diversity Institute, as well as NAIS’ diversity think-tank cadre, Call to Action.”
The Professional Development Day will be broken into two sessions, with the first half, set to run from 8.30m to 11.00am, entitled “What I Said and What I Meant: Improving Cross Cultural Communication, and the second half, set to run from 11.15am to 1.00pm, entitled “Stretching the Inclusive Boundaries: Cultural Competency in the Classroom.”
The two sessions will be followed by a focus group called from 1.45pm to 3.30pm.
“Humans communicate on many levels: spoken language, tone, body language, style and personality. The fact that we have complex cultural identities and a host of differing past experiences increases the probability of cross-cultural miscommunications.
“This workshop presents major cross-cultural communication theories, ways that cultural values, power, privilege and differences affect the way we communicate, tools for questioning assumptions, and ways to improve cross-cultural communication skills.
“In the ever-changing landscape of student demographics and diversity initiatives, teachers face the challenge of creating a classroom environment that goes beyond celebrations of heroes and holidays. Whether we are educators beginning the journey or far down the path into multiculturalism and inclusivity, there is always room to grow.
“How does identity, culture, communication, and power affect how we teach and how students learn? Identify obstacles and opportunities in creating inclusive classrooms so that we can become the educators we wish to be.
“We know the startling opportunity gap in education and society. We’ve learned about identity, culture, communication, and power and how they privilege some and disenfranchise others. We are convinced as to why diversity and inclusion are important, but we are unsure or unclear as to how this intention becomes positive impact on student lives.
“How do we turn commitment into action, and what are some strategies and best practices to become the educator with whom all children thrive?”
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