Impact
Equity + Inclusion at MƒA
At MƒA, we believe that equity and inclusion should play a visible role in all STEM professional learning experiences. We’ve created and are implementing a comprehensive, long-term equity and inclusion plan.
Course Catalog
Each semester MƒA’s course catalog provides many options for teachers who want to take workshops with an explicit focus on issues of equity and inclusion in the classroom. These courses directly address the needs of students of color, transgender and gender-expansive students, students with disabilities, or students who are English Language Learners. These courses and affinity groups also support the unique challenges faced by educators who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); educators within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community; and white anti-racist allies.
In the 2022-23 school year, MƒA offered more than 125 professional development courses focused on topics of equity and inclusion in the classroom.
Equity Advisory Committee
MƒA has an Equity Advisory Committee that includes MƒA Master Teachers and staff. The committee meets several times each year to discuss goals for equity and inclusion at MƒA, review data related to these goals, and advise MƒA on improving existing practices and developing new initiatives.
MƒA’s equity goals are inspired by the New York State Culturally Responsive- Sustaining Education Framework. At MƒA we aim to foster a teacher-centered learning environment by:
- Attracting and affirming multiple expressions and types of diversity, including but not limited to: race, gender, family structure, age, ability, religion, sexual orientation, class, school type, culture, geography, years of teaching experience, and political beliefs
- Developing teachers’ abilities to connect across differences
- Empowering teachers as agents of positive systemic change to serve all NYC students
- Supporting teachers’ engagement, learning, growth, and empowerment
The Equity Advisory Committee grew over time to 17 teachers and five staff members during the 2022-2023 school year, convening seven times throughout 2022-2023.
Equity and Inclusion Report | 2022-2023
This report summarizes MƒA’s progress toward prioritizing and building on diversity and the Equity Advisory Committee’s contributions to these efforts throughout the 2022-2023 school year. Highlights include:
- Engagement in Equity and Inclusion Courses: More than 75% of MƒA teachers attended at least one MƒA professional development course focused on equity and inclusion, and almost 50% of those teachers attended two or more equity and inclusion courses throughout the school year.
- Facilitation by Teachers of Color: More teachers of color led professional development (PD) courses than ever before. 43% of MƒA teachers who led PD courses identified as teachers of color compared with 40% of the overall MƒA teacher community. 25% of MƒA teachers leading PD courses identified as Black or Hispanic, compared with 24% of the overall MƒA teacher community.
- Recruitment of a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Cohort of Teachers: 45% of new Master Teachers accepted into MƒA in the fall of 2023 identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Middle Eas
Workshop Spotlight
“MƒA seeks to ensure that dedicated and talented teachers stay in the classroom and engage in high quality professional learning opportunities to improve learning outcomes for all students. The only way to reach all students is to ensure teachers are considering equity in their instruction. The only way to ensure the most qualified applicants are being awarded fellowships is to ensure equitable access to the application process. In short, dedication to equity is dedication to high quality education.”
Members of the Equity Advisory Committee help to refine a shared definition for MƒA and provide feedback on action plans designed to foster an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all MƒA teachers.