With the upcoming election cycle, the ongoing tensions around what and how we teach in schools today, and the increasing anxieties of young people, it's imperative to create a space for educators to learn from, challenge, and support one another as we navigate the ways polarization shows up in our schools and classrooms. Those anxieties can deepen polarization in our communities and schools. In this PLC series, we frame and explore tensions across differences that are present in our schools as we seek to find ways for all students and staff to feel a sense of belonging. We will focus on ways to find shared values, create connections through stories, and bridge across different identities, and belief systems.
During the 2024/2025 school year, we will hold PLC sessions where educators can share what's going on in their schools, what skills and practices they've been using, and how they might support each other in workshopping their approaches. This will also be a brave space of healing and connection for educators from across the region. We hope to create a community where educators can share how they're impacted by the polarization, based on their own experiences and identities, while also engaging in what we can each do to better support ourselves, our students, and our colleagues in bridging to greater understanding and belonging together. These PLC sessions will be offered in-person and virtually once a month each and educators who sign up will be welcome to attend all or some of the sessions.