The Essential

Happy December DDSD!

We have one big stretch until our winter break, and there a lots of wonderful things happening happening between now and then. Cherry Park will be providing some resources throughout the month around Hanukkah and Kwanza. The first of those slideshows will be sent out on Friday! Additionally, there are some resources down below as well!

The DEI team has recently got some feedback around the desire for an LGBTQ+ affinity space. An affinity space is a place where people who share a certain identity can come together in community. If you identify as LGBTQ+ and would like to be a part of this affinity group, please email Gabie Mbenza-Ngoma (gabie_mbenza-ngoma@ddsd40.org).

Special Education Day marks the anniversary of the nation's first federal special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) -signed by President Gerald Ford on December 2, 1975. This law ensures students with a disability are provided with a Free Appropriate Public Education that is tailored to their individual needs.

In DDSD we are so grateful to have many staff who are absolutely dedicated to diversity and inclusion with our students with disabilities. Thank you to all staff, but especially our learning specialists, instructional assistants, teachers in supportive learning classrooms, teachers in the community transitions program, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, counselors, student behavior specialists, autism consultants, school psychologists, assistive technology specialists and many many more. Thank you for continuously making sure that we're taking care of ALL of our students.

1. Why did you want to become a Special Education teacher?

I grew up in the David Douglas School District, attending K-12, with two older brothers who paved the path before me. One of my brothers, the middle of us three, was born with multiple disabilities, ranging from various physical disabilities, including blindness, to cognitive deficits that impact his daily living skills.

Growing up with a brother who has special needs has profoundly shaped my view of the world and how to navigate it. It has taught me the value of patience, the importance of understanding individual differences, and the impact a supportive and thoughtful educational environment can have on a person's life.

My brother's journey through the education system opened my eyes to the challenges and victories individuals with special needs face. I witnessed firsthand the difference that dedicated, compassionate teachers made in his life – not just academically but in his overall well-being and self-esteem. This experience made me want to be a part of that positive change and contribute to creating an accessible learning environment for all students.

2. What brings you joy in your role?

The students. From being at Community Transitions Program (CTP) to working with related services staff, to guiding special educators, I get to see the product of everyone's collaborative work in our district to get our students to where they are now. Some days can be more challenging than others, but I try to look for the positives in every situation and know that the students benefit when we can look for what they can do instead of admiring what they cannot do. Every day presents a new opportunity to make a difference, and that fills my cup as well.

3. Anything else you'd like to share? Either about yourself, your role, or the students you currently work with or have worked with?

I started my career as a self-contained AFS teacher in the middle schools here in DD. I have seen the pendulum swing wildly from one end of the spectrum to the other around the word inclusion. While attending a Special Olympics banquet with Florence Protopapas recently, I was reminded of the quote by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, "Inclusion is not something we do to someone; it is something we do with someone." It reminded me of my "why", and that inclusion truly means providing equitable access to all students...meeting them where they are at, and providing them what they need to access their education and, ultimately, their community around them to lead healthy and fulfilled lives.

Every month, we will highlight the cultural and identity based celebrations that are celebrated nationally within each month. However, it is important to state that people who hold the identities that we are celebrating should not only be celebrated one month out of the year. We choose to celebrate the diversity of often marginalized groups because their histories and stories historically have been left out. There are many people who hold these identities within our community, students and staff, who deserve to see themselves in the work we do. We move forward with these celebrations encouraging a continuing visibility, representation, and celebration of the groups we highlight.

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that reaffirms the ideals of Judaism and commemorates in particular the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem by the lighting of candles on each day of the festival. Hanukkah is celebrated in several ways. In addition to lighting each day one candle on the menorah, religious rituals can include daily reading of Scripture, recitation of some of the Psalms, almsgiving, and singing of a special hymn. Some nonreligious customs of celebration are eating treats fried in oil (which recalls the miracle of the oil), giving children gifts of money (Hanukkah gelt), and playing a game with a four-sided top called a dreidel.

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world.

Created in 1966 by Maulana Ron Karenga, Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates history, values, family, community and culture. The ideas and concepts of Kwanzaa are expressed in the Swahili language, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa. The seven principles which form its core were drawn from communitarian values found throughout the African continent. These principles are: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Kwanzaa gets its name from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza” and is rooted in first fruit celebrations which are found in cultures throughout Africa both in ancient and modern times.

When it comes to equity, we are all learners. As we become more intentional about this work in our schools, we may find the process challenging at times. It might be easier to be dismissive when we are uncomfortable. As educators in an extremely diverse district, we owe it to our students and the communities they come from to listen. We owe it to those students whom our data shows are consistently falling behind to seek to understand what exists beyond our own paradigms and experiences in order to better serve their needs.

Below are opportunities to listen, to challenge ourselves, reflect, and gain new tools for practice.

You may remember that the first person featured in this year’s GYO corner was Ajah Bradley, a 2023 David Douglas graduate currently working as a Special Education Assistant in Mill Park. In that article, Ajah attributed her decision to pursue education as a career to her mother, longtime David Douglas employee, current 5th grade teacher at Mill Park, and soon to be Warner Pacific graduate, Dee Dee Bradley.

Now it is time to give Ms. Dee Dee her flowers. On Saturday, December 9th, Ms. Dee Dee will not only be receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Education at Warner Pacific’s Commencement Ceremony. She will be delivering the commencement speech. To all who have had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Dee Dee, you know that she is a POWERHOUSE and that the moment she delivers that speech, there will not be a single dry eye in the audience. She invites all who can attend the ceremony to join her and fellow GYO and Warner Pacific graduate, Rob Harris, as they walk across the stage and officially become the teachers they were born to be. You can find commencement ceremony details here.

To those who cannot attend, Ms. Dee Dee has graciously allowed us to publish part of her commencement speech below and share in the joy of that momentous day:

“As I stand here before you today, I find myself filled with emotions of happiness and accomplishment… When I think about some of the obstacles that have brought me to this point in my life it comes down to these. As a 45 year old female, the world has been against me from the beginning, at least that's what it has felt like. At the young age of 19 I lost my mother to an aneurysm and then my father at 27 from cancer, while pregnant with my first child. The average person would have given up, but I had much to do, TEACH…

When I think about this path that I have been down, it makes me think of my children. I knew I had to be the best example for them because my parents were gone. They have taught me to never give up even when the odds are against you. I have watched them become incredible humans thus far and without that I don't know where I would be. They remind me to always be great, no matter what stands in front of me, JUST KEEP GOING!

When I think about my “WHY”, it brings me to think of all the students who have never had a teacher who looks like them and now I get to give students the opportunity to have what I didn't. This is what has driven me to keep going: Representation…. When I moved with my family … to David Douglas School District, the main question I wanted to ask was if there were any African American teachers at the school that I wanted my kids to go to? The answer was no! I knew that I needed to be that person students needed.

So like most helicopter moms, I asked for a job there. I wanted to be the person they could lean on when they needed to. I first worked in my kids' elementary school as the school safety monitor, I was determined to get in however I could. Next, I charmed my way into being a reading assistant. Then I was asked to be the behavior assistant. This is what sealed the deal to what I had already known. I just needed to somehow get to where I needed to be… I continued to remain steady on my goal and when the opportunity came back around to go school, of course I was all over it.

Over the last few years I have had great professors, [classmates, and co-workers] who believed in me and challenged me when I needed to be challenged. Because of those challenges, I am the first of my mother’s children, at the age of 45 years old, to earn a Bachelor's Degree. I know that she is looking down and cheering me on to this… the finish line to my teaching degree…

Teaching is my calling and Education is my passion. I am doing what I am meant to do. I was born to inspire others, to change people and to tell them to never give up, even when faced with challenges that seemed impossible to handle… I end with this quote from Dr. Rita Pierson:

I am somebody,

I was somebody when I came,

I’ll be a better somebody when I leave,

I am powerful, I am strong, and I deserved the education that I have received.”

If you are or you know a David Douglas student, family, or community member of color who is interested in pursuing a career in education, please contact Andreina Velasco (andreina_velasco@ddsd40.org), Grow Your Own Pathway Navigator.

At David Douglas High School, senior students have options when it comes to their senior English Language Arts Class. One of the options for students is a Black Studies course taught by the English Department chair in collaboration with Monique Queen from the community partner REAP.

In the class period that I visited, students were engaging in a conversation about education and educational systems. As I walked around the classroom students talked about a variety of topics that had been covered by both Queen and Matthews throughout the unit. Some of the topics included: the school to prison pipeline, Ruby Bridges, the Little Rock 9, their own educational experiences, teacher's experiences, questioning why there aren't more POC teachers, and the Portland Teacher Association Strike. The students were so interested and engaged in the conversation. It was obvious that Queen and Matthews had created a safe space of critical conversation. Thank you Monique and Chris for letting me spend time in your classroom!

If you are doing something awesome in your space that you'd love me to come see, please reach out to at gabie_mbenza-ngoma@ddsd40.org.

On November 8th, we had our second Staff of Color event at Kingpins! 25 licensed and classified staff came together and had a lovely time. Thank you everyone for coming out! If you are a person of color who would like to participate in future get together, please email equity_department@ddsd40.org

On November 17th, our district had our Native American Heritage Night!

On Saturday, November 18, 2023, members of David Douglas Staff of Color planning team had the privilege of attending the 5th annual Oregon Collective Summit. During the event, the team had the valuable opportunity to discuss their district affinity and policy work. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Andreina Velasco, Francesca Aultman, Sody Fearn, Muhammad Rahman, and La'Shawanta Spears for their contributions. We are truly humbled to be a part of a district that wholeheartedly embraces the importance of equity.

Are you doing something wonderful in your classroom, building, or in the wider community that has to do with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? Are you super proud of an engagement strategy, a lesson, or a community bulletin board that you’ve created? Do you see someone else doing something wonderful and want to shout them out? The equity departments want to hear from you! Every month, we’ll be highlighting a few educators and staff members who are doing wonderful work. We know that there is wonderful work being done out there, and we would love to hear from you and share! To submit something, or invite one of us to your classroom or space, please email gabie_mbenza-ngoma@ddsd40.org.