Overcoming Setbacks

If you had a chance to read our blog post last week, you’ll know that we have made some important changes to our #LeadLAP chats. We have been blessed to connect with Traci Browder (@TraciBrowder) and Dawn Harris (@DHarrisEdS) who have been and will continue to facilitate the Leading by Learning series of conversations. The intent of this series is for all of us to come together in a safe and nurturing space to collectively learn more about systemic racism in our schools, but even more than that, it is a series designed to ensure that we work together to take action as school leaders against the racial injustices happening in our schools. In the words of Traci and Dawn,

• Our goal is not to have heated discussions, debate the politics, discuss or determine right or wrong. Racism is wrong and human rights should not be political, they should be a given. 
• Our goal is to extend grace in the learning process
• Our goal is to help educators navigate this type of crisis as it pertains to self-awareness to help you be a better educator to support and teach your students regardless of race, culture, or ethnicity

We hope that you will join us on this journey and become a part of this #GritCrew. Learn more about the concept of the #GritCrew by clicking the play button below.

Last week in #LeadLAP, Traci and Dawn focused our time together on the idea of burnout. It was a call to all of us to stay the course and not abandon this essential work. When the protests cease, and the news moves on to cover other stories, we cannot slip back into a place of comfort. We cannot look away. We cannot abandon the work. We cannot burn out. We have to keep our stamina up and continue to do the work to make our schools places where EVERY child, EVERY staff member, EVERY family  is running to get in, rather than out. As school and district leaders, that is our work, that is our commitment. (Click HERE to view the #LeadLAP chat from last week.)

Traci and Dawn created this powerful graphic as a resource to help us all develop equitable sustainability.

This week, Dawn and Traci will lead us on developing strategies and maintaining strength to work through setbacks that will inevitably happen while we are on our journey. As we focus on the crucial work of anti-racism in our schools, preparing and planning for the setbacks will be an imperative part of the work. 

We have all taken a moment to create this video to help you better understand our plans for this week and to revisit the mission of our work. We hope you’ll watch it and join us at 9:30 am on Saturday for our #LeadLAP conversation on Twitter.

In addition to joining in on our conversations, we also hope you’ll take a look at this Wakelet Collection of Anti-Racist Education Resources curated by Dawn Harris.  https://wakelet.com/wake/sCh4bg8h_F4KR4UTGef6w  We encourage you to commit some time reading through these posts. You don’t have to do it all in one day, but set a goal to continue learning, create space on your calendar, and keep doing the work, and know that we are on this journey with you.

Traci also created this graphic to help us keep focused on what we need versus what we don’t need as we dive into this work of anti-racism.

We hope that you can join us tomorrow from 9:30-10:30am CT #LeadLAP on Twitter to continue this work. 

Thank you for your commitment to being the change!

Much love,

Shelley and Beth