Vermont Education Equity Summit
In 2017 and 2018 The Creative Discourse Group designed and co-facilitated a series of regional and statewide equity workshops with associate Rebecca Haslam of Seed the Way, and Nicole Cabral of Public Agenda. These meetings were convened by a range of education organizations including the Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA), the Vermont Superintendents Association (VtSA), the Vermont Principals Association (VPA), and the Champlain Valley Educator Development Center (CVEDC). These gatherings served as a significant catalyst for increased understanding, attention and dedication to creating more equitable outcomes for Vermont students.
During a January 2018 workshop convened by the Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA), the Vermont Superintendents Association (VtSA), and the Vermont Principals Association (VPA), Sue and Nicole led participants (including principals, superintendents and school board members) through a series of activities that led to the creation a definition of equity that is being used by all of these organizations to frame and advance their equity work.
Sue and Rebecca designed and facilitated the first VPA Equity Summit in May of 2018. This workshop brought together educators, school leaders and students for a day of dialogue and learning. This powerful day served as a catalyst and a model for a series of Equity Summits that VPA continues to hold around the state. In addition, the Vermont Principals Association has made a deep commitment to offer ongoing professional development opportunities that focus on equity.
“Sue’s down-to-earth, kind and caring approach works wonders… our Equity Summit… brought together educators, students, AOE officials, and other equity invested partners in a powerful day of learning that effectively assisted us in launching our equity work plan for the next couple of years.”