By Sara Stockwell, Executive Director of Pupil Services, Perrysburg Schools
What is a “Diverse Learner?” Most people can think of a time when they said or did something and afterward they realized it did not come across the way they meant it to. Most people can also relate to feeling left out or like they didn't fit in during some situations. When we think about “diverse learners,” we must consider ALL of the things that make us diverse, such as: addiction, body image, culture, eating disorders, English learners, foster families, gender identity, giftedness, homelessness, learning needs, living with disabilities, mental health, migrant families, military families, non-traditional families, physical disabilities, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, transient families and twice exceptional.
Focusing on “diverse learners” is committing to building a culture where everyone feels safe and respected. How did this focus begin? After evaluating state testing data in 2015, a theme that emerged was an achievement gap between our general education population and our special education population. As a result, at that time, the District Leadership Team hired OCALI (Ohio Coalition for Autism and Low Incidence) to review the school district’s special education programs to determine our strengths as well as areas for potential growth. OCALI conducted a yearlong review that included interviewing teachers, administrators and over 30 parents. They further conducted classroom observations and examined district policy and procedures. OCALI made specific recommendations, and among them was increasing our focus on all Diverse Learners.
Initially, a Diverse Learners Focus Group mapped out steps for the initiative, with the goal of developing annual professional development. One key step happened in 2017, when the school district put this new focus on display with an important revision to the mission statement. “Ensuring students achieve their greatest potential,” became “Ensuring all students achieve their greatest potential.” This year, the Focus Group is merging with the district's Diversity Committee, which has offered community forums, as well as collected data on diversity and disposition within the school district and community.
A focus on meeting the needs of all learners is a mindset. It is a way of thinking and an ongoing commitment to our students, our community and our staff to create an environment where all feel welcome, safe and included. It is about understanding who each person is as an individual. It is not one program, class or professional development opportunity, though it certainly includes all of these things. The Diverse Learners Focus Group has organized a professional development day each year since its formation. This year, 70 presenters offered 45 sessions to teachers, administrators, counselors, school psychologists, paraprofessionals and other related service staff members. Topics ranged from understanding an individual’s identity and identifying vulnerable populations to learning classroom strategies and having meaningful conversations.
Although staff development has been a priority, the focus on diverse learners can be found in programs throughout the district. One example is the Peer Buddy Collaboration Program at Perrysburg High School, where students are trained to become Peer Buddies to their fellow classmates who are living with disabilities. Other examples can be found in our English Learner programming, homeless efforts, restorative justice approach to discipline, threat assessment training, Jacket Friends, advisory councils, mental health supports and programming, student focus groups, gifted programming and diversity forums.
We will all continue to grow as people as well as professionals through these efforts. It can be challenging to notice when you make an assumption and later realize it may have been insensitive. Addressing diversity and inclusion is an ongoing focus here in Perrysburg as well as across the country. We are pleased with the progress we have made and understand that there will always be more we can do in this area. The Diverse Learners Focus Group will continue to examine our curriculum with this lens, offer professional development for employees and look for more ways to engage students and the community to ensure ALL students achieve their greatest potential.
Understanding the Factors that make our Learners Diverse
• Diversity – All of our human differences.
• Marginalization – When a particular student or groups of students are pushed to the “sidelines” by making them feel unimportant or powerless in an intentional or unintentional manner.
• Identity – Who you are, the way you think about yourself, the way you are viewed by the world, the characteristics that define you and the groups to which you belong.
• Equity/Justice – Recognizing unfairness and meeting the unique needs of individuals by making sure they get access to the same opportunities.
• Bias – A strong favorable or unfavorable thought or preconceived opinion about something or someone, which can be implicit or explicit. Bias affects our understanding, actions and decisions in a conscious or unconscious manner.