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Opening Doors
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Opening Doors
An Implementation Template for Cultural Proficiency

Foreword by David Verdugo



February 2016 | 152 pages | Corwin

See how one school district made Cultural Proficiency real—and how you can too!

In spite of Brown vs. Board of Education, true integration and corresponding equality of educational opportunity is still far from reality in American schools.  

Opening Doors tells the story of Ventura Unified School District's successful implementation of cultural proficiency, which opened long-closed doors for marginalized students and returned gains on every key success metric. Most importantly, it will empower you to do the same for your school or district. Resources include:

  • A method for evaluating the impact of educational decisions on students' access to learning
  • A clear three-year implementation plan for making your school culturally proficient
  • A content-rich companion website that includes templates and forms for implementing the book’s suggestions

It is long past time to make cultural proficiency real by ensuring universally equal access to educational resources for all students. This book removes the remaining barriers to the achievement of this ideal. 

 
“This powerfully insightful and thought provoking book, takes us on a journey to culturally proficient actions.”
Rosemary Papa, Professor
Northern Arizona University

“The book is full of compassion, conviction and hope—pure heart, pure corazón—in the quest to tackle inequality and the opportunity gap head on.”
Gilberto Q. Conchas, Professor of Educational Policy and Social Context
University of California, Irvine

 
Dedication
 
Acknowledgment
 
Publisher's Acknowledgments
 
Foreword
 
About the Authors
 
Prologue
 
Chapter 1 – What Frames Us, Defines Us
Getting Centered

 
Going Deeper

 
 
Chapter 2 - Culturally Proficient Leadership Fosters Transformative Change
Getting Centered

 
Going Deeper

 
 
Chapter 3 – Change Begins with Core Value and Belief Statements
Getting Centered

 
Going Deeper

 
Activity 3.1 – Can You Believe?

 
Activity 3.2 – Walking Forward Part I

 
 
Chapter 4 – Yes, We Actually Live Our Values
Getting Centered

 
Going Deeper

 
Activity 4.1 – Walking Forward Part II

 
Activity 4.2 – I Am Activity

 
 
Chapter 5 – Continuous Learning Involves Deconstructing our Learning
Getting Centered

 
Going Deeper

 
Activity 5.1 - The Power of Us

 
Activity 5.2 – Opening Doors for Students – Do Our Actions Reflect Our Values? Part 1

 
Activity 5.3 – Opening Doors for Students – To What Extent are We Escorting Students Through the Doors? Part 2

 
Activity 5.4 – Data that Demonstrates Areas of Need

 
Activity 5.5 – Book Club

 
 
Epilogue
 
Resources
Resource A – Book Study Guide

 
Resource B - Cultural Proficiency Books’ Essential Questions

 
Resource C – 3-Year Implementation Journey

 
Resource D – A Cultural Proficiency Implementation Model

 
 
References

This powerfully insightful and thought provoking book, takes us on a journey to culturally proficient actions.

Rosemary Papa, Professor
Northern Arizona University

The authors challenge districts to examine practices that create inequity.

Lorie Henderson, Superintendent of Educational Services and Programming
School District of Mystery Lake

Endeavors toward culturally proficient values are critical in a time where we struggle to answer ‘Why can’t we close the educational gap?

Miriam Ezzani, Clinical Associate Professor in Educational Leadership
Department of Teacher Education and Administration, University of North Texas

This book provides inspiration for those institutions that are examining and asking the difficult question of, “Where do we even begin?”

Lori Piowlski, Assistant Professor
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN

“The authors’ have provided the most comprehensive blueprint for starting or revamping an institution’s program for cultural proficiency by allowing one to start with self-understanding before addressing others. Emphasizing that changes happen when leaders use cultural proficiency to do their work!”

Thomas Christie, Multicultural/Community Administrator
Lincoln Public Schools

If your school or district is ready to move from “talking the talk” to “walking the walk” this text will assist you in your journey.

Melissa Nixon, Director of Title I
Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, NC

School Leaders will be inspired and understand the urgency of putting a plan into action.

Cesar Morales, Superintendent
Oxnard School District, Oxnard, CA

It is exuberating to see how Ventura Unified School District brought theory into practice that directly influenced the individual and organizational core values to benefit their students! 

Joseph M. Domingues, Principal
Santa Maria High School, Santa Maria, CA

Her book will be at the top of my list as a must read recommendation for all my colleagues at the District Office.

Peter Flores III, Director of Student Services
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, Santa Maria, CA

The book is full of compassion, conviction and hope—pure heart, pure corazón—in the quest to tackle inequality and the opportunity gap head on.

Gilberto Q. Conchas, Professor of Educational Policy and Social Context
School of Education, University of California, Irvine

For instructors

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ISBN: 9781483388793
£26.99