2. As a result of participating in SSI, are educators better prepared to work in culturally diverse classrooms?

3. Do educators who complete SSI integrate more multi-cultural or culturally inclusive content into their curriculum planning?

4. What percentage of educators continue to implement SSI practices into their curriculum development post SSI training? One year? Three years? Five years?

5. How has educator participation in SSI affected teacher/student relationship building? Student/student relationship building?

As a result of these refined and newly acquired responsive skills, educators will be better positioned to implement more culturally inclusive curriculum into their lesson plans with a heightened knowledge and comfort level in better supporting every student. 

Additionally, development teams will be established and charged with follow-up measures to ensure best practices and level of effort; while educators will be charged with continued growth and learning in order to increase capacity around culturally relevant materials. 

In the end, students who are typically marginalized and unable to recognize or relate to course materials will begin to feel valued and inspired to excel academically, and students as a whole will benefit from a more cultured and well-rounded learning experience.

As schools become more diverse, it is important to apply practices that ensure classroom instruction best serve students by incorporating culturally inclusive curriculum; thereby fostering an environment where students are made to feel valued and engaged; prompting excellence in classroom performance. 

The literature contends that in many instances, students are likely to move forward through coursework despite uncertainties.  However, when students are introduced to literature in a way that is encouraging and enables them to draw on commonalities, they are less likely to retreat from learning. (Cook,1996) 

Supporting Scholars Institute (SSI) will provide a motivating social context for professional development trainings and modeling of strategies for raising cultural awareness (across academic disciplines) within the classroom to take place. 

• Board of Education

• District Leadership

• School Leadership (administrators and department heads) 

• Teaching Professionals and Educators (Head Teachers, SpEd Teachers, Teacher Assistantsand Paraprofessionals)

EDUC 804

Dr. Kristen Betts

Drexel University

Fall 2014

When a student is made to feel as though they are a part of the composition/literature being read, written, and discussed; they are more likely to positively respond and excel in their academics. Through the Supporting Scholars Institute, a platform for working relationships to be cultivated and courageous conversations to take place will be garnered; while actively working to promote culturally relevant classroom curriculum.

2. What, if any, has been a social barrier of success for you or other students of color?

3. Do you believe your school is/has been successful in incorporating diversity into curriculum and throughout the school? If yes, how? If not? What areas require improvement?

4. What school supports, extracurricular activities, clubs, or programs would you say have helped you attain and maintain success in school?

5. Have you been able to establish and maintain a relationship with your teacher(s)? If so, what has helped grow that relationship? If not, what has prevented relationship building?

6. Have you been able to establish and maintain a relationship with your peer(s)? If so, what has helped grow that relationship? If not, what has prevented relationship building?

7. Please identify subject areas you feel have incorporated various cultures into the curriculum?

2. What do you think promotes success and/or failures among students of color at this institution? Within your class?

3. What are some major academic barriers of success for students of color?

4. What are some major social barriers of success for students of color?

5. What curriculum or area of studies does your department offer that embraces multiple cultures and/or experience?

6. Do you currently teach at an ethnically and culturally diverse institution? If so, what made you decide to teach there? If not, would you ever teach at an ethnically and culturally diverse institution?