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Belonging and Inclusion in Identity Safe Schools: A Guide for Educational Leaders

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Lead an identity safe learning community where students of all backgrounds thrive Students of all backgrounds reach their full potential when they feel a sense of belonging and inclusion. When their social identities are valued as assets rather than barriers to learning, they flourish. This guide provides evidence-based strategies that support you as a leader in creating an environment that promotes identity safe students, who experience a challenging curriculum that respects their diverse social identities. Features in the book  

304 pages, Paperback

Published September 8, 2021

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Becki Cohn-Vargas

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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
1 review
September 9, 2021
We are living in an age in which a self-righteous and well-funded minority of adults on certain school boards, on certain PTAs, and in certain legislative bodies are punching down on certain children who don’t fit the model of what they consider to be the “real American.”

With cult like fervor they are invading board meetings, protesting, and legislating in order to preserve a status quo that doesn’t even benefit their own children; and what’s worse is that it deprives minority children of their humanity.

What are fair-minded, egalitarian teachers, parents, and school administrators to do when confronted with so much willful ignorance, noisy disinformation, and depraved cruelty?

How do we fight back? More than that, how do we advance our schools forward and make them safe places for all of our children to thrive, to love learning, and to grow as individuals?

We might consider starting by reading, Belonging and Inclusion in Identity Safe Schools, which succinctly describes the difficulties that minority students have faced — and continue to face — in American schools; provides the words and concepts that enable us to name and describe the difficulties and their causes; and provides realistic and workable solutions and approaches to education that will, in time, make schools safe for all children.

As an activist for racial and gender justice I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is determined to change education and build a society in which every human being is honored for who they are, and in which there are no longer artificial, systemic, cisgender white supremacist barriers to being fully and successfully human in schools, and in all facets of society.
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August 18, 2021
Based on a robust foundation of researched evidence and theory, and embracing ‘targeted universalism’, ‘Belonging and inclusion in identity safe schools’ offers specific strategies for achieving systemic equity in schooling. The emphasis is on disrupting racism, but the integrative approach supports identity safety and enhanced belonging for a range of diverse student identities, and incorporates trauma-informed practices. Pathways toward transformative change are clearly set out for school leaders, teachers, families and the community, across planning and assessment, and within school-wide systems. A unique blueprint for joyfully celebrating social identities as an asset rather than a barrier, equitably valuing all identities, and for affording voice and influence to diverse members of the school communities is presented. Importantly, the organic nature of identity is respected and the capacity of school leaders in creating identity safe spaces where ongoing conversation between and understanding of richly diverse identities can be fostered is foregrounded. In this powerful work the authors urge us to face up to the uncomfortable truth that schools may not always be identity safe spaces, and offer great hope for a positive and practical way forward.
1 review
September 4, 2021
Joan Korenblit, Executive Director
Respect Diversity Foundation
Author of Language Arts Through Writing

Belonging and Inclusion in Identity Safe Schools: A Guide for Educational Leaders is an extraordinary book that should be read by teachers of all grade levels throughout the United States and beyond. Time is long overdue for this book that explains many of the inequalities in all areas of our institutions, from education to housing to incarceration…. The authors make clear how investment in a more inclusive society results in benefits for all people. I commend the authors!
1 review
September 10, 2021
Belonging... is brave, bold and brilliant! Asking "How will each of us contribute to racial justice and educational equity now?" What are ways that each of us have intrinsically adapted behaviors that perpetuate the dysfunction of our society into the shaping of our children? Taking a systems approach to transform school culture in addressing the well-being of the whole child, every child, Belonging... unfolds a powerful strategy to guide us through the process. This is so fundamental to our healthy survival as interdependent beings. A must read, a restorative practice!

Christina JS
4 reviews
September 9, 2021
The third book in the series shows these educators are right on track! Further delving into Identity Safety is what we need. School Leaders should feel emboldened with this guide to lead their schools into a new era that honors diversity instead of the assault on critical race theory. Our children need to feel the full breadth of identity and not see it as a bad word like the far right is trying to do. Pick up this book today!
7 reviews
September 20, 2021
I applaud the authors’ focus on identity safety in the school community. Their approach celebrates and embraces unity in diversity. The identity safe approach goes beyond creating a physically safe school to addressing an emotionally safe school community. In an identity safe school, students embrace being themselves and can truly belong rather than try to fit into a stereotypical mold. The book's examples clarify what is unconscious “othering” and color blind behavior versus identity safe practices. This book is for everyone in the school community who cares enough to take action to influence a school's culture both in and outside of the classroom.

The book's formatting is so user-friendly. The format allows the school educator/ leader to go directly to the area their school wants to focus on for improvement. After reading Chapter One, which presents their approach and philosophy, the reader has the tools needed to use this book to focus on specific changes they want to implement and go directly to the chapter that speaks to race, religion, gender, etc., issues.
Each chapter addresses why a specific issue matters, followed by concrete examples of how to implement change. The talking points and questions for self-reflection add depth to the tools being taught to create identity-safe schools. Masterfully written for practical application!
Reviewed by Sue Tarr, Educator, Author
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews

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