First Appeared in NEA Today January 2024
By: Cindy Long, Senior Writer, adapted by Samantha Burdick
Imagine standing up in a staff meeting at school and saying, “Let’s address institutional racism in our schools.” How would your colleagues react? Some might welcome an open discussion, but many would probably shift in their seats and glance around nervously. A few might even get up and walk out of the room.
Talking about race openly and honestly is essential to creating educational equity for all students and members of the school community. But the approach to the conversation must be handled with care.
In 2019, NEA created a program called Leaders for Just Schools (LJS), a national network of educators who are prepared to advance equitable education. LJS helps participants better understand how to cultivate equitable, just schools for students of every race, place, background, and ability.
“The Leaders for Just Schools curriculum has been incredibly helpful in facilitating meaningful, impactful reflection and self-awareness among our educators so that they can, in turn, provide equitable environments for all members of our learning communities. The ‘ripple effect’ of this work is visible, essential, and sustainable,” according to NEA Director Rebecca Cole.
LJS focuses on the intersection of racial justice in education and understanding how to use the levers of local, state, and federal policy—specifically the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)—to create equitable learning spaces for all students.
EVERYONE CAN BE A LEADER
More than 200 educators from across the country are currently engaged in the three-year program. Additionally, nine educators from Maine have either completed the program or are currently engaged in a cohort, and four more educators will join as part of the 2024 cohort this summer. Typically held in summer, the training kicks off with virtual sessions followed by in-person learning experiences.
“Leaders for Just Schools allows us to build connections with educators across the country,” said 2023 cohort member Nesrene Griffin (Lewiston EA). “We are in contact with our cohort throughout the year. We discuss policies & practices that impact our schools and ways we can support our learning communities. I am excited to connect in July at LJS MegaWeek.”
In the first year, educators learn about critical definitions and topics in education justice. And they turn inward to explore their own biases.
In year two, participants examine structural inequities in education and focus on building partnerships with families and communities to break those structures.
In year three, they create a plan to address a “problem of equity” that they have identified in their own schools or communities. Over the course of this learning journey, educators develop the knowledge and skills to advocate and organize for education justice.
So how have LJS participants been doing better?
Educators that participate in the program have the opportunity to create an advocacy plan addressing an issue in their school, district, or state. From implementing new classroom policies to reviewing school handbooks to offering testimony at school board meetings, an array of projects stem from members’ engagement in the program.
The beauty of the LJS program is that the learning is ongoing. After educators complete their three-year learning journey, they continue the work at home, leading the effort to promote just and equitable learning environments in their states, districts, and school communities.
Leaders for Just Schools allows us to build connections with educators across the country…We are in contact with our cohort throughout the year. We discuss policies and practices that impact our schools and ways we can support our learning communities. I am excited to connect in July at LJS MegaWeek.”
Leaders for Just Schools Program Reports
The Leaders for Just Schools (LJS) Program Report outlines all aspects of the program: It provides a complete overview of program structure, major activities, and timeline; resource creation and extended learning opportunities; and clear and undeniable evidence of the work of LJS participants in their own schools, districts, and communities.
Through Leaders for Just Schools, we are building a nationwide network of educators who cultivate equitable, safe, and just learning environments for all students across race, background, ability, and ZIP code. The program prepares educators to take informed action to advocate for their students by leveraging educator voice and input on key decisions around school improvement to ensure equitable outcomes in schools across the country
