Equity Certificate Series

TLED: Develop a Growth Mindset: Teach for All Students - 2.5 hours

In this course, we start to discover the ways that students are treated inequitably in our institutions and how we may consciously or unconsciously support that treatment. Through exercises, discussions, and presentations, faculty and staff will strengthen their knowledge of equitable practices. We will explore a framework that will improve the retention and success of students from historically underserved communities. We will also discuss how to adapt teaching methods and provide tools to engage students using equity-designed principles.

Learning Outcomes

• • Distinguish the difference between Equity and Equality Recognize the importance of emotional engagement to student retention and success
  • Utilize Dr. Singleton’s CCAR (Courageous Conversations about Race) protocol when engaging in conversations about race
  • Identify ways in which society privileges some individuals over others
  • Discuss the relationship between race and student outcomes

TLED: Sustain the Conversation: Keep the Spotlight on Race - 2.5 hours

Note: To attend this workshop, participants must have completed Develop a Growth Mindset:  Teach for All Students.

We hope that this next session will help ACC faculty and staff sustain the conversation about racial systemic inequities that show up around us. Through sharing stories, experiences, and self-reflection, we’ll uncover the forces at work in our lives that generate our belief systems and patterns of thinking, especially as it relates to race. We will also suggest some techniques and tools that you can incorporate into your class practice to uncover the effectiveness of your own teaching methodologies and create more equitable outcomes.

Pre-Session:
Bring to our Session:
We’ll spend a good bit of our first time together building community and sharing our stories. Storytelling is a major vehicle for how we cultivate relationships, learn, unlearn, and make meaning of our place in the world. Bring to our time together one artifact (e.g., an object, a photo, a song, a piece of writing, however, you interpret things) that reflects a reason you’re prioritizing this equity certification.

Optional Pre-Reading – You will need your ACC credentials to access.

Learning Outcomes

• • Discuss the importance of storytelling as a tool for how we cultivate relationships, learn, unlearn, and make meaning of our place in the world
  • Utilize Dr. Singleton’s Courageous Conversations About Race protocol when engaging in conversations about race
  • Compare and Contrast the Racial Consciousness Flow Chart and the Cycle of Socialization
  • Discuss the difference between race/ethnicity/nationality
  • Participate in mindful inquiry of those multiple perspectives, beliefs, and experiences that are different than your own

TLED: Grow an Anti-Racist Environment: From Conversation to Action

Note: To attend this workshop, participants must have completed Develop a Growth Mindset: Teach for All Students and Sustain the Conversation: Keep the Spotlight on Race.

What is anti-racism? What is white supremacy culture? In this session, we will define and discuss these theories. We will “deepen the conversation” about institutional racism and the impact it has on our students. Through engaging in authentic, courageous conversations you will identify meaningful actions that can create a welcoming environment and support your students’ success.

Pre-session:

We’ll spend a good bit of our time together building community and sharing our stories. Storytelling is a major vehicle for how we cultivate relationships, learn, unlearn, and make meaning of our place in the world. Bring to our time together one artifact (e.g., an object, a photo, a song, a piece of writing, however, you interpret things) that reflects what anti-racism means to you.

Pre-Reading – You will need your ACC credentials to access.

Learning Outcomes

• • Analyze institutional racism and white supremacy culture
  • Utilize Dr. Singleton’s Courageous Conversations About Race protocol when engaging in conversations about race
  • Raise learner awareness of racial inequities and injustices by framing race
  • Explain how racism and oppression operate within an organization’s own walls
  • Commit to concrete plans for dismantling racism within classroom and the organization

Meet Our Facilitators

Sessions will be facilitated by Nicole Bell, Chelsea Biggerstaff, and Dr. Eric Nathan.

Nicole K. Bell (she/her/hers) is a strategic learning and development professional that focuses on leadership, equity, and creating inclusive, authentic, and liberating learning connections. She is currently the training and development interim manager in Human Resources at Austin Community College (ACC). She has over 18 years of experience in creating diverse employee leadership and development training programs. She is a certified mediator, success coach, and a graduate of both Leadership Women-Leadership Pipeline, 2016, and the Essential Class of Leadership Austin, 2018. Nicole is a Courageous Conversations about Race Affiliate Practitioner with the Pacific Education Group. As an Anti-Racist educator, Nicole’s passion is the uplifting and supporting of women and families of color. Nicole’s mission in equity work is to create spaces for everyone to be free to show up in their full humanity.

Chelsea Biggerstaff (she/her/hers) After visiting classrooms in Japan, China, the United States, and the Navajo Nation during her undergraduate studies at Indiana University, Chelsea recognized a disparity in educational settings that was inexcusable. In response, she devoted two years to national service with AmeriCorps and later accepted a position at Skillpoint Alliance. As a program lead at Skillpoint Alliance, Chelsea coordinated the NEXT Intermediate Job Program and developed and facilitated professional development trainings and workshops in areas such as leadership, presentation skills, team skills, task and time management, communication in the workplace, and creative problem solving.

Chelsea’s background in education and passion for transformative development opportunities drew her to Austin Community College where she uses her creativity, educational background, and positive spirit to inspire and learn from the college’s hardworking faculty.

Dr. Eric Nathan (he/him/his) is the new Dean of Faculty Development at Austin Community College. Dr. Nathan brings more than 25 years of experience working directly with faculty in the areas of faculty development, distance education, instructional design, instructional technology, and multimedia development. He has worked at two- and four-year institutions throughout Texas, most recently at Lone Star College.

Dr. Nathan also has more than 14 years of experience teaching graduate and undergraduate courses as an adjunct instructor. He holds a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus on Instructional Technology from the University of Houston-Central, a Master of Arts degree in Humanities from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, Radio & Television from the University of Houston-Central.