AALT members participate in diversity training

On February 14^th, members of the Administrative Assistant Leadership Team (AALT) participated in a work session focused on equity. Each year the group seeks out a professional development opportunity that is important in their positions. This year the sub-committee, led by Christy Price and Sara Moore, reached out to fellow employee, Effie Triol, to share her knowledge and expertise on this topic. In Effie’s role as a K-4 Literacy Coordinator, she has gained experience providing equity training to teachers and paraeducators working in school districts; this was her first time adapting the content for ESD 112 staff not working directly with children.

Effie led the group through several exercises to help them better understand the importance of learning names and how a person’s name is directly tied to their identity. Time was also spent identifying and defining common terms centered around equity and diversity to ensure the group was speaking the same language. The group discussed the difference between equal and equitable and worked through scenarios to identify areas of discrimination and barriers that may exist to ensuring inclusion and equity. The exercises also introduced the group to Implicit vs. Explicit biases and strategies to help recognize and eliminate them.

Team members felt the training was very informative and provided useful tools to help them respond to and prevent discriminatory practices that may occur at work or in their personal lives. The introductory training also helped the group learn about the negative impacts of stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination and gender bias when not addressed. They plan to continue the conversation surrounding equity and diversity in their next planned training on the importance of talking to children about race and diversity. While most participants felt that fully understanding how to provide equity in the workplace is an ongoing learning process, they left this initial conversation the desire and resources needed to speak up and hold the difficult conversations necessary to make a difference.