Culturally Relevant Teaching Workshop Series: #5
Title: What's Race Got to Do with Me?
Presenter: Lavell Wood, Principal, Alder Elementary School
Description: In this session, you will be given tools to help you talk about race in and out of the virtual classroom. Using your personal histories to activate or heighten your racial consciousness, you will leave the workshop understanding how you show up as a racial being addressing the question, "how does our societal conditioning shape the way educators show up in the virtual classroom?".
Bio: Lavell Wood is the new Principal at Alder Elementary School, in the Reynolds School District. Lavell has served, in Portland Public Schools for 14 years, in various roles such as assistant principal, paraeducator, technology coordinator, special education teacher, restorative justice coordinator, school climate Teacher on Special Assignment and special education program administrator. He is a member of the African American Leadership Academy alumni cohort, and a facilitator for racial equity helping organizations decenter whiteness and undo structural forms of white supremacy. Lavell earned a Master’s degree in Elementary Special Education and Administrator license both from Portland State University.
Professional Development Units Offered: 2
This workshop is part of our Culturally Relevant Teaching Virtual Workshop Series.
Workshops will address the following Culturally Relevant Teaching practices (developed by Beaverton School District Equity Office and teacher representatives):
1. Know Yourself- Explore how educator’s own experiences, attitudes, assumptions, values, and beliefs around race, language, culture, gender, and class impact their teaching and learning.
2. Know Your Students- Learn how race, language, culture, gender, and class shape students' beliefs and expectations about learning.
3. Capitalize On Student Expertise-Learn about students’ cultural capital – strengths and experiences they bring into the classroom.
4. Make Language Count- Leverage the languages used in the classroom – vocabulary, nonverbal communications, native languages, and culturally specific communication styles.
Who should participate and why?
Educators should participate to:
- Leverage their CRT practices
- Learn new ideas, materials, and strategies
- Learn what other districts are doing and how they're problem solving
