SUN PRAIRIE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT EQUITY EVALUATION INTEGRATED COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMS FOR EQUITY Compassionate Educators Throughout the focus groups and interviews, parents, educators, and administrators discussed the compassion they have seen or felt from the educators in Sun Prairie. “Our staff is very unique, and we try to all support each other as much as possible. I think our kids feel safe, and that we have their back.” Another educator shared, “We have a lot of teachers who always want to do what’s best for students, now we don’t always agree on how we do that, but the intention and spirit is there to get it right.” Participants were most proud of Sun Prairie as a teaching and learning organization. As one participant shared, “We have a very dedicated staff who go above and beyond the call of duty to do what’s best for kids.” While another stated, “I think we have an awesome place to learn, and too often it is taken for granted by both staff and students. Our Sun Prairie greater community is really supportive too and that helps us.” Others addressed the opportunities that students have, “Students have a ton of opportunities, and families really appreciate that. If this kid wants to explore an interest, that is supported in Sun Prairie. Educators discussed, “that all children have access to universal core instruction all the time. We continue to grow in this area.” Another shared that, “We are working hard on interventions to do inside classroom rather than pulling students out of the core curriculum.” Others discussed their grading practices and how the practices have changed, “to help students not become trapped in the hole.” For example, “In math, we are now standards-referenced as opposed to grade and point-based. This has been transformative for student math efficacy.” In addition, “We are very blessed as we have some people who are very passionate about Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Specific teachers go to professional development and bring it back and present on it to enlighten everyone… This year we took committees to streamline things.” The 9th grade teachers discussed their involvement with the Universal Design for Learning Focus Grant through the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). They were happy to report that they are becoming much more universal in their teaching through Unit design with a UDL focus. Others discussed the diversity of course offerings, interdisciplinary academics, and advanced placement classes. Elementary teachers stated that principles of Universal Design for Learning have “helped us differentiate opportunities to meet the learning needs of all students.” For example, “giving a rubric at the beginning of the class to assist all students.” Others confirmed that for some schools, “the push is on lesson planning. Basically, we are taking what we were doing and moving to point of putting it in action.” Teachers across the focus groups discussed the work in the areas of Second Step and social emotional curriculum. Teachers expressed that, “the push to do universal for social emotional in every classroom through morning meeting[s] and social circle[s] are helping to develop © 2022 Elise M. Frattura and Colleen A. Capper. All rights reserved. Please do not reproduce, modify, or distribute this work without written consent from the authors or the Sun Prairie Area School District. Please email info@icsequity.org to obtain such permission. .
47
