Race and Equity – John Stanford International School PTSA

JSIS Race and Equity Task Force

About

HELLO & WELCOME!

The JSIS Parent Race Equity Task Force was founded in 2018 by parents in response
to racism and anti-Blackness incidents between students. We committed then to
supporting and stewarding the demands made by JSIS Parents of Black Students,
and contributing to a vision of a school culture that prioritizes anti-racism.

Some examples of what we have accomplished together:

coordinated with the PTSA to fund diverse book purchases for the library;

gathered information about school discipline policies;

arranged live theater performances for JSIS students on topics of race;

provided trainings and support for parents;

collaborated with JSIS staff Race Equity Team;

held space for questions and healing; and

promoted a community action in support of Black Lives Matter.

Our work continues and is evolving. There is so much more we can do together and
with our children! We invite you to connect, and shape the work to come.
Please join us! Reach out any time at [email protected]

Sincerely,

JSIS Parent Race Equity Task Force

MISSION

The mission of the Parent Race Equity Task Force at John Stanford
International School (JSIS) is to:

Challenge, interrupt, and dismantle racism, bias, and white supremacy;

Promote racial equity; and

Ensure that JSIS provides a safe and nurturing space for all students,
parents, staff, and other members of the school community.

ACTION

We seek to achieve this mission by:

Serving as a source of support to all members of the JSIS community,
especially families of color and other traditionally marginalized members;

Building awareness and facilitating dialogue among members of the JSIS
community about topics pertinent to race and equity;

Providing resources that promote equity and inclusion, and help JSIS
community members take positive action for racial justice;

Ensuring awareness of and clear communication around racial issues and
incidents that occur among our students and within the JSIS community,
including clear communication around the response to such incidents and
the effectiveness of the response;

Holding the JSIS administration and members of the JSIS community
accountable to dismantling racism and assuring a safe environment for
our children;

Recommending policies and procedures with respect to issues such as
effective discipline policies, responses to racial incidents within the JSIS
community, and methods to promote healing and restoration of trust in the
aftermath of incidents; and

Providing a forum for dialogue, engagement, and decision making around
the above activities to advance our journey toward racial equity.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Parent Race Equity Task Force?

The Parent Race Equity (RE) Task Force is an all-volunteer, parent-led group at John Stanford International School. The mission of the group is to challenge, interrupt, and dismantle racism, bias, and white supremacy; promote racial equity; and ensure that JSIS provides a safe and nurturing space for all students, parents, staff, and other members of the school community. (See full mission statement in the About tab.)

Is it a PTSA committee?

No. The Parent RE Task Force works closely with the PTSA but it is a separate entity. The PTSA includes funds for race and equity activities in their budget, and has created this online space for us on their website.

We think it's important to remain separate from but work closely with the PTSA. One of the main purposes of the Parent RE Task Force is to disrupt systems of racism, and remaining separate from the PTSA is essential for this purpose.

There is a position on the PTSA board for Diversity/Equity/Inclusion chair, but it has been unfilled for a while (please check the Volunteer page on this site for a current list of positions).

Do you fundraise?

No. Since 2019, we have received dedicated funds from the PTSA. It's important for parents to show support for this work so these funds are renewed year after year.

Why was the Parent RE Task Force formed?

After a series of racist incidents with students in the fall of 2018, a group of parents of Black students at JSIS developed a proposal requesting JSIS provide:

Parent education on race equity issues

Student education on race equity issues

Policy/procedure clarification for racialized harassment incidents

Two other parents, Ann Ishimaru and Naho Shioya, both professionals in the field, volunteered to lead a conversation with parents on race and racism at school. SPS representatives came to speak about district policy, as did JSIS administrators. The event was well attended and soon after, Ann and Naho plus Juan Pablo Recinos and Teresa Kessenich-Chase (then PTSA Co-Directors of Community Development) formed the Parent RE Task Force. The goal was to move the school community forward in its race equity journey, and urge the school to follow through on the Parents of Black Students (PBS) proposal.

Read the full PBS proposal.

Is there a leader?

Yes, there is a shared leadership team. The roles in the leadership are loose and based on the time each parent can give to the group. Because the group was formed organically, there's not a formal process for electing leaders or choosing roles. We strive to have equitable representation, but have no formal process to do so. We currently accept any parent who wants to volunteer.

