In this webinar, Dr. David De Jong, Dean of the College of Education at Dakota State University, facilitates our Cultural Competency simulation. Now is the time to lean into cultural competency to strengthen the relationships between the school and the community. Districts cannot assume staff understands cultural competence. Leaders must take the initiative to provide adequate space to discuss cultural differences and reestablish norms built on cultural competency. Talking about change is over. Now is the time for words to become actions.
About Our Cultural Competency Simulation
How can you address the behavior of a popular teacher who does not understand the impact of their actions in the classroom on a significant portion of his students?
This simulation places you, a month into your new position as principal of Waterside School, in a district experiencing significant shifts in demographics, which leads to challenges balancing the needs and perspectives of long-time residents with those of newcomers. The district is committed to “Create High-Quality Learning Experiences that Meet the Needs of Each Child.” Your job is to uncover specific needs, and resolve discrepancies in the treatment of students, wherever they may exist.
Meet the Speakers:
Dr. David De Jong – Dean of the College of Education at Dakota State University and President of the International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership (ICPEL). His previous experience includes serving as a teacher, coach, principal, superintendent, associate professor, and chair of the Division of Educational Leadership in the School of Education at the University of South Dakota.
Ken Spero – CEO & Co-Founder of SchoolSims.
During the Webinar, You Will Explore Different Trade-offs You Will Have To Consider, Including:
Balancing the needs and desires of long-time residents with those of newcomers.
Uncovering specific needs and resolving discrepancies in the treatment of students.
Addressing biases and counterproductive habits of entrenched faculty.
No longer can administrators and staff steer away from cultural conversations. Cultural competence is more than just learning about the music students enjoy or understanding their slang. To become competent in another culture, individuals must first understand their biases and stereotypical ideas. This recognition allows people to become more aware of their thoughts and actions towards others. The opportunity is now for districts to address the reality of bias, stereotypes, and cultural differences for cultural competency. The damage could be catastrophic if districts forfeit the opportunity to address injustice.
SchoolSims participants are afforded opportunities to work through authentic school-based issues and practice decision-making to improve learning and retention. By expanding their experience portfolio, aspiring and sitting school leaders and teachers build resilience and extend capacity to prepare them for real-life challenges.
Interested in Learning More? Request a Demonstration or Pricing
SchoolSims provides a powerful and affordable way to deliver highly effective training for school leaders and teachers. Current and aspiring leaders and teachers are offered a chance to experience real-life scenarios that depict true events but in a simulated setting. Since there aren’t always right or wrong answers when it comes to human behavior, experimentation is encouraged within the simulation as there is no way to fail. Participants practice critical thinking and are encouraged to discuss the reasons behind their choices which allows for peer-to-peer learning.
