Mary Elizabeth Grimes, President of Marian Middle School, and Beth Reaves, President of Washington School for Girls, jointly presented a session on Tuesday, June 21 at the National Coalition of Girls Schools conference, on Creating Belonging for Girls of Color in the Classroom.
Do I Belong Here? Creating a Safe and Welcoming Environment for Girls of Color
Belonging is one of the most important aspects of a student’s educational experience. And yet, for many young girls of color, the school remains a place where they feel isolated and unsupported. Their social and emotional needs may go unaddressed in school communities that do not have mechanisms to provide healing, support, and care. What does belonging mean to these young girls? How can classrooms and schools create a climate that supports the social and emotional growth and development of girls of color? This session will provide a roadmap for schools to enhance the feeling of belonging for these students.
Key Takeaways:
Concrete actionable ideas to improve belonging
A sense of student's voice for girls of color – as related to belonging
Case study and examples grounded in experience from schools serving girls of color