How do you ensure equitable representation among the leadership team?

We strongly encourage BIPOC parents to join the leadership team, but we also acknowledge that the weight of this work cannot be carried by BIPOC parents alone. White parents need to do the work as well. In the future, we are open to a more formal process for creating and structuring leadership.

What has the Parent RE Task Force done?

As a task force we:

Secured funds from the PTSA to address the PBS proposal (2019-present)

Hold monthly meetings (ongoing)

Organized a training for parents with Tracy Castro-Gill (2019). See presentation slides here.

Secured funds for books in the library about race and equity (2019)

Organized a community potluck to celebrate the many cultural heritages at JSIS (2020)

Organized a performance of "Me Llamo Celia, My Name is Celia" for the students by Book It Repertory Theater (2019)

Created space for parents to discuss the issues in the play and how to use the story as a conversation starter about race (2019)

Celebrated Juneteenth and showed solidarity with the BLM movement by organizing a protest and support sign mural at JSIS (2020; 2021)

Compiled and sent information and at-home activities for families in support of the Year of Purpose lessons at school (2020-21)

Worked with JSIS staff to create better messaging for kids that can be used at school and at home (ongoing)

Organized an all-school online assembly featuring Delbert Richardson's American History Traveling Museum: Unspoken Truths (2021)

Developed and promoted a JSIS Anti-racism Pledge (2021)

Are organizing affinity and support groups (in progress)

Are educating ourselves and others about district and school policies and procedures related to racialized harassment, bullying, and hate speech (ongoing)

Where can I find resources to talk to my kids about race?

These sites have excellent resources for talking to kids about race:
1. Embrace Race (webinars and reading)
2. Learning for Justice (reading)
3. BLM Year of Purpose (curriculum and resources)
4. We Need Diverse Books (book lists and links to reading)

Podcasts:
1. Nice White Parents, Episode 1
2. Code Switch: The Kids are Alright

Check out the JSIS Anti-racism Pledge resource list

See also the BLM Year of Purpose parent support documents

What is RET?

RET stands for Racial Equity Team. It is an SPS-organized, teacher-led group. The Parent RE Task Force regularly communicates with JSIS RET.

From the SPS website:

"The goal of the implementation of Racial Equity Teams is to support a school-led effort to create a strong, sustainable and effective Racial Equity Team to advance racial equity by:

Aligning with District-wide efforts to implement the "Ensuring Educational and Racial Equity" Policy to eliminate racial disproportionality in graduation and discipline rates,

Building capacity among principal, teachers, staff, and students in transforming school policies and practices,

Strengthening the voices and participation of students, families and community to inform school policies, practices and procedures."

See the SPS RET webpage for more information.

Is there a race and equity curriculum at JSIS?

In the 2019-20 school year, SPS implemented ethnic studies across k-12. The curriculum was informal. Each teacher could use their own discretion in lesson planning and were only required to do one lesson a month.

In the 2020-21 school year, JSIS adopted the Black Lives Matter at School: Year of Purpose. In its first year, the curriculum was outlined by the Year of Purpose organizers, with themes and principles highlighted throughout the school year. Teachers used their own discretion in how they presented these lessons to their students. The Parent Race Equity Task Force formed a small workgroup of parents to prepare information and activities for parents to talk about and build upon the lessons from school. See the BLM Year of Purpose parent support documents.

How can I show my support and get involved?

Create and seize opportunities to talk with your kids about race and equity

Take the JSIS Anti-racism Pledge!

Join our mailing list for meeting reminders and announcements

Attend our monthly community meetings (first Mondays at 6:30PM during the school year)

Help out with projects and events

Participate in events and activities

Join an affinity or support group (TBA - reach out if you're interested)

Let the PTSA know you support funding race and equity

We have monthly meetings each first Monday of the month during the school year. Meetings are on Zoom for the foreseeable future - see meeting announcements in eNews. All are welcome!

Anti-racism Pledge

I pledge to support the mission of the JSIS Parent Race & Equity Task Force - to challenge, interrupt, and dismantle racism, bias, and white supremacy; promote racial equity; and ensure that JSIS provides a safe and nurturing space for all students, parents, staff, and other members of the school community - and will participate in the following activities to promote anti-racism at JSIS: