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Bowie Prepares all students for their future. I believe this struck me as true due to the various course offerings we have for learners that can open up a wide variety of choices for them in their future endeavors.

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Sometimes we (teachers) use bias language and don't even realize we're doing it.  Our upbringing normalizes certain words and/or phrases that are in fact bias.  Self-reflection and using Speak-Up strategies can transform our school environment.

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"We will intentionally dismantle systems that perpetuate inequity." This can (and will) be so challenging to shift the culture of the school, campus and community around this idea. It could be such a positive move for our campus!

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I feel this is a process that takes time and with more practice, we will become comfortable address. Sometimes I ask students why don't you speak up and they respond with "I'm Scared". I feel the more we practice this action, the more normalized it becomes.

This process also gives us time to reflect and change.

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I wonder if our students understand the true meaning of a "diverse global society". How are we teaching what this means?

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I feel this is a process is an ongoing on that requires continued practice, conversations, and problem-solving as a whole community.

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We (district) strive to have all adults "understand [how] their personal culture and background impacts the students they work with"
STRIVING for the adults in the district to undestand their implicit biases is a nice sentiment, but when the training for this is optional it seems like we're missing the group of people who need the training the most (ie: adults who don't think they have biases are not the ones registering for these courses). 🤷🏻‍♀️

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I believe the Bowie community prepares every student for the real world. It's important to have electives so students can find their interests and explore them. I have worked at school where Art & PE were the only non academic courses. There is something for everyone at Bowie.

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This is something that we still need to practice in our everyday teaching. It is not something that should be taught in one lesson. We need to remind our students and ourselves on a daily basis to create safe place for all students.

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I struggle a bit with this because I do believe there are lots of options and opportunities for our students with respect to courses and level of rigor.  However, it is a real challenger for me to nurture students in a class of 36.  I think FIT sessions help.  But this year has been especially challenging given our current situation.  I don't feel nurtured myself, so how do I help nurture students through a computer screen who are reluctant to engage?

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Preparing students for college is wonderful, but there are many students who don't have that as a goal. Fostering the interest in trade schools and work training programs can't be looked down upon and should be just as emphasized as getting to college. We want students who are going to be productive members of society, and whatever their career goal, we have to encourage them to chase it.

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The Speak Up training was really good, but I agree with another post in this column that just that one day of training was not enough. I also think it is super important that students get ongoing training and are encouraged to speak up, too. I think so much happens outside of class and online, teachers are not always there to do the speaking up.

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The Speak Up training was really good, but I agree with another post in this column that just that one day of training was not enough. I also think it is super important that students get ongoing training and are encouraged to speak up, too. I think so much happens outside of class and online, teachers are not always there to do the speaking up.

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Preparing students to go out and think past themselves is a challenge at times, but I think there are great programs at Bowie that support collaboration and selflessness. You never know what a student will latch onto and take with them.

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Help all students be successful no matter what.

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While we need to support them in their learning, preparing students for their future also requires fostering independence and self advocacy during their high school careers. It is striking a balance between helping students achieve without doing the work for them. We also need to support parents in this endeavour at times.

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I absolutely love the real-world strategies to help ALL of us practice ways to end biased speech and action. While many folks sincerely desire to be active, having a lack of realistic tools can provide an obstacle -- and these particular strategies are clear and possible steps!

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we are a community of learners where students are empowered to own their learning.

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What strikes me is how I've realized how far we need to go in this statement. I'm extremely grateful for the cultural proficiency PD days that we have had because I feel like they've served as a significant catalyst for me digging deeper into how to acheive equity, not only in our school, but in our society. Learning about the various systems of oppression and privilege that exist have been overwhelming. I think that educating our staff in these different systems (racism, ableism, sexism, classism, etc.) and helping them gain perspective of how they may be playing a part in them, intentionally or unintentionally, could benefit our campus, and most importantly, our students, as a whole.

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This year I learned that while academics are extremely important, it has become more important to meet students where they are emotionally and academically. I have had to learn when to push and when to let go while still trying not to compromise my beliefs and maintaing my student's motivation. It is clear I have not been 100% successfull, but I have also had to learn that my own emotional well-being cannot be put second. My family has endured some major obstacles this year and I have had to accept that others may be going through the same problems. So, family and emotional health has to be put first in our current situation.

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Inspires me to keep this top of mind as I interact with students due to the success of this statement embodied in my mid-twenties nieces that graduated from Bowie that are living proof that Bowie's Vision Statement is actionable.

