Restorative Justice from Diverse Perspectives

Cultural and academic data shows that Black students and students with disabilities have fewer positive academic outcomes and school experiences at our school compared with white students. Most school systems are directed at student behavior as the problem and are ineffective. We believe this is because behavior is a symptom of unidentified systemic issues. Our project will identify the systemic problems causing student behavior issues, and use trauma-informed practices to improve student outcomes. Our team of six educators across content areas will attend the Innovative Schools Summit Student Discipline Conference, using this learning experience as the starting point for a two year cycle of student data collection and analysis. Our goal is to change at least one school system to create better experiences and outcomes for our struggling students.

Creating Culture through Collaboration

This project will provide CVUSD Middle and High School Activities Directors (ADs) with dedicated collaboration and professional development time in order to build our own capacity as well as our students’ capacity for leadership and school connectedness. Because there are only 1 or 2 Activities Directors at each site, opportunities to collaborate and take part in meaningful professional development are limited. This dedicated collaboration and professional development will support our growth as a team and our ability to inspire and connect students to their schools. California Association of Directors of Activities (CADA) resources will add a new layer to our professional knowledge.

Our Changing Planet – Community of Practice

We want to deepen our understanding of environmental justice, indigenous wisdom and creative practice, to better understand our world, and as educators advocate for just climate solutions. Working with local experts/organizations in our community, we will deepen our knowledge and our facilitation practices to make more meaningful connections with each other, build knowledge across disciplines, and apply new learning in our classrooms.

Equity Learning Walk

This team of middle school teachers will cultivate a transformative learning community committed to anti-racist and inclusive education for all students, staff, and families. In the first year of the grant, they will apply the skills from Jenjii Hysten and Blaze Consultancy’s Emotional Intelligence, Equity, & Inclusion training to design and pilot a preliminary equity learning walk.