Each year the University of Washington College of Education convenes a series of webinars with education thought leaders to explore how we can center equity and leverage community voice to create more inclusive school environments and communities.
In April the Center for Educational Leadership Executive Director, Max Silverman, hosted a conversation with two central office leaders, Dr. Ivan Duran, Superintendent at Highline School District, and Dr. Kelly An, Assistant Superintendent at Long Beach Unified School District.
These forward-thinking educational leaders dove into the concrete steps that they’ve taken to create inclusive environments in their school districts and incorporate voices from across their communities.
Both central office leaders have extensive experience in education that began in the classroom; they have a deep understanding of how strategic decisions made at the central office impact the throughline from school leaders, to teachers, to students, and beyond.
During the conversation, Dr. Duran and Dr. An shared how activities such as equity interviews, student focus groups, community advisory boards, listening tours, and more have shaped the districts’ strategic planning. Efforts like these ensure that leaders truly understand the experiences of students, families, and community members and that these stakeholders have a place at the table.
To kick off the conversation, Silverman asked: “In your school district, what efforts to elevate status, agency, and belonging are you most happy and proud of?”
To hear the answer and the whole conversation around creating inclusive central offices, watch the webinar here.