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Not to just prepare students for college but for life and to be outstanding men and women

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Not to just prepare students for college but for life and to be outstanding men and women

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Speaking with Neutrality in Midst of Passionate Ideals

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Speaking with Neutrality in Midst of Passionate Ideals

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Speak up at Bowie can mean bringing an opinion to open discussion, yes. However, those opinions and ideas should be presented professionally and respectfully & objectively. Many staff, myself included, have opinions about things Bowie does and does not address. However, we should be conscientious about how we deliver our messages as students will directly learn from us how to go about voicing their own opinions given the example(s) we set for them. Food for thought.

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I appreciate that we are being intentional with our time in examining and working towards actionable goals to make Bowie a more equitable campus for all. Of course, there is more work to be done, and it can feel at time that little things aren't enough, but we have to start somewhere.

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Bowie provides students with great opportunities to explore potential careers. I have so many graduates that talk about how their CTE class shaped the direction of their lives.

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“We strive to achieve equally high outcomes for all participants in the educational system... 

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“We strive to achieve equally high outcomes for all participants in the educational system... 

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Even though each student's outcome may be different, as it should be, each student can be successful.

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It feels so daunting to "dismantle system racism." By definition it is so much bigger than any one of us. As individuals and as a community, we can do our small part.

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We can do this.  We changed the culture at our school to improve attendance and focus more on academics.  We can do the same for fighting systemic racism.

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There have been so many events in the last several years that prove that education needs to make a commitment to diversity education and more critical discussions of our history and current events, but we also have to follow through with this. It has to be a discussion we have regularly that leads to changes.

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It's important that students feel empowered to speak their truth, that what they say matters. I have seen too often how young people are silenced because they are considered to inexperienced, to idealistic for reality, to . . young. Students need to be provided a platform to speak and not only that, but be validated for using their voice.

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As overwhelming as it can feel, setting the  goal of doing  my part, with the  people I can, it becomes more real .

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Avoid false equivalencies which sustain inequities

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Avoid false equivalencies which sustain inequities

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As educators, when we reflect on history, we question why intelligent people have failed to fall on the right side of history. We must be willing to label correct and incorrect beliefs in real time or we deprive students of a safe space and the opportunity to become scholars.

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I am so happy to see the comments about CTE and elective classes. I hear from so many former students about how much culinary has changed their lives and helped them in college and non-culinary careers. Grateful that JBHS has such a strong program of "non-academic" offerings for our students, and committed to keeping it that way and providing the most open and inclusive learning possible in that space.

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The speak up at school stragey is important in mainting a culture where bais is not acceptable. I think this is an ongoing process that takes time for the culture shift.

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Bowie's mission is one that reflects what I see happening on campus.

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I think this is an important challenge to overcome when teaching students whose life experience regarding diversity is somewhat limited.

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I feel that we could use more training in this as a community. Really dig in deep into stopping hatred and bigotry.

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It's easy sometimes to let offensive verbal comments go when they are quick, you are stressed, or maybe you don't even fully recognize it for how offensive it might be. However it must ALWAYS be addressed and held accountable. Not just every now and then, but each event of offensive speech should be addressed and held accountable.

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I think this is something that needs to be ingrained in the culture of Bowie. I think we need more than 1 training a year. I think we need a school wide book study for teachers & a novel for students. I think we should have guest speakers come too.

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I feel like most of our teachers do a great job of developing the whole child and not emphasizing one area over another.

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I think this program is great and wish it was around when I went to Bowie (graduated in 2015).  I remember hearing so many students using inappropriate words to describe someone, usually behind their back, and wouldn't know how to respond to it. I think it's important for students to know that they can correct each other.

Also, I don't know what is taught in these lessons with the students, but I hope Person First Language is taught in regards to people with disabilities. I also hope modern terminology for people with disabilities is taught (the "R" word is offensive, and the history of the word can be taught to show why). I taught Person First Language at my other job and at my church, and I will politely correct people who put the disability before the person.

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I have found this to be a very powerful tool to combat hate. When people use hateful speech, most assume nobody will question them, and when they are faced with explaining their statement, they quickly become the one who if speechless.

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I hope to prepare students for real-world bias.  We teach the hard topics so that history doesn't repeat itself.

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I hope to prepare students for real-world bias.  We teach the hard topics so that history doesn't repeat itself.

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Our district has supported the Speak Up strategies and that is good. Preparing and encouraging our students to "Speak Up" is really critically important, and I am so thankful for our Bowie teachers who build the relationships and support our students in speaking up and speaking out.

