Front Page: Educational Equity
By Theresa Kelly Gegen
It’s been a minute, as they say, since the Illinois School Board Journal featured the concept of Educational Equity.
That’s not happenstance. At the time of our last equity edition, in late 2023, the Journal, in particular, and IASB as a whole were intentionally instilling ideals and concepts of educational equity throughout our work. Many school districts do the same, because an important part of equity work is putting equity in all the work.
While equity conversations continue, educational equity is no longer just a standalone topic, a single seminar, or a snapshot of a moment in time. It can be those things, but today it is embedded in our efforts and rooted in our work.
Indeed, the initial equity work in the Journal used the imagery of “roots,” and that, too, continues.
“Roots” can refer to the origins of inequities, such as systemic racism, institutional biases, segregation and discrimination, and funding disparities. Taking things “by the root” means that solutions must go deeper and address the system rather than the problems we can see on the surface. And “roots” can also refer to the change itself and the efforts to address inequities. Grassroots efforts prompt change.
The Journal’s equity imagery has also used trees to illustrate educational equity concepts. Trees are metaphors for human life, growth, family history, and resilience. The roots of the tree, as mentioned, represent origins and depth. Trunks symbolize strength and stability, and branches symbolize inclusion, growth, and shared success.
As our understanding has evolved, so has our imagery. The latest iterations of equity imagery in the Journal have added mosaics to our usual trees. A mosaic is a metaphor for small and sometimes broken pieces coming together to form a meaningful whole. A mosaic demonstrates that individual parts do not need to lose their unique color or shape to create a collective masterpiece.
I do like a good metaphor.
Before you read on, here are a few notes to enlighten your reading and consideration of equity.
IASB uses this definition: “Educational equity means that every student has access to the educational resources and rigor they need at the right moment in their education, and students’ needs are not going unmet due to race, ethnicity, dominant language, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion, family background, and/or family income.”
IASB has two new member-facing initiatives that join the Association’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion space. On page 9, learn about a new IASB Storytellers program. Based in the IASB Community, Storytellers aims to foster understanding and strengthen the connections between school boards and the communities they serve. Also, a new in-district workshop called Doing Right By All Students is introduced on page 6. Doing Right ... supports school board members in leading with care, integrity, and a shared commitment to all learners.
Thank you for reading the Journal.
Theresa Kelly Gegen is Director of Communications/Editorial Services for IASB, and Editor of the Illinois School Board Journal.