Multicultural Advisory Council Annual Board Report

1. Multicultural Advisory CouncilAnnual Board Report June 28, 2018

3. MAC Members Katy Curtis* Marsha Cutting* Kristine Jimenez Chasity Maletesta Allison McDonald Kathryn McGowan* Amy Nakata* Joyce Nishimura* Eileen Okada* Steven Soltar* Karen Vargas* *Executive Board members Lead Teachers: Christina Peato - DO/BHS Brandi Bispham – WMS Susan Tolley - COS Maggie Hitchcock - Sakai Juan Pedro Frasquet - Ordway Beth Riggs – Wilkes Carrie Holloway - Blakely Sheryl Belt

4. Mission To create an inclusive environment where all students, teachers, non-certified personnel, parents and administrators feel safe, secure and understood…truly valued as unique individuals. In this environment each can be free to learn while interacting caringly and positively with the commonalities and differences present in our diverse school community. This will help our students to freely embrace diversity and differences as desirable traits and as strengths and uniqueness of our country, as they confidently become contributing members and leaders in our increasingly diverse society locally, nationally, and globally. Prepared by: Lorraine Brave, Frank Kitamoto, Council Approved: May 19, 1998

5. Multicultural Education Goals The goals of the multicultural education program are to have each student: • Feel valued and respected; • Be successful, both academically and socially; • Recognize and understand diverse perspectives; and • Make meaningful contributions in a democratic society.

6. History 1974 – Creation of They Cast a Long Shadow Used as fundraising activity to support professional development 1986 - Multicultural Advisory Council established by BISD Board of Directors; Creation of Multicultural Coordinator Position. 1998 – Created mission statement 1999 – Premiere of movie screening Snow Falling on Cedars Used proceeds to support professional development (balance $6500) 1999 – Advocated for Title IX Indian Education Grant Grant in place with part time coordinator 2002 – Sponsored the Living Voice Theatre as a fundraiser – featured Within the Silence, the story of the Japanese American experience during WWII Proceeds benefited teacher scholarships for professional development

7. History(continued) 2005 – Sponsored Dr. Geneva Gay workshop: Integrating Multicultural Education into K-12 Curriculum 2009 – Developed critical response procedures for schools when dealing with issues of bias, harassment or hate. 2011 – Initiated a lunch buddy program at Ordway. Mentoring program at BHS and Blakely. August 2011 – Sponsored sovereignty curriculum: Government to Government professional development – developing a better understanding of tribal governance and U.S. government. 2012 – Lunch buddy program continues; established website for MAC; teacher grants re-established. 2013- Worked with district to gain a better understanding of the issues and how the district is addressing these issues; continued teacher grants; supported lead teachers.

8. History (continued) 2014- Established “Listening Tours” of schools; continued teacher grants; supported lead teachers. 2015 – Sponsored Snow Falling on Cedars fund raising eventto support development of Dr. Frank Kitamoto legacy project. 2016 - Developed Dr. Frank Kitamoto Award for Inclusion, Civil Rights, and Social Justice 2017 - Awarded first annual Dr. Frank Kitamoto Award for Inclusion, Civil Rights, and Social Justice 2017 - Launched MAC sponsored Salon Nights 2018 - Held first evening to honor the work of the late Ed Roberts and to create a community event regarding disability rights. 2018 - First Cultural Celebration at Woodward Middle School

9. 2017-2018 Council Goals Increase relationships within the schools and community; Foster collaboration with students; Initiate a focus on disability rights; Advocate for and support multicultural competency and equity training for BISD staff and students; Participate in Social Studies review and Social Emotional Learning curriculum adoption process; Develop deeper relationship with Suquamish tribe with goals of strengthened relationships and curriculum development; Continue the annual Dr. Frank Kitamoto Legacy Award for Inclusion, Civil Rights, & Social Justice; and Prepare for and recruit participation in the National Race and Pedagogy Conference at University of Puget Sound.

10. Accomplishments 2017-2018 Awarded second annual Dr. Frank Kitamoto Award for Inclusion, Civil Rights, & Social Justice Awarded eight teacher grants to support multicultural education Increased Council participation and collaboration with BISD school staff, students, and community members. Increased partnerships with community organizations to sponsor community learning opportunities. Hosted three Salon Nights Road to Nickelsville If You Build It (partnered with Raising Resilience) Bending the Arc (partnered with BHS Global Health Club)

11. Accomplishments (continued) Supported El Velero's continued growth and various multicultural celebrations hosted throughout the year Supported BHS Diversity Club in the planning of the Martin Luther King, Jr. assembly at BHS Supported BHS Diversity Club Black History Walk at BHS for Black History Month Supported BI Museum of Art Black History event - Weaving Histories Hosted Disability Rights event - Birthday Celebration for the late Ed Roberts Supported Sakai Intermediate School's initiative to raise awareness about Kitsap youth without homes

12. Accomplishments (continued) Helped plan and supported WMS Culture Celebration Supported relationship/curriculum development between Suquamish Education Department and Museum representatives, BISD social studies teacher steering group, and BI Historical Museum Supported BHS Global Health Club dental supply collection to support immigrants assisted by Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center Sponsored cultural exchange - BHS students visited Garfield HS

13. Keep It Up! Thank you to school board members for continuing to attend MAC meetings and events Respecting holidays of the world’s religions with significant work restrictions and not scheduling events on these dates Supporting the development and growth of the El Velero Spanish Immersion Program Implementing the Power of Words learning activities at WMS Providing administrator anti-bias and cultural competence training Using data analysis to reveal gaps and needs to address student achievement and social emotional health Performing thedisproportionality analysis and review of discipline data and updating procedures

14. Recommendations Focus on equity issues and monitoring how the district values andsupports cultural awareness with each investment in district wide initiatives (i.e., monitoring social and emotional growth). Focus on equity issues and monitoring student academic data working to close achievement and opportunity gaps, promote inclusion, and the prevention of harassment and bullying. Continue financial support of MAC, multicultural teacher grants, and diversity clubs for secondary students. Prioritize the diversification of the workforce, so that students see a faculty that more closely reflects the wide variety of human diversity that constitutes the United States. Develop a clear pathway for the El Velero program for current and future students to continue in this educational and cultural immersion program.

15. Recommendations (continued) Design and implement curriculum that supports a more inclusive vision of the diversity of the human experience and a variety of historical perspectives and their impacts: • Black, Native American, Latinx, LGBTQ, Disabled History • Slavery, Holocaust, and exclusionary acts • Race Introduce these topics in earlier grades so students have exposure prior to reaching high school. Provide funding so students are able to learn about diverse cultures and perspectives by people representing those groups whenever possible.

16. Recommendations (continued) Prioritize funding to provide training to increase awareness and skill in recognizing and addressing equity and exclusion issues. For example, training about social privilege (white), racism, and classism. We believe it is critically important for members of the School Board and District/School administrators to participate in learning opportunities and conferences to further the understanding of systemic issues relating to race, bias, and equity. We highly recommend significant attendance of school board members, administrators, teachers, and students at the Race and Pedagogy Conference at the University of Puget Sound - September 27-29, 2018. This is an excellent opportunity to attend a well-respected national conference close to home.

17. Recommendations (continued) Members of the school board, district administration, and MAC members meet over a meal early in the school year to share and discuss concerns and action steps regarding multicultural education and equitable practices to support the shared goal of a safe, quality education for all students in the Bainbridge Island School District. Thank you!