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Our district has supported the Speak Up strategies and that is good. Preparing and encouraging our students to "Speak Up" is really critically important, and I am so thankful for our Bowie teachers who build the relationships and support our students in speaking up and speaking out.

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Our mission is a great reminder about our goals to nurture all learner’s social needs too. We often forget about how significant mental health is overall to one’s success academically. Recently this has become very apparent to me more than ever  before as an educator b/c I keep hearing from students that are overwhelmed, behind, and stressed to the point they give up so we'll keep doing social activities. It helps, but it doesn't get to all of them, so if we all keep doing it, it will benefit student's successes in immeasurable ways I'm sure.

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Community of learners is such a beautiful ideal. My favorite moments in the classroom are when we are all learning something together--furthering understanding of a topic in different directions for different people. I will strive to integrate more lessons where this happens.

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Try to recognize that students are coming from very diverse backgrounds.  Do not make assumptions of what "should" be present in every one of our student's households and lives.

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I feel like many of our students are very self-centered or focused on their clicks/teems and need further exposure to the outside world. We need less focus on Bowie's awesomeness, team sports, etc. and more focus on how we can give back to our greater community and the world. 

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I feel like many of our students are very self-centered or focused on their clicks/teems and need further exposure to the outside world. We need less focus on Bowie's awesomeness, team sports, etc. and more focus on how we can give back to our greater community and the world. 

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The part of Bowie that I feel we do best is the first part of the mission.  The mission of James Bowie High School is to nurture all learners in their academic and career goals, social needs, and personal interests.

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The part of Bowie that I feel we do best is the first part of the mission.  The mission of James Bowie High School is to nurture all learners in their academic and career goals, social needs, and personal interests.

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If this year has taught us anything, it is to be patient with others and ourselves. Sometimes this is just the grace a student needs to excel.

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Are we nurturing all students, not only academically, but also nurturing social and personal interests? This is a good reminder.

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How can we as teachers respectfully disrupt inequities we see? I agree that this is something that everyone can do, and I've seen it happen here, but I'm just wondering what kinds of trainings we can do to get strategies to do this.

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This is something that we can all support each other on. The more we speak up the easier it will be for those around us.

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I am all for getting rid of anything that promotes inequality. That said, I have seen far too often groups dismantling systems and groups in an effort to equalize things only to end up creating another form of inequality against other groups or a group. All stakeholders must be treated equally. We can't substitute one form of inequality with another.

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Are we celebrating the diversity? Are we looking at our curriculum with a critical eye to make it inclusive and celebratory? These are questions I keep coming back to.

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We need to strive to show the students the change to perfect equality.  Everything takes time, we just have to show the constant change for better

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We need to strive to show the students the change to perfect equality.  Everything takes time, we just have to show the constant change for better

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High School should be a time to explore things you are interested in --- take a dance class or a cooking class. It doesn't all have to be STEM all day every day

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One of my favorite students recently transferred from Bowie and one of his main reasons was that he was tired of the racist taunts and remarks he would get from some fellow students. He hadn't felt comfortable reporting it. I'm devastated to have not known and been able to do something about it.

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"We are committed to embedding opportunities to discuss race and equity and represent diverse perspectives in our curriculum within all content areas throughout the school year." I have been working toward making more opportunities within my science class to discuss race and inequality.

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I am glad that students have the district to back them up and encourage them to stand up for what's right. I think students are hearing this message but I do think it will take time and frequent reminders (and seeing it in action!) for more students to actually feel empowered to act!

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We need to promote diversity in the curriculum as well as share cultural perspectives. Many students may have a simple idea about other cultures, but deeper exploration can lead to deeper learning.

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Promoting Equity should be the number one goal. It is up to us as educators to ensure all students that their voices matter and that all backgrounds and cultures should be highly valued.

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I am pleased they included this in AISD's shared values commitments. People often do not understand that racism is not just treating people equally, it is a matter of being active in stomping out discriminatory behaviors from others. As mentioned in online threads "if you don't stand up for what's right, you are standing on the side of oppression." We as teachers have a duty to make sure that students are treated with respect and accepted for who they are. While we are not responsible for what someone else says or does, we can make the community reject discriminatory practices by setting expectations.

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our schools must engage and empower students, from an early age, with opportunities to participate in crucial conversations, civic engagement, and learn to use effective tools to find peaceful solutions to community problems" 

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our schools must engage and empower students, from an early age, with opportunities to participate in crucial conversations, civic engagement, and learn to use effective tools to find peaceful solutions to community problems" 

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This struck me because it reminded me of where we essentially are as a nation as of January 6th and it made me reflect on ways we can engage students and each other in creating peaceful conversation.

