04/20/2021
From Pastor Shelly: An informative and helpful note from our next Olathe Superintendent of School by Dr. Brent Yeager. I thought there was some helpful information here for parents and grandparents as we support young people in our lives.
Olathe Staff,
As the country awaits the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, it’s important to remember that students, staff, and families across the country, and in our own community experienced trauma as the events unfolded last May. These events don’t rest in the community; they permeate into our classrooms and schools because they impact our students and our staff. It is incumbent upon us to be proactive and not only address the issues leading up to today, but to also be prepared once the verdict is rendered.
Educating for citizenship means addressing societal issues in our classroom because they touch all of our students, albeit in different ways. If our goal is to bring peace to our world, we must equip our students. We do this by empowering them in our classrooms. It is important that we as a district remain committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for ALL students, free from discrimination, hate, and racism.
In order to continue creating spaces that are safe for all students, here are some things you can do to help students navigate these complex issues in your classroom:
1. Check in on students, practice empathy, and listen deeply. Ask students how they are doing, what their worries are, and listen intently. If they choose not to respond, refrain from probing questions. Listen with the intent to understand, not with the intent to respond. Each of us can learn from the experiences of our students.
2. Engage in family participation. Have open conversations with families about the impact Floyd’s death and the trial might be having on their children. Allow the parents to help lead in how to care for their children (Hurst, 2016). Partnering with parents not only will help us better tend to student’s needs, but also to build better relationships with our families.
3. Engage students in meaningful dialogue. Share what we know, and help students fill in gaps in their understanding and address misinformation. Ask them where they are getting their information, and guide them to reliable news sources. Explicitly acknowledge the trial and the impact it might have on them individually, their peers, the larger community, and the nation.
4. Give students a chance to reflect. Some guiding questions may include: What have you heard about what’s happening? How are you feeling about what happened? How did what you heard or saw affect you? What are some possible solutions to these long-standing issues in our society? What role can we play in correcting injustices? For younger learners, it may be helpful to have them journal, draw pictures, or play with calming devices.
5. Cultivate stories of resilience. Every family has stories of resilience. Let’s cultivate those stories. Let’s listen, and let’s move now with compassion and empathy.
6. Commit to life-long learning. Keep reading, listening, and learning to find ways to support all of our students. Often times, our kids have answers.
Students may feel distracted or disengaged from school as a result of the events surrounding the trial. While our opinions aren’t always the same, it’s important to check in on each other. Suspend judgment and instead care for their emotional needs. Offer grace and flexibility while providing them opportunities to connect with adults who care about them.
Just as importantly, look out for yourself and each other. These times are not just trying for our students, but for each of us as well. We have a chance to be strong role models in how we handle this situation.
Thank you for all you do!
-Brent
Dr. Brent Yeager
Assistant Superintendent for Learning Services
Olathe Public Schools
913-780-8132
