What Works?
Identifying Educator Behaviors that Support Equity in Schools.
The Institute for Liberatory Innovation is Vermont-based non-profit organization.
We develop ways for more people thrive more peacefully in schools, communities and organizations.
In K-12 schools, we support educators in ensuring that all children thrive and learn, and behave in ways that allow other children to thrive and learn.
This project asks the question, what educator behaviors have worked to make that possible ?
The goal of this research is to identify specific practices that educators can apply in their daily interactions to to increase thriving for all students, as who they are, and who they are becoming.
We want to learn from students and educators who have,
experienced inequity based on who they understand themselves to be (their ‘social identity’), and
experienced educator behaviors that changed that inequity, making it more possible for them to thrive and learn in school, and behave in ways that others could do the same.
If you are a student (16 or older), recent high school graduate, or the parent of a student of any age, or an educator who shares this experience, we would be grateful to hear your story.
Participant Information
Before you choose to participate in this project, here are some things we want you to understand:
You may participate as part of a focus group, or confidential interview, or both. In each case, the conversation will begin with the question, “What have educators done that has helped you thrive as who you understand yourself to be?”
All focus group conversations and interviews will be recorded, and that recording will be digitally transcribed. Under no circumstances will anyone except project researchers will see those transcriptions. Your name will not appear on the transcript or in any documentation of the project. Both the recording and transcription will be destroyed within one year of completing the project.
Interviews
Interviews will be conducted by ILI Director, Lucinda Garthwaite, Ed.D or Senior Research Associate Summer Pennell, Ph.D.
Your interview participation and responses will be confidential, known only to the interviewer and an ILI research associate who assists with transcript analysis.
Interviews will take place on Zoom. After you schedule an interview time, you’ll receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link.
To schedule an interview: Click the “Schedule an Interview” button to sign up for an interview time that works for you. If none of these times work for you, please email us by clicking the “Email Us” button.
We need your informed consent before an individual interview. Participants under 18, who would like to participate in an interview, will need informed consent and permission from a parent or guardian. Once you schedule an interview, we will send you an email to remind you.
Circles
Circles will be facilitated by ILI Director, Lucinda Garthwaite, Ed.D, and may have another adult present.
Circles are groups of students who choose to come together to share positive experiences about educator behavior that has helped them thrive. In a circle, each participant has an opportunity to answer, or choose not to answer, each question, without response from other participants.
Circles are not confidential. While participants will be asked not to tell each others stories outside of the group, there is no way to ensure those stories will not be repeated.
Circles will be organized through the school, and do not require informed consent.
Do you have other questions?
Please click the “Email us” button to ask about the project, or call Lucinda Garthwaite at 802-522-9129.
To learn more about the Institute for Liberatory Innovation, click the “Learn more about the ILI” button.
About the ILI, Washington Central Unified Union School District, and Central Vermont Career Center:
The ILI is a Vermont-based, federally recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
The ILI and the Washington Central Unified Union School District share a collaborative learning partnership, and the ILI provides paid services to the district.
The ILI provides Equity Scholar in Residence services to WCUUSD and CVCC.
This research project is the sole responsibility of the Institute for Liberatory Innovation. WCUUSD and CVCC bear absolutely no costs, responsibilities or authority for this project.
WCUUSD and CVCC have consented to allow the ILI to do outreach for this project with district educators.
The ILI Equity Scholars in Residence at WCUUSD and CVCC may assist with outreach, but they do not have any other role in this project.
Results of this project may be applied in the future to study the impact of the ESR model in schools.
The ILI will share summarized results of this research publicly, but will not share any information that would identify participants or associate specific participants with results.