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I feel like when I was a student I knew I should speak up but was so nervous to do so. I think now as an adult it is important for our students to see us speak up and be those role models for them and hopefully give them the courage to do the same.

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Need to help our students see what is going on in this world outside of their own lives.

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This struck me as a reminder of our duty to constantly self-reflect and ask how we could be contributing to a climate if inequity. It's my mission as an educator to fight for the wellbeing of all of my students and to consider how my practices and the practices of my school/district may be hurting this effort.

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This is the area of immediate impact in molding both our school culture and our national culture.

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Teachers at Bowie have always been willing to accommodate all types of learners regardless of ability level.

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I think it is important to celebrate the diversity of all of our students, and to find and create opportunities to do so. Speaking up by reminding students how amazing our various backgrounds, identities, learning styles, and differences are can really make a difference in their confidence.

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I think it is important to celebrate the diversity of all of our students, and to find and create opportunities to do so. Speaking up by reminding students how amazing our various backgrounds, identities, learning styles, and differences are can really make a difference in their confidence.

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Today, more than ever, civic minded and empathy-led citizens are needed to shape and participate in our democratic society. Teachers have an enormous chance to impact student's beliefs and attitudes regarding their duty to society and one another, and through mindful education and lessons on empathy and respect for our fellow human beings, we can impart a deep and abiding passion within our students to participate in their civil environments post-graduation.

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I think it is incredibly necessary that AISD and Bowie is focusing on dismantling harmful systems of the past that negatively affect our most marginalized students. Like was already mentioned here, this will take time, but I think it is important to work with the students and demonstrate that as the next generation, they have the power to create a different community for children growing up after them.

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It is important for us to speak up and bring situations into awareness, but what I value most in this is providing students a safe place to reflect. This year has been full of crazy moments, and my students tell me after each of these moments that they never really have a way to talk to each other and share their thoughts. They do a lot of listening- to adults. It's time we start valuing their thoughts too. As you all know, Bowie students are smart and know how to have respectful and meaningful conversations.

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I think this is a hard topic and meeting this campus goal is a continued effort. It involves an alignment of ideas, goals and values that doesn't happen easily. I do feel like it's not just something that Bowie gives lip service to (as I've observed at some campuses) and instead is something that people are striving for authentically.

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We are committed to “disrupting inequitable practices, examining biases, and creating inclusive multicultural school environments for adults and children.”

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We are committed to “disrupting inequitable practices, examining biases, and creating inclusive multicultural school environments for adults and children.”

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I sometimes wonder if we are really committed. I often seen in education a need to check boxes to feeling better, but for this to happen, we need real systemic change. And that work is really hard. I don't know how much actual, real and lasting "disrupting" we do.

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As others have mentioned. I believe Bowie prepares students for life beyond HS.  However, it is mostly geared toward those going off to college.  More should be offered for those who are not.

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Staying silent is just as damaging. If it protects a student, speaking out should be supported by all in our community.

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I think it's great that Bowie has in writing in their mission statement that we are to nurture all learners. The main thing I think is important to point out about this, is that equity then becomes the method by which all learners are nurtured. This does not mean painting with the same brush, but adjusting resources to make it so every child is on an equal level and equal playing field. It's difficult with a school like Bowie due to there being such a high amount of affluence, it can be misinterpreted that students are all in okay situations and all being nurtured just because MOST of them are. It's a great mission, and should be even more strived for.

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I really enjoyed the Speak Up training, and I've thought about it a lot. Right after staff received the training, I was riding the bus. The stranger next to me started talking to me and saying very racist things on this crowded bus. I sat there frozen, unsure of what to say, and my mind went back to the training. I tried so hard to remember the training and things you could say in response, but I couldn't... and I didn't speak up. I just ignored the man. I still think about it now, years later, and how I should and could have said anything! It reminds me how difficult it must be for our students in front of their peers and makes me question-- how do we get them to the next step but also ourselves?

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I think the Speak Up Training was some of the most thought provoking training I've done. As someone who is typically non confrontational it's been eye opening to realize how many things I've let slide because I did want to argue with people or seem like I was calling someone out. It's tough to always speak out, but I've noticed more that when I do there are other people to back me up.

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I love working for a district that is intentional about working toward equity. The ability to point out our district's equity statement gives me a simple first step when encountering bias.