Equitable School Culture
Upon returning to school in-person during the pandemic, I was highly concerned about our students’ response to the cultural impact of events like the murder of an innocent Black man, the shooting of Jacob Blake, and other acts of violence against the Black community. I aimed to reassure students of color that Oshkosh North High School was a safe space and proposed the idea of visual signage throughout the school as a tangible expression of our stand against hatred. Collaborating with a group of teachers, we presented our purpose and goal to the Oshkosh Area School District Directors of Curriculum and Instruction, successfully securing approval for and installation of the signs. Despite some controversy, I believe the initiative ultimately helped students identify safe spaces in the building for support.
I volunteered my time to produce marketing and documentary materials for the Black Student Union of Oshkosh North. In my capacity as an urban educator, I was cognizant of a rural district’s disregard for diversity and desired to draw attention to a cohort of exceptionally talented yet often marginalized students.
