As an educational leader, you can help your teachers build fair and just classrooms that are safe learning spaces for all kids. Bookmark and share these resources with your teachers so that together, we can all continue combatting inequities.

<h2>
  How District Leaders and School Administrators can Help Teachers Build Fair
  and Just Classrooms
</h2>

<div>
  The 2020-21 school year will be incomparable to any other as the global
  pandemic rages on with countless unknowns and ever-changing factors. Our
  students with the least will have lost the most. Systemic racism that enables
  injustice, coupled with the impact of COVID-19, is widening the opportunity
  gap for our students of color, especially our Black and Brown youth.
</div>

<div>
  It is our obligation to take urgent action to explicitly address the
  inequities that have existed for centuries and continue to be exacerbated
  within our educational system.
</div>

<div>
  Here are tips and resources for district and school leaders so they may
  support teachers:
</div>

<ol>
  <li>
    <strong
      >Provide ongoing training and support on developing cultural competencies
      and being an antiracist.</strong
    >
    As citizens, and especially as teachers, it is fundamental that we listen
    deeply to those who are different from us. This way, we can understand how
    to relate without preconceived notions of their identity and experience. To
    increase learning opportunities for all students, teachers must be
    knowledgeable about the social and cultural contexts of teaching and
    learning.

    <ul>
      <li>
        <a href="https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED494221.pdf"
          >Leading with Diversity: Cultural Competencies for Teacher Preparation
          and Professional Development</a
        >
        by The Education Alliance at Brown University is a comprehensive
        resource that can be used for ongoing training and support.
      </li>
      <li>
        <a href="https://www.aspenideas.org/speakers/ibram-x-kendi"
          >How to be an Antiracist</a
        >
        is an interview with
        <a href="https://www.ibramxkendi.com/about">Dr. Ibram X Kendi</a>,
        founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at
        American University and is a powerful discussion on dismantling the
        systems of racism.
      </li>
    </ul>
  </li>
  <li>
    <strong
      >Provide teaching and curriculum resources that support social justice and
      establish culturally responsive classrooms.</strong
    >
    <ul>
      <li>
        <a href="https://www.dcareaeducators4socialjustice.org/resources"
          >D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice</a
        >
        offers a hub of resources for educators including easily accessible
        lessons and activities from the Zinn Education Project, searchable by
        topic and theme.
      </li>
      <li>
        <a
          href="https://www.thebutterflyteacher.com/resources-on-culturally-responsive-teaching/"
          >Resources for Culturally Responsive Teaching</a
        >
        includes teacher-recommended resources to build a culturally responsive
        classroom such as
        <a
          href="https://www.collaborativeclassroom.org/blog/a-conversation-about-instructional-equity-with-zaretta-hammond-part-1/"
          >Zaretta Hammond&rsquo;s</a
        >
        book, Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain: Promoting Authentic
        Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse
        Students.
      </li>
    </ul>
  </li>
  <li>
    <strong
      >Ensure that social-emotional learning and development is explicitly
      taught and embedded within your school culture, allowing all students to
      access educational opportunities.</strong
    >
    <ul>
      <li>
        The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
        has created a
        <a href="https://casel.org/reopening-with-sel/">SEL roadmap</a> offering
        4 critical practices with 3-5 activities for each area.
      </li>
      <li>
        <a
          href="https://lalilo.com/blog/2020/05/11/4-weeks-of-sel-lessons-and-activities-for-distance-learning/"
          >SEL Lessons and Activities for Teachers</a
        >
        offers 4 weeks of daily discussion questions and activities that
        students can do at home. Technology is not required.
      </li>
      <li>
        The
        <a
          href="https://assets-global.website-files.com/5d3725188825e071f1670246/5eece8935e4d8010fea193d9_Returning to School During and After Crisis.pdf"
          >Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports</a
        >
        features a user-friendly guide to supporting states, districts, schools,
        educators and students through a MTSS framework during the 20-21 school
        year.
      </li>
    </ul>
  </li>
  <li>
    <strong>Provide initial and ongoing tech training and support. </strong
    >Teachers need to become well-versed in navigating the Learning Management
    System of your organization and in using its embedded tools and resources.
    Learning to maximize the use of technology is critical for effective online
    instruction for all students.
    <ul>
      <li>
        <a href="https://www.nsqol.org/"
          >National Standards for Quality Online Learning</a
        >
        includes the essential framework for K-12 organizations in developing
        quality online learning plans.
      </li>
      <li>
        <a href="https://www.cognia.org/covid19-resources/#library">Cognia</a>,
        a leading education improvement organization, offers quick checklists to
        support digital learning.
      </li>
      <li>
        The
        <a
          href="https://www.iste.org/learn/online-learning?_ga=2.262885705.49598249.1595810186-700442653.1595810186"
          >International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)</a
        >
        offers resources for creating transformational learning experiences
        online with evidence-based strategies and skills along with technical
        support.
      </li>
    </ul>
  </li>
  <li>
    <strong
      >Lastly, as always, continue to offer teachers opportunities to lead, to
      share resources and to serve as subject area experts as well as mentors to
      newer teachers in the field.</strong
    >
    <ul>
      <li>
        Provide new teachers with curriculum guides that include resources for
        implementation along with example schedules. This can help them
        streamline their planning and instead, focus on establishing culturally
        responsive classrooms and effectively implementing instructional plans.
      </li>
    </ul>
  </li>
</ol>

<div>
  For more on how you can help foster equity and fairness in the classroom,
  check out these resources from our educators, school support professionals,
  and leaders at Cross Country Education:
</div>

<div>
  <a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/help-keep-all-kids-safe"
    >How School Psychologists Can Combat Racial Injustice and Help Keep All Kids
    Safe</a
  ><br />
  <a
    href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/have-your-students-disappeared-in-the-shift-to-remote-learning"
    >Have Your Students Disappeared in the Shift to Remote Learning</a
  ><br />
  <a
    href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/boost-morale-and-mental-health-during-the-covid-19-crisis"
    >How Educators Can Boost Morale and Mental Health During the COVID-19
    Crisis</a
  ><br />
  <a
    href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/sites/Satellite?c=FW_BlogAsset&amp;cid=1530206954970&amp;pagename=cce%2FCCH%2FBlog%2FLayout"
    >School Psychologists Can Help Prepare Kids to Return to School After Covid
    Shutdowns</a
  ><br />
</div>


5 Ways to Support Teachers in Combatting Inequities