Leading for Equity: Empowering All Students with Agency and Voice

Presented by Dr. Katrise Perera, Superintendent, Gresham-Barlow School District, Gresham, Oregon and Ms. Lisa Riggs, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Gresham-Barlow School District, Gresham, Oregon. Moderated by Dr. David Schuler, Superintendent, District 214, Chicago, IL, and former AASA President

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 100 plus days of protests in nearby Portland, and while wildfires threaten the district’s southern boundary, Dr. Katrise Perera and Ms. Lisa Riggs will share how Gresham-Barlow School District is helping students develop agency and voice to advocate on behalf of themselves and their peers. Particular attention has been paid to increasing the engagement of students who are typically underrepresented or marginalized.

Essential questions for discussion include:

What is the district’s plan for enhancing equity and inclusion?
How do you encourage and collect the voices of students?
When do you begin engaging students in career-technical education?
How do you align resources for equitable outcomes?

Participants will hear district-wide K-12 approaches to supporting and enhancing student voice which grows students to become open-minded critical thinkers, compassionate communicators, and culturally aware community members that thrive in an ever-changing global community. Learn more.