Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education

What does it mean to build a culturally-responsive learning environment? By fostering inclusivity and engagement, educators can empower students to overcome social disparities while feeling secure in the school setting as their authentic selves. Here’s why that is so important.

Key Takeaways

• Creating a Culturally Responsive Learning Environment is Essential: Building a school culture that values and incorporates diverse backgrounds and perspectives allows students to feel seen, heard, and valued for who they are. This inclusivity is critical for fostering student engagement and academic success.
• Authenticity and Inclusion Benefit Both Students and Educators: Both students and educators thrive when they can bring their authentic selves into the school environment. Reducing the pressure to assimilate into a dominant culture encourages diversity of thought and fresh ideas, enhancing the overall educational experience.
• Proactive and Intentional DEI Practices are Crucial: Effective Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategies involve proactive measures such as inviting inclusive conversations, using data to guide decisions, and focusing on eliminating inequities. This commitment helps create a supportive and equitable environment where all students have the opportunity to succeed.

Students with diverse backgrounds often face inordinate pressure to assimilate into the dominant culture. Such expectations—to speak, act, or look a certain way—can discourage a child from engaging fully in the school environment and cool their enthusiasm for learning.

Dr. Dennisha Murff’s personal school experience as a child informed her understanding of assimilation and the inherent pressures it brings to bear on young persons:

“I want them to be able to identify what they value in their own identity… to be able to bring that into a space and not feel like they have to hide parts of themselves. Because when they do that, it’s mental gymnastics. And if you're so focused on that, how can you really be free and safe? How can you reach your own true potential if you're constantly worrying about, did I say this right, did I behave this way, did I do this, and am I being valued?”

It's not only students who are affected by these behavioral cues and societal strains. These pressures impact teachers, too. Education Consultant Jasmine Landry put this in perspective:

“… if we (teachers) have to act in a certain way, then we're not going to have diversity of thought, we're not going to have fresh ideas … I think that's the potential and the power of—if we could—create schools where everyone could really be themselves and be valued for who they are.”

This highlights a fundamental issue within the education system: the lack of cultural competence. Intentional practices to build a culturally competent school environment are crucial. Students and educators alike want to be their true authentic selves when they walk into a school building. But what does it mean to have a culturally responsive learning environment? And why does it matter so much?

Having a culturally responsive learning environment has a huge impact on student success. It allows students to achieve at a high level because they feel seen, heard, and valued for who they are. This is not just an educational framework; it's a continuation of the civil rights movement. As Landry noted, “As a white educator who has had the opportunity and privilege to work with communities of color, I think it’s part of being a responsible practitioner when you get to work across lines of difference. Continuing to grow myself so I can ethically and responsibly serve students is paramount.”

Dr. Murff elaborates on the concept of bringing your authentic self: “We want students and teachers to assimilate to the dominant culture. We want everyone to put their culture on the back burner to make everyone else feel more comfortable. The weight of acting, speaking, and behaving in a certain way weighed on me as a child. I want them to be able to identify what they value, identify parts of their own identity, and bring that into a space without feeling like they have to hide parts of themselves. It’s mental gymnastics.”

This idea of “conscious freezing”—where individuals constantly monitor their behavior to avoid standing out—relates back to people-pleasing in a culture dominated by white norms. If you’re constantly thinking about how you will be perceived, you cannot effectively listen to what is being presented to you.

So, are school leaders creating a space where these conversations can effectively happen? Are they including all stakeholders, including students? Everyone has something to say, and every voice matters. It’s about making people feel like you’re glad they’re there and that you’re interested in hearing their ideas. This mantra applies not only to educators but also to students.

Prejudice limits who we think has good ideas. To solve big problems, we need multiple perspectives. Schools must be places that teach children how to have respectful conversations with one another. If students are not achieving, look at the data, get rid of the excuses, investigate implicit biases—why am I letting standards slide for some students? Involve the families and students, and change the materials if needed.

Effective DEI strategies are critical for creating supportive school environments that reflect the diversity of their communities. So, what can educators do—realistically speaking—to support diverse students with inclusion? We can start here:

• Take proactive steps to invite inclusive conversations with school communities across divisions of socio-economic status, language, race, gender, gender identity, and religion.
• Use data to guide decision-making and implementation of programs, resources, and staff training.
• Put students first. Recognize where inequities exist and work to create safe and supportive schools where diverse students can excel.

It will take a sustained commitment to provide inclusive support to students from backgrounds that are under-represented, marginalized, or challenged in some other way. Every student deserves a chance to reach their next level of learning while thriving as their authentic selves.

To learn more, check out Season 1, Episode 1 of Learning Can’t Wait, hosted by Hayley Spira-Bauer. Join this fascinating examination of the role of DEI in education today, along with Hayley’s guests, educators, and thought leaders Jasmine Landry and Dr. Dennisha Murff.

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