Diverse Minds & Inclusive Hearts, White, Summer 2024

Course Description

Dive into a transformative journey with a course designed for educators and educational leaders aiming to champion inclusivity and support in today’s diverse classrooms and schools. This course offers an in-depth exploration of cultural competency and neurodiversity, equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to create learning environments that acknowledge, respect, and celebrate the unique backgrounds and learning needs of all students. Participants will engage with both theoretical frameworks and practical strategies, learning to apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and culturally responsive teaching techniques. The goal is to cultivate classrooms and schools that are equitable, engaging, and fully responsive to the diverse experiences of students.

This unique blending of neurodiversity and cultural competency will reinvigorate educators and educational leaders, while also allowing them to embark on a personal journey of reflection to examine and evolve one’s teaching or leadership practices. This introspective process is designed to challenge participants to confront and scrutinize their own biases, privileges, and the systemic inequities that pervade the educational landscape. By delving into these critical areas, participants will be better equipped to identify and dismantle the barriers to inclusion, creating a learning environment where diverse voices are not just heard but are also valued and empowered. This course is not just about adapting to diversity but embracing it as a source of strength, fostering a classroom culture that promotes self-advocacy, empowerment, and a deep sense of belonging among students. Prepare to transform your educational practice into one that is more inclusive, understanding, and supportive, ready to meet the multifaceted needs of today’s learners.

Course Goals

At the completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Grasp and convey the principles of cultural competency and neