What does APIDA stand for?

The term “APIDA” stands for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American. This word encompasses:

• East Asia
• South Asia
• Southeast Asia
• The Pacific Islands of:
  • Melanesia
  • Micronesia
  • Polynesia

There are over 45 countries in the APIDA category!

When to use the term APIDA

Remember that “APIDA” covers a wide range of countries, cultures and peoples. Because this term is so broad, take care to use specific names when referring to a group of people or country.

So, be specific whenever possible. Use specific ethnic identifies such as the Hawaiian Islands or South Korea, when you can.

If you’re referring to people with varying APIDA ethnicities, then you can use “APIDA” or “AAPI”.

Other names for APIDA

The acronyms “APIDA” and “AAPI” are great examples of how language, acronyms and terminology can change over time.

AAPI, which stands for Asian American Pacific Islander, was the most common Asian acronym in the 1990s. But as of 2010, “APIDA” has taken its place as a more inclusive term.

Both AAPI and APIDA are acceptable to use. But, keep in mind that APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) is more inclusive. The term “Desi” specifically recognizes South Asians and South Asian Americans.

Some people in the AAPI/APIDA community also prefer to use Asian American.

When in doubt, just ask what their preferred identifier!

A word to avoid

The term “Oriental” is another example of how terminology changes over time. In the past, before the 1970s, this term was an acceptable way to describe people of Asian descent.

Now, the word stirs up a lot of stereotypes about Asia. It’s associated with being exotic, mysterious and dangerous. These associations say that Asians will always be perpetual foreigners in the West. Even if they were born in a western country and consider it home.

In his book, titled Orientalism, Edward Said said that the term “Oriental” divides the West and the East. This word puts the West as being superior over the inferior and undeveloped East.

This word is no longer acceptable and you should avoid it. As educators, we have a job to help all students feel safe in the classroom. This starts with removing offensive words from our speech.

How to teach APIDA Month in the classroom

Not sure how to begin teaching APIDA Heritage Month in the classroom? We’ve got some tips to help you start!

The great thing about learning how to teach APIDA Heritage Month is that these tips aren’t limited to just the APIDA community. You can apply these suggestions whenever you teach about cultural diversity. It’s not limited to APIDA Month!

1) Be respectful

Firstly, adopt a nonjudgmental and accepting tone towards different ways of life. In particular, don’t laugh or mock cultural practices that you’re unfamiliar with.

When you use a sensitive and respectful approach, your Asian American students will feel cultural pride. Additionally, your respectful attitude will teach everyone else to be respectful as well.

You’ll create a culturally-responsive classroom environment that respects everyone!

2) Acknowledge your limitations

The APIDA community is too large to cover in a short amount of time – but don’t feel bad about it!

Just remember to let your class know that you can’t cover all the APIDA cultures and heritages in the time you have with them. This way, your APIDA students will not feel left out or forgotten if you don’t get to their country and culture.

Encourage your students to use the resources below to continue studying on their own time!

3) Encourage kindness and curiosity

There is nothing wrong with teaching your students to be curious about other cultures. However, emphasize to them that they must be respectful when asking questions about a culture they’re unfamiliar with.

Let them know that if they ask an insensitive question or accidentally offend someone, saying “I’m sorry” is always a good response. This can also be a good time to learn why something is offensive if the one offended wants to share. Just remind everyone that they shouldn’t push someone they’ve hurt to explain if the offended one don’t want to.

How to not teach APIDA Heritage Month in the classroom

It’s important to know how to guide discussions about diversity. Here are three things to avoid when discussing APIDA Heritage Month.

1) Do not appropriate culture

Cultural appropriation happens when a member of a dominant group mocks, mimics, adopts, or steals parts of another culture with less social power. This is usually done in an exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way.

For instance, when you teach about Asian cultural wear, don’t tie up your hair with chopsticks. And avoid putting your hands together in a namaste pose. Not all Asian people put their hands together when they greet each other!

• Check out this article by NPR.org that explains how the West has commodified the word namaste!

If you’re unsure if you are appropriating something, ask yourself if you’re being respectful or if people of the culture would be offended. Very Well Mind has a great list of questions to ask yourself to avoid cultural appropriation!

2) Do not mimic accents

Mimicking accents enforces a belief that there is a correct way to speak English and that most Asians speak English incorrectly. Accents are a result of someone learning a foreign language and you should be respectful of that.

Rather than copying an accent, discuss with your class why speaking like that is harmful. Even within the Asian and Asian American community, accent mocking is an issue that many community members are trying to move away from. Throwaway, or casual, racism like this causes real damage for Asian community members.

3) Do not generalize

When you start saying things like “The entire APIDA community is…” or “Every Pacific Islander does…” or “All Japanese Americans like…”, you start heading into a place of generalizations and stereotypes. There isn’t a singular “APIDA experience” so avoid making statements like these.

Sweeping generalizations will teach your class that it’s acceptable to enforce stereotypes and ignore the complexities within this community. Avoid doing this to create a healthy discussion around diversity in the classroom.

What to teach during APIDA Heritage Month

Not sure where to start when it comes to talking about cultural diversity in the classroom? We’ve got you covered! Keep reading to learn how you can bring APIDA Heritage Month to your class.

Origins of APIDA Heritage Month

First, you can tell your class about the history of APIDA Heritage Month and where it started:

In 1992, New York Congressman Frank Horton introduced a bill to name May as APIDA Month. His actions were motivated by Jeanie Jew, a former staffer on Capitol Hill.

Jeanie Jew had the idea to celebrate Asian Pacific Americans after she noticed the lack of Asian representation in the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial celebrations.

Jew’s great-grandfather, M.Y. Lee, was one of many Chinese immigrants in the 1800s. These immigrants helped build the Transcontinental Railroad and impacted American history. Jew knew it was only right to acknowledge their work.

Unfortunately, Mr. Lee was killed during a period of violent anti-Chinese and anti-Asian sentiment. Mr. Lee’s story and the stories of other Asian Americans motivated Jeanie Jew to push for a week of Asian celebration. This week was meant to:

• Celebrate the impact Asians have had on American history
• Encourage other Asian Americans to learn about their heritage

After years of advocating and gathering support, Jeanie Jew’s campaign was a success. May 4 became the starting day for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. This week commemorates two significant events:

1. The arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. on May 7, 1843.
2. The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869.

On May 7, 1990, President Bush declared the entire month of May to be Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

Later on, the name was changed from Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Month.

Breaking down stereotypes

Next, discuss the Asian student stereotypes.

Growing up, many Asian Americans will have heard many harmful Asian academic stereotypes. Asian students are supposedly good at math and science; they always go to the top colleges – the list goes on and on.

Asian people are not predisposed to being smarter than others and this belief places pressure on Asian students. As a result, these students feel like they can’t reach out for academic support and mental health help.

To make matters worse, these stereotypes only refer to East Asian students – people of Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, or Chinese origin. As a result, South Asian, Southeast Asian, or Pacific Islander struggles are swept under the massive rug that is the APIDA umbrella.

Make sure to carefully explain this to your class. What you may think is a compliment to an Asian student, actually does more harm than good!

Important and influential APIDA figures

Finally, finish your lesson with a discussion about influential APIDA people!

You can discuss notable APIDA and AAPI figures in any class you sub for. There are important Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islanders in every field!

NPS.gov has a detailed list of several important Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals.

If you’d like a longer list, check out Ongig’s blog of over 175 famous APIDA people.

Important resources

The discussion around the APIDA community doesn’t have to end when May ends or when class ends! Encourage your class to check out some of these interesting APIDA resources:

• The New York Public Library has an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage reading list for all ages.
• The Poetry Foundation has a poetry list highlighting Asian American voices.
• Many life-changing items were invented by APIDA scientists and inventors. Ideas.ted.com’s list features 8 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders whose inventions have saved lives.
• History, tradition, and beauty collide in APIDA cultural clothing. Who What Wear covers some traditional dress-wear but remember that this is not a complete list!
• APIA Scholars is a scholarship for APIDA high school seniors about to enter their first year of college. The scholarship money ranges from $2,500 to $20,000 awards.
• For more information on why “Oriental” is a racist term: Check out We Are Resonate’s blog on the ugly history of the word and why it’s offensive.

Half the fun of APIDA Heritage Month is the fact that there’s so much to learn and enjoy. There’s always something new to discover in this vast community. Additionally, it’s great to know that you can help your APIDA students feel respected.

Black History Month’s 2022 theme

Did you know that the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has given each Black History Month a theme since 1928?

This year, the theme is Black Health and Wellness!

This theme acknowledges the success and legacies of Black scholars and medical practitioners, in Western and African medicine and health. Follow along to see how you can bring racial equality to the classroom!

Celebrating and teaching Black History Month in the classroom

You can begin celebrating Black history into any class you’re subbing for. Yes, even math class!

Black History Month may only be 28 days long but the education doesn’t have to stop when February ends. You can keep incorporating Black history into your lessons and discussions beyond Black History Month!

Talk to your students about Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, the fight for civil rights, and emphasize to your students that racism didn’t end with the civil rights act of 1964.

Don’t just stop there! Continue talking about Black peoples’ contribution to society. You can include important Black figures into your everyday discussions and lessons.

First, tell your students about your favorite poem, book, or short story written by prolific Black authors. Then, talk to your math class about sub-Saharan Africa’s early mathematics. Next, tell your young scientists about Black innovators and engineers who have changed the face of science as we know it.

As an educator, you can make sure that your students understand and value the importance of Black contributions to society.

How to not teach Black History Month

Established in the 1920s, Black History Month originally started out as a week-long celebration. It was extended to a month in 1976 and has chiefly become an opportunity for students to learn about the history and achievements of African Americans.

Unfortunately, some lessons reduce this month to just a few forgettable exercises. Educators forget to fully explain the significance of this month to curious students.

Here are some things to not do when teaching Black History Month!

Don’t:

Focus only on famous and well-known Black people

This may tell your students, especially your Black students, that the only Black people worth knowing are the famous ones. Many African Americans have contributed to society, but many of these contributions have gone unnoticed or forgotten.

You can start with Biography’s list of 5 forgotten African Americans!

Commit cultural appropriation

Cultural appropriation is when a member of a dominant group mocks, mimics, adopts, or steals parts of another culture with less social power. This is usually done in an exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way.

For example, when you teach your students about Black hairstyles, do not come to class wearing a Black hairstyle if you are not Black.

Not sure if you are appropriating something? Ask yourself: are you being respectful? Or will you offend someone? Very Well Mind has a great list of questions to ask yourself to avoid cultural appropriation!

Generalize

Don’t say things like, “All African Americans…” or “Every Black person…” because the experiences of being Black in America and in the world vary from person to person.

This is your opportunity to recognize your own biases, leave them behind and help your students do the same.

Substitutes typically do not have much say in the curriculum, lesson planning, or even classroom decoration. But you can create a safe and welcoming environment for all students you meet.

As you learn about Black stereotypes, remember that these harmful beliefs cause society to view African Americans as a threat – no matter what they’re doing. Start preventing stereotyping in each classroom you visit!

Teach with inaccurate information

A lot of books and resources white-wash and erase vital pieces of information from history to make it more appealing to a mass audience. When you find a resource, make sure to do your research before presenting it to your students.

Be afraid to say you don’t know the answer to a question

If a student asks a question you don’t know the answer to, tell them you don’t know. Don’t just make something up.

This could turn into a learning experience and you can search the question up online together!

Avoid difficult discussions

This is a time to acknowledge the pain that racism has inflicted on the Black community. While it’s important to also talk about the positive things within the Black community, you should also acknowledge that being Black is not easy. Encourage having those hard, but respectful conversations!

Above all, treat this subject with respect, care, and compassion to show your students the importance of mindfully approaching this month.

Influential Black figures who’ve contributed to health and wellness

In school, we’ve all learned at least once about Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, Harriet Tubman, Thurgood Marshall, and more famous figures from the Black community. Instead of repeating the same lesson that’s heard in schools everywhere, introduce your students to three other influential Black Americans!

In keeping with ASALH’s Black History Month theme, all these iconic figures have contributed to the

health, wellness, and preservation of Black lives everywhere.

Onesimus

When smallpox hit Massachusetts in the 1700s, panic followed. This sickness was highly contagious and killed hundreds at a time. Historians state that few diseases at this time were “as universal or fatal”.

Onesimus was an enslaved West African man during this time. In 1716, Onesimus told his slave master that he had contracted smallpox, but survived it! He said that an operation kept him safe.

This operation was similar to modern-day vaccines. Onesimus gained protection against the disease by exposing himself to a sick patient. This exposure then activated the body’s immune system and could protect him against the disease.

Onesimus’ master heavily promoted this operation to society. By 1721, society had started mass inoculation efforts against smallpox.

Unfortunately, it’s unclear if Onesimus ever saw the success of his suggestion. However, his suggestion set the stage for vaccinations, saving millions of lives in the process!

Doctor Alexa Irene Canady

Dr. Canady graduated from the University of Michigan’s medical school in 1975. From there, she became the first Black woman in the U.S. to work in pediatric neurosurgery. She focused on helping patients mostly under 10 years old.

From 1987 to 2001, Dr. Canady served as the chief of neurosurgery at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan before she retired in June of 2001. In 2001, Detroit News named her Michiganer of the Year!

Doctor Mae C. Jemison

Dr. Jemison, born in Alabama in 1956, earned her M.D. from Cornell University Medical College. Afterwards, she entered the United States’ astronaut training program. She was one of 15 people accepted and also the first Black woman to be admitted.

On September 12, 1992, she became the first African American woman to enter space on the crew of the Endeavor!

Influential institutions promoting Black health and wellness

Celebrating Black History Month doesn’t just mean focusing on Black trailblazers!

In addition to celebrating the stellar people who have promoted Black health and wellness, teach your students about organizations and institutions that have pushed for greater access to healthcare!

The Freedmen’s Hospital

The Freedmen’s Hospital was founded in 1862 and is located in Washington, D.C.

It is the first hospital to ever provide care and medical treatment to former slaves and later it became a hospital for all African Americans in D.C.

Six years after it opened its doors, the Freedmen’s Hospital became a teaching hospital for the Howard University Medical School.

The Provident Hospital and Training School for Nurses

Emma Reynolds was denied admission from all of Chicago’s nursing schools because she was Black. As a result, her brother contacted Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, a respected Black surgeon, for help.

Even with his influence, Reynolds was still denied admission. So instead, they decided to open a nursing school for Black women. Once the Provident Hospital and Training School Association was created in 1891, Provident Hospital opened up its doors for Black students.

The National Medical Association

Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the National Medical Association (NMA) was founded in 1895 to provide representation for African American physicians and their patients in the United States.

Now, the NMA represents over 50,000 African American physicians and their patients. The institution is committed to improving the health of all minority and disadvantaged groups.

Black History is American History

It is important to note that Black success does not mean Black liberation from oppression. Remember that African Americans still suffer because of discrimination, racism, and harmful laws.

As an educator, knowing more about these issues helps you bring more representation and support! Students need someone to stand by them with important and necessary resources.

As you incorporate anti-racism into your teaching, remember that Black History Month doesn’t mean Black history disappears once March arrives. Every day is a good day to commemorate Blackness and dismantle our unconscious biases!

Resources for Black History Month and beyond

In short, it’s an honor to know that you can play a large role in helping Black students feel comfortable and valued. Continue celebrating Black History month and advance your anti-racism education by checking out our resources below!

Resources for BHM

Educate your class about important terms, definitions, the Pride Movement, and LGBTQ+ stories!

Teach the history of Pride Month

Learning more about how Pride Month started is a good way to start celebrating LGBTQ+ communities.

Pride Month is commemorated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City.

Supporters of the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, had staged a resistance against a police raid that was targeting LGBTQ+ Americans.

Protestors demanded that safe havens be established where LGBTQ+ people can be safely open about their sexual orientation without fear of arrest.

The Stonewall Riots paved the way for the modern fight to outlaw discriminatory laws against the LGBTQ+ community.

While the fight continues, Pride Month also includes celebratory parades, parties, workshops, concerts, and more.
You can structure a lesson on the Stonewall Uprisings just like you do with any important event or see how this high school lesson plan is built.

Highlight LGBTQ+ history

Many people questioned and broke the societal expectations of gender and sexuality yet are often hidden from traditionally taught history.

Utilize The Hidden Voices LGBTQ+ Project to teach students about individuals who influenced the social, political, artistic, and economic landscape in significant ways. It also includes an overview of U.S. LGBTQ+ history, sample focus questions, and comprehensive profiles of historical figures.

Unheard Voices is another amazing resource to use in middle school or high school. It’s an oral history and curriculum project that explores broad themes including silence vs. invisibility, and inclusion vs. exclusion.

Teach about all of the pride flags

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The rainbow flag that you might be familiar with first started with Harvey Milk.

Milk was the first openly gay person to hold a high public office in a major American city, in this case, San Francisco. His campaigning emphasized hope for young gay people, so he asked the artist Gilbert Baker to design a unifying symbol.

That symbol turned out to be the rainbow flag, which first debuted at the San Francisco Pride Parade in 1978.
In addition to the rainbow flag, there are flags for a wide range of sexual orientations and gender identities just like how different states have their own state flag.

Know the difference between sex, gender, and sexuality

Gender, sex, and sexuality are not interchangeable terms, so it’s important to know what each mean.

Gender: Refers to socially constructed characteristics of females and males, such as roles, behaviors, and norms.

Sex: “Refers to a person’s anatomy, physical attributes such as external sex organs, sex chromosomes and internal reproductive structures” (Learning For Justice).

Sexuality/ Sexual Orientation: “Our physical, emotional and/or romantic attractions to others” (Learning For Justice).

Gender Identity: “A person’s gender-related identity, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person’s physiology or assigned sex at birth. Everyone has a gender identity. Gender Identity is a person’s inner sense of being a man or a woman, some combination of both, or neither” (PBS Learning Media).

Learning For Justice has K-12 lesson plans to help teachers navigate the complex topics of gender and sexual identity with their class. The lessons cover topics such as privilege tied to certain identities and figuring out how to express your own identity.

To break away from girl/boy labels, use this lesson toolkit to host a gender-neutral day and have students question gendered spaces present throughout their time in school.

Be aware of pride definitions

LGBTQ+ is a common abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer or questioning. The term is often used to encompass all of the communities in LGBTTQQIAAP:

• Lesbian
• Gay
• Bisexual
• Transgender
• Transsexual
• Queer
• Questioning
• Intersex
• Asexual/ Ace
• Ally
• Pansexual

LGBTQ+ is often used because it’s user friendly.

For common terminology used to address sexual identity, gender expression, and gender identity, check out this list.

You can also view this Toolkit for Educators for more terms and resources to help educators promote understanding, awareness, and self-esteem in the classroom.

There are a LOT of terms and terms that are always evolving. Don’t stress about memorizing the entire list.

The most important thing is to be respectful of everyone’s identities and use the terms that people prefer.

Share the stories of LGBTQ+ people

A critical way to highlight underrepresented communities is to showcase individual voices. Celebrate Pride Month by sharing LGBTQ+ stories with your students.

We Are The Youth is an ongoing photojournalism project that shares the stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth in the United States.

I’m From Driftwood aims to help LGBTQ+ people learn more about their community through the power of sharing stories.

You can also include LGBTQ+ inclusive books into your curriculum. Getting Smart created a list of great books from preschool to high school.

We hope you utilize these suggestions and resources to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride with your students.

Helping students gain a better understanding of different communities builds empathy and allows LGBTQ+ students to feel safer and more affirmed in your classroom.

Start learning about Juneteenth and its cultural significance so you can celebrate it in your classroom this year!

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth, which is short for June Nineteenth, marks the day that U.S. federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas. They went to ensure that all enslaved African Americans were freed. Juneteenth is also the oldest celebration of the legal end of slavery in the United States.

Other names for Juneteenth are:

• Juneteenth Independence Day
• Freedom Day
• Emancipation Day
• Jubilee Day
• Cel-liberation Day
• Second Independence Day

The Emancipation Proclamation

On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This proclamation was to be enacted on January 1, 1863. It said that all enslaved people that seceded from the U.S. during the American Civil War were to be freed.

This meant that slaves in border states and states under Northern control were not to be freed.

While this proclamation paved the way for permanent abolition of slavery, it was not the sole reason slaves were freed.

Two and a half years later in 1865, the Union soldiers would have to take control of Galveston, Texas. This action would help free all remaining enslaved people.

How did Juneteenth start?

A year after 1865, newly freed Black people organized an annual celebration of “Jubilee Day” on June 19th in the state of Texas. These community oriented local celebrations included music, prayers, barbecues, traditional dress and other celebratory acts.

As Black people migrated out of Texas to other states, they carried the Juneteenth tradition with them. Soon African American communities and other communities throughout the U.S. were celebrating Juneteenth!

Fun fact: Texas was the first state to declare Juneteenth a holiday!

The Civil Rights movement

During the era of World War 2, Juneteenth celebrations largely declined as much of the public’s attention was on wartime efforts.

This changed during the Civil Rights movement, which spanned between the 1950s and 1960s. After Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968, his friend Ralph Abernathy led the Poor People’s March that summer.

This march ended in a giant Juneteenth celebration, which helped spread Juneteenth around the country.

How is Juneteenth honored today?

“Juneteenth, today, celebrates African-American freedom and achievement while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures.”

Juneteenth.com

Many hold family gatherings, some make a pilgrimage to Galveston, and some cities hold larger events like parades. Other typical activities include rodeos, fishing, barbecuing, and baseball.

For non-Black individuals, you can celebrate by supporting Black communities whether through buying food from Black-owned restaurants or donating to community organizations.

You can also educate yourself about Black history and social justice through books, shows, podcasts, and more.

Is Juneteenth a federal holiday?

Yes, it is!

There have been multiple attempts in the past to recognize Juneteenth as a national day of observance, also known as a federal holiday. Finally, on January 13, 2022, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law. Juneteenth is now an official holiday!

With this, the United States now has 12 permanent federal holidays.

Here at Scoot, we get the day off to celebrate Juneteenth and reflect on our nation’s history.

How can I celebrate Juneteenth in the classroom?

Black history is deeply engrained with American history and should be taught year-round. But Juneteenth is a great opportunity to emphasize this important historical event. This is an important time for teaching tolerance and acceptance that all students need to learn.

Here are some great, free resources to share with your students as you begin celebrating Juneteenth!

Videos to watch

• What is Juneteenth? – This Juneteenth Cartoon that goes over fun facts about this holiday including why it’s celebrated around the US.
• Juneteenth – All About the Holidays – PBS Learning Media created this short video to introduce kids to Juneteenth.
• Celebrating Juneteenth – Founding director of the National Museum of African American History & Culture, Smithsonian leads a tour through a Juneteenth exhibition.

Teaching resources to use

• Teaching Juneteenth – This blog of Juneteenth lessons provides frameworks to help educators both recognize challenges of fighting injustice and celebrate culture, activism, and humanity.
• Teaching Culture as Resistance – This grades 6-8 lesson plan addresses important questions surrounding what identity is and how society shapes it.
• Juneteenth – These grades 3-5 lesson plans cover how to describe different identities and respectfully learn about other peoples’ experiences.

The importance of teaching Juneteenth

It’s important to give your students the space to explore Juneteenth and the dark history of the United States. We need to learn from past mistakes and atrocities to ensure it never happens again.

While you don’t have to give the gruesome details of the horrors of slavery, you should tell your students that Juneteenth is not just an annual holiday. It’s also a day that many people have given their lives to see celebrated.

It’s also great to know that you can help your Black and African American students feel that they and their history is respected!

Diversity and inclusion have always been at the forefront of our minds. We’ve valued diversity and built our culture on it.

We haven’t been public about our efforts and promise to do so by publishing our new programs, initiatives, and contributions here on this page.

our diverse workforce

At Scoot, we have the honor of employing a diverse workforce. Approximately 32% of our substitute teachers identify as Black and a further 30% as a person of color. 50% of our office team are people of color. The school administrators and students we work with are just as diverse.

Are these steps below enough? No.

They’re just a start and you can expect more actions in the near and long term from us.

We want to be held accountable to our promises and continuously improve.

Below you’ll find some of the steps that we’re taking this year to become an even more diverse and equitable company.

diversity initiatives

Updating Our BE GREAT Values

Scoot believes that every student deserves a champion for their success, regardless of who they are. Equity is at the heart of this belief but we wanted to bring it to the forefront. Which is why we’ve decided to update our BE GREAT values.

We’ve changed the ‘E’ in BE to stand for “equity”. With this change, we’re reimagining how we can bring equity into everything we do. We value different perspectives and courageous conversations. And we’re committed to listening to feedback and implementing change based on it.

Our BE GREAT values have always guided us in our work and relationships. Now, we are proud to say that equity is one of those guiding values.

Becoming an Anti-Racist Educator Webinar

To better educate ourselves and our employees, we hosted a webinar on how to become an anti-racist educator.

Megan Nevels, an expert in anti-bias and positive school climate initiatives at K-12 schools shared tools to begin a journey towards anti-racism and empower us to incorporate them into teaching practices.

Juneteenth

We’ve decided Juneteenth is a holiday we’d like Scooters to celebrate, and we will be giving the day off in honor of the sacrifices of all involved in ending slavery.

We’re proud to join a growing list of companies honoring the day and hope to see it become a federally recognized holiday.

Mandatory Anti-Racism Training

Scoot’s anti-racism and racial awareness training will become a mandatory part of our teacher hiring process by January 2021.

Educators will learn:
• key terms and language related to anti-racism
• research on how racism shows up in education
• strategies to disrupt racism in learning spaces
• ways to respond to racist language and remarks
• how to best support colleagues of color in a school setting

Scoot Fund

We created a Scoot Fund for consultants to support students and classrooms who present an urgent need.

This idea was inspired by our education consultant, Maurice Green who met a student named Jayshawn while on a school visit. Jayshawn didn’t have a lunchbox or backpack because his single mother didn’t have enough money. Maurice grew up on the Southside of Chicago and resonated with Jayshawn’s story. So he sponsored a new backpack and lunchbox and hand-delivered the gifts to Jayshawn.

We want to empower our consultants to continue these acts of generosity whenever they see an urgent need.

Watch the webinar recording on “Moving Towards An Anti-Racist Teaching Practice For Non-Black Educators”

Get your workbook

What to expect on this webinar

This informational webinar is led by Megan Nevels, an expert in anti-bias and positive school climate initiatives at K-12 schools. She’ll share tools to begin a journey towards anti-racism, and empower you to incorporate them into teaching practices.

During the first 45-minutes of the webinar, Scoot educators will learn:

• key terms and language related to anti-racism
• research on how racism shows up in students, teachers, and classrooms as early as pre-school
• teaching strategies to disrupt racism in learning spaces
• ways to respond to racist language and remarks
• and how to best support colleagues of color in a school setting.

Following Megan’s presentation, we’ll close with an open discussion where educators can share experiences and ask questions.

Who should attend this anti-racism webinar

This webinar’s content is catered primarily to non-Black educators. We’ve heard from many Black colleagues that they are experiencing extreme grief and exhaustion during this time and that even being in mixed-race spaces right now is painful.

We understand racism is multi-faceted. Colorism is an aspect of racism and exists in communities of color. Therefore, we encourage all non-Black educators to attend this webinar to reflect, contribute, and learn from one another.

About the host, Megan Nevels

Megan Nevels is the Assistant Education Director at a leading civil rights organization, where she implements anti-bias and positive school climate initiatives at K-12 schools. A decade of leading theatre for social justice with young people led her to a career of training educators in arts integration, culturally competent curriculum, and anti-bias teaching. Prior to her current position, Megan developed successful year-long teacher training programs at the Skirball Cultural Center.

She is passionate about guiding participants through the self-reflective work of anti-racism and building the skills to disrupt systemic racism in every facet of life. Megan received her MFA in Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities at the University of Texas at Austin and received numerous local and national awards for her research.

Learn more about Scoot’s diversity initiatives

From before the creation of this movement to the future, the responsibilities of white and other non-Black individuals have remained the same.

Part of being a non-Black ally of the movement is acknowledging personal privileges and that we cannot fully understand the lived realities of our Black community. However, we should actively educate ourselves on the systemic racism Black people have faced and continue to face in this country.

In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist. – Angela Y. Davis

It is vital that we find ways to learn so we can use these lessons to inform our own behavior and biases not only in life but also within classrooms. ​ Below, you’ll find a compilation of many widely circulating resources that help us learn and do better.

Resources to educate yourself on black oppression & the Black Lives Matter Movement

-BOOKS TO READ-

There are a ton of books that break out of this country’s racist narrative and question deeply rooted beliefs of what we think America is. Read to better understand the conversation about racial justice and why it’s so important. Below is just a portion of the literature:

• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
• Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper
• Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
• How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
• Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults – The awards are given to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
• 31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance

-MEDIA TO WATCH-

Shows and movies are also great options to become more informed about the Black experience in America.

• Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap (Netflix) – Explained is a series by Vox that explores a wide range of topics. The Racial Wealth Gap is the last episode of season 1 that can help viewers better understand the concept of “white privilege.”
• Time: The Kalief Browder Story (Netflix) – A true-crime docuseries about the story of a teenager wrongfully charged with theft and jailed at Riker’s Island prison for over 1,000 days.
• When They See Us (Netflix) – A true-crime docuseries based on the Central Park jogger case where 5 teenage boys were wrongfully taken into a nightmarish interrogation and convicted of a crime they didn’t commit.
• 13th (Netflix) – A documentary analyzing the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom.
• Who Killed Malcolm X? (Netflix) – An insight into Malcolm X, his beliefs, and his mysterious death.
• Dear White People (Netflix) – A comedy-drama television series that follows several Black college students at an Ivy League institution, touching on issues surrounding modern American race relations.
• The Hate U Give (Hulu) – About a teenager who witnesses the fatal and wrongful shooting of her childhood friend by a cop and must decide whether or not to testify.
• If Beale Street Could Talk (Hulu) – A drama about a young couple fighting for justice in the name of love and the promise of the American dream.
• Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 (Available to rent) – Candid footage shot in the 1960s and 1970s focused on the anti-war and Black Power movements.
• Selma (Available to rent) – A historical drama based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams, Martin Luther King Jr., and John Lewis.
• Just Mercy (Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.) – A legal drama film about the true story of Walter McMillian, who, with the help of a young defense attorney, appeals his murder conviction.

-PODCASTS TO LISTEN TO-

Listen to the conversations and thoughts of great thinkers. It will always be important to talk less and listen more.

• Your Kickass Life podcast: episode 112 “On race, privilege, and what we can do” with Andrea Owen
• Unlocking Us podcast: “How to Be an Antiracist” with Brene Brown
• Momentum: A Race Forward podcast with Chevon and Hiba
• Scene on Radio: “seeing white” with John Biewen
• Pod for the Cause from the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights
• About Race with Anna Holmes, Baratunde Thurston, Raquel Cepeda and Tanner Colby
• 1619 with Nikole Hannah-Jones, a New York Times audio series
• Integrated Schools podcast:”Raising White Kids” with Jennifer Harvey
• Fare of the Free Child podcast with Akilah S. Richards

-ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW-

Stay in the know by following prominent figures and organizations in the Black community.

• Antiracism Center: Twitter
• Audre Lorde Project: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
• Black Women’s Blueprint: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
• Color Of Change: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
• Colorlines: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
• The Conscious Kid: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
• Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
• Families Belong Together: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
• The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
• United We Dream: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
• Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

-RESOURCES FOR PARENTS ON BLACK LIVES MATTER-

Having conversations with your kids about racism is tough and can get uncomfortable, but it’s vital to raise anti-racist kids amid the protests over police brutality.

• PBS’s Teaching Your Child About Black History Month
• Your Kid’s Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup from Pretty Good
• The Conscious Kid: follow them on Instagram and consider signing up for their Patreon
• Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults – The awards are given to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
• 31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance
• Integrated Schools podcast:”Raising White Kids” with Jennifer Harvey

Dear team,

After watching today’s news coverage and reflecting on the past week with others, I have come to regret that as a group we did not acknowledge the traumatic events that we all, but especially our black team members, have experienced this week. Events that bring into focus the inescapable racial divide that exists across America.

As you might as well; I feel anger and grief.

I realize that I’m writing this as a person who won the genetic lottery the day I was born. I was born white, male, and Australian. A combination that means I’ll never experience the type of systematic pressures that those in minorities will. While I am not a member of a minority, I am a member of our community which means that I am part of the problem but can also be part of the solution.

The rage we’re witnessing is, of course, no surprise. The motivations of the protests this week are numerous and overwhelming. In just the past month there have been too many reasons to feel outrage to list. The murder of George Floyd was the match that ignited the tinder box.

While these tensions have existed for hundreds of years currently we are sadly living with and trying to navigate these injustices with a total lack of ethical, sympathetic, visionary, or even humble leadership. The result, in my opinion, is the amplification rather than de-escalation of anger and fear.

Everyone deserves to live without fear. Everyone deserves to live with opportunity and respect. We need to treat people equally and fairly, especially Black people who are so often and for so long have been treated so poorly.

Minorities need and deserve change. It’s all of our jobs to keep ourselves and especially our leaders accountable to deliver change. It starts with acknowledging the history of oppression and discrimination felt by Black and non-Black communities in America.

In terms of our common relationship – the work do we together at Scoot. What we’re seeing reemphasizes the importance of doing our work as well as we possibly can; because education is a key pathway to realizing change and compassion.

I’m under no false impression that our work will take many years to effect change. What can we do now? Honestly, I don’t know but I want your ideas. If you have ideas on initiatives, contributions, actions we can take now to help improve equality then I want to hear them. Simultaneously I recognize the privilege I enjoy as the head of Scoot and therefore my responsibility to lead how we can impact change; you should expect this from me.

I will finish by saying to those of you in our team who are Black and belong to other minorities; I am with you and I believe our whole team is with you. We love, care, and respect you. Please, please be safe and take care of your mental and physical health. If I or our company can help; please let me know.

We are here for each other,

James