In 2007, James Dierke, then the principal of the Visitacion Valley Middle School in a troubled neighborhood in San Francisco, was determined to improve both the quality of education and student behavior in his school. Principal Phys Ed: The Benefits of Exercising Before Breakfast, Dog Needs a Walk? Specifically, we must look at how it shows up in our own lives, in our personal relationships, in between school staff, and in our histories. Dr. Bettina Love writes in her book, We Want to Do More Than Survive, To even begin to attack our destructive and punitive educational system, pedagogies that promote social justice must help educators understand and recognize America and its schools as spaces of Whiteness, White rage, and White Supremacy, all of which function to terrorize students of color. (Love, 2019) It is imperative that we examine these deeply held beliefsboth conscious and unconsciousto build on top of a new set of habits, behaviors, and systems. The second pitfall I will offer is avoiding the tendency to externalize the work of dismantling White Supremacy Culture. That was crazy, Angelica, the student body president, said. I like to think of myself as a recovering perpetrator of WSC. View SFUSD's most recent athletics participation dataor past years' reports. Price: $759,000. White Supremacy Culture. Select Week, Month, or Agenda to see different views of the calendar. For a more complete list, see the 15 WSC characteristics from Tema Okun and Kenneth Jones in the 2001 Dismantling Racism Workbook. We needed to go deeper than our previous conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Homeowners' Insurance. During those times, students could either practice Transcendental It really is quiet time.. Students. They simultaneously tell us that we are not good enough and keep us to the bottom rungs of racial hierarchy if we do not assimilate. Known nationally for its innovative programs, teachers and students use technology, cross-curricular writing programs, and project- and standards-based instruction throughout the year. Consequently, "all other cognitive functions such as learning, problem solving, or creative thinking stop," (Hammond, 2015) activating our fight, flight, or freeze response. For instance, we might see folks making eye contact, leaning into conversations about racial identity, and asking probing questions. But Quiet Time is a relatively inexpensive intervention In the first year of Quiet Time suspensions at Visitacion Valley which has 500 students aged 11-13 were reduced by 45% (pdf). Visitacion Valley Middle Public 6-8 1971 Visitacion Ave. San Francisco, CA 94134-2700 (415) 469-4590 District: San Francisco Unified SchoolDigger Rank: 2320th of 2,740 California Middle Schools Per Pupil Expenditures: $6,103 Students who attend Visitacion Valley Middle usually attend: Feeder schools for Visitacion Valley Middle: The Standing Up for Racial Justice coalition defines White Supremacy Culture as "the idea (ideology) that white people and the ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions of white people are superior to those of People of Color." In their schools, the Quiet Time/Transcendental Meditation program is playing a key role in that breakthrough. Zestimate Home Value: $930,000. This organizational structure reflects a "school-within-a-school" concept and is designed to help students make a successful transition from the self-contained elementary classroom to the fully departmentalized, comprehensive high school setting. Visitacion Valley Middle School is a public school in San Francisco, California that is part of San Francisco Unified School District. Week 25 newsletter in different languages. White Supremacy Culture. Grades: 9-12. . Here are two pitfalls to avoid. Some of the work I am most proud of as a teacher and leader is building relationships with all community members to create a supportive and positive environment, as well as creating systems and using data to make informed decisions regarding instructional practices that lead to increased achievement for students. We must name, define, and plan for white fragility, the defensive response by whites when discussing racism. After the shooting, the usual culprits were blamed: guns, violent movies and video games, says Rice. Students are encouraged to use the time to meditate, but Dierke says students can simply clear their mind, think about schoolwork, or even sleep. In addition, Dierke said regular Quiet Time has also helped teachers relax. For a more complete list, see the 15 WSC characteristics from Tema Okun and Kenneth Jones in the 2001 Dismantling Racism Workbook. One does not have to be a white supremacist to hold these beliefs, because we have all been conditioned through exposure to media, parenting, schooling, and our interactions with power structures. We focus on equitable teaching practices and encourage student participation. The teacher has also seen dramatic transformations in his students. This 3-bedroom 3 bath Tri level home has a lot of character and with the right owner can be brought up to date. White Supremacy Culture also tricks us into thinking that if we change to fit a white model, we can be more valued but still never be white. Here are two pitfalls to avoid. The work to address racism in schools has been called cultural competency, diversity training, and equity. 2023 San Francisco Unified School District, Week 25 newsletter in different languages, Week 24 newsletter in different languages, Week 21 newsletter in different languages. 1. 3 Baths. This home last sold for $840,000 on Feb 2, 2021. In the first year of Quiet Time meditation, suspensions at Visitacion Valley were reduced by 45%. To do this, we use diverse staff resources and improve student access to high quality programs during the school day and in after-school programs. Our attendance is trending up significantly We used to have one of the highest suspension rates, now we have one of the lowest among all middle schools. $1,862. "Although authorities captured the person, parents could have demanded changes at the school," a statement from the principals' association said. Like most groups of educators, we had spent a few years dancing around topics of racism and struggled to make lasting change. Having served the past two years as Assistant Principal, VVMS is a community that I love and care for. WSC shuts down learning. Visitors are always amazed, Dierke said afterwards, but it works. Before the students learn to meditate, the Quiet Time programme requires all staff to be trained in TM. With the help of the David Lynch Foundation and the San Francisco-based Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education (CWAE), Visitacion Valley trained teachers on how to conduct Quiet Time sessions in their class. Angelica Mahinay, Visitacion Valleys 8thgrade student body president, said Quiet Time gives her more energy. White Supremacy Culture. My Only Regret Is That I Didnt Find This Practice Twenty Years Ago , Why I Learned Transcendental Meditation Three Years Ago And Why I Still Practice It , 6 Benefits Of Transcendental Meditation (And How You Can Get Started Today) , James Dierke, Principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School, urban students, drugs, gangs and violence, Newly published research on the effect of the Quiet Time/Transcendental Meditation program, MetLife/NASSP National Middle Level Principal of the Year. For over 10 years, Visitacion Valley Middle School has been utilizing Transcendental Meditation to help students address stress and improve focus. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. This leads to resistance or failure to follow through, maintaining a status quo of disproportionate outcomes for students based on race. 4 Beds. It is imperative that we examine our actions to see if they are further harming students of color, disempowering them, and creating a psychologically hostile learning environment. expanded to serve middle school children and grow with the kids it was already serving. It helps kids reduce anxiety and increase their ability to reason and concentrate., Principal Dierke said, as a result of Quiet Time, the schools image is changing. *The name of one student has been changed. In recent years however, Principal Dierke and a growing number of other educators have found a way to break the predictive power of demographics. A lot of the kids have deep anger issues or problems focusing, she says. In 2006 there were 38 killings in our neighbourhood, says Barry ODriscoll, the schools head of physical education (PE). This listing's school district is San Francisco Unified School District. Otherwise, white fragility will shut the anti-racist party down; it's an equity consciousness buzz kill, for real. The programme, introduced to all ages, sees students sit for 15 minutes of meditation twice a day. At times, it appeared that we weren't clearly aligned philosophically and did not have a focused call to action. The California School Directory and related public school and district data files (collectively referred to as the "Directory"), contain information about California schools, districts, and school/district administrators that is voluntarily self-reported by local education agencies (LEAs) to the California Department of Education (CDE) as a Programs School Data Contact Info Visitacion Valley Middle School Grades 6-8 We are continually navigating the phases of a 'call out to call in culture' with each other.". Start with one class or year and let it grow from there.. (DiAngelo, 2018). I can be really hyperactive, he said. "I think that it really means something - not only for me, but for my staff and for my kids - to have this recognition.". With respect to race, the foundational issue is White Supremacy Culture, and we must attack the problem head on. Theres an explosion of mental health problems among young people and its going to be incredibly expensive to treat in the future. SFUSD's Student Family School Resource Linksupports students and families innavigating all of the SFUSD resources available to them. About This Home Great Visitacion home with 2 bed/ 1bath upstairs and bonus room/bath downstairs. Meditation, which is taught as part of the program, or engage in other quiet activities like silent reading. Visitacion Valley Middle School Catering to our kids grades 6-8. One of San Francisco's toughest schools transformed by the power of meditation A pioneering programme has reduced stress and improved grades at Visitacion Valley middle school - with lessons other schools can learn from. Please use 651-683-6969 Ext. In one, the effects of the Quiet Time Program, conducted over half the academic year, were evaluated in public middle school students performing below proficiency level. Find COVID-19 testing, vaccine, and daily health screening information. We saw kids with real post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Once white fragility is defined and debriefed amongst a team, we can begin to talk about racism, anti-racism, and White Supremacy Culture. Consequently, this allows for us to align our purpose with our pedagogy, curricula, policies, decision making processes, and adult structures. visitacion valley middle School students 14The QuieT Time Program DaviD Lynch FounDaTion 1 5 7. 82616 to call in a student absence. But to start, we must go inward. You can find more information about the fair at sfusd.edu/fair. Students then repeat a personal mantra (a word from Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language) in their heads until they reach a deep feeling of relaxation. Down Payment . The 1,233 sq. For years, educators' requests for more. I like to think of myself as a recovering perpetrator of WSC. He says the lives of students were infected by violence in the community, and several fights would break out every day. Now we can get to the work of promoting anti-racism, liberation, and achievement at our school, by looking through the lens of White Supremacy Culture. View property details, photos, and neighborhood info. $1,041. This work has gotten co-opted and watered down, leading to many people talking the talk, without much walk. In my dream, I imagine that educators can become comfortable talking about race and how it informs the work of educating children. Executive Director Gerald Tirozzi of the association noted that Dierke has given the community around the school a sense of hope. This week's important updates are available! His school, along with other urban middle schools in low income neighborhoods, is in the midst of a battlea battle against the predictive power of demographics. Students. In my dream, I imagine that Culturally Responsive Teaching, restorative practices, and deeper learning are all alive in classrooms across the United States. As for getting the children to start. Yes, it is exhibited by leaders at all levels, including me. Not a Single State Meets the Bar, How One School's Mentorship Program Paid Off Big in Academic Gains, Revisiting Educator Collaboration: We Should Think Differently About How We Form Teams, Best Practices for Implementing DE&I PD for Teachers. This includes emotions of fear, anger, and guilt, as well as actions of argumentation, silence, and withdrawal. As a leader, it is easy to hoard power, claim objectivity in decisionmaking, or believe that there is only one way to fix education. The second controlled study, authored by WestEd, an independent evaluator, found that after seven months of the Quiet Time Program, ninth grade For the majority of urban students, drugs, gangs and violence are part of everyday life. General education entry grade seats per application: https://sfusd.zoom.us/j/89260175755?pwd=R2VLdWJQOVdySElJa1c2UUhCTkw5QT09, Districtwide before and after school program information, Social-Emotional and Culture Climate Report, School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). By Kyle Palmer On a recent morning at Visitacion Valley Middle School in South San Francisco, Principal James Dierke looked out over the school's auditorium at more than 100 eighth graders. It is time that we detox and make the invisible visible. Even I, a black educator who has studied ethnic studies and critical race theory, still perpetuate tenets of White Supremacy Culture. Also, we might hear phrases like, "That comment triggered me, it was a microaggression," "I think we can do better for our Latinx students," or "This is not consistent with our commitment to anti-racism." School communities gather twice a year to review data and previous actions in order to intentionally plan for the coming months. Before becoming the Assistant Principal at VVMS, I served as an Assistant Principal at two different elementary schools in Richmond, CA. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider regarding any medical condition. With respect to race, the foundational issue is White Supremacy Culture, and we must attack the problem head on. "He's like our own American Idol," Garcia said. The Visitacion Valley Middle School mission is to create, through transformative relationships, an inclusive and collaborative learning community that is relevant to the lives of ourstudents, families, and staff. Imagine that. Service Learning Out of view, city dignitaries and his students waited inside Visitacion Valley Middle School to surprise him with the news: He was the National Middle School Principal of the Year.. Phones will be closed on school holidays, including the fall, winter and spring breaks. This requires dismantling White Supremacy Culture and building a new foundation for an anti-racist and empowering education. Students, families, and school staff can email requests to sflink@sfusd.edu,call 415-340-1716(M-F, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., closed from 12 to 1 p.m. every day), or complete an online request form. The first pitfall is failing to scaffold for white privilege and white fragility. The art of relaxation: ideas to get students to unwind and recharge, How two minutes of mindfulness can calm a class and boost attainment, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Even I, a black educator who has studied ethnic studies and critical race theory, still perpetuate tenets of White Supremacy Culture. Connection is first and foremost because this work is all about relationships - connecting with stakeholders, earning trust, and sharing in the decision making. But Quiet Time took years to develop. Now that the shock of reading these words has worn off, lets explore what it is and why we need to dedicate more time to exploring its dehumanizing effect in our schools. It is the water we are swimming in. When you have it up, it keeps the rain off, and you can focus on trying to build a culture with kids. An easy way to remember our website is to memorize our bit.ly URL! "Instead, the parents demonstrated their faith in Dierke's leadership by not withdrawing any children from the school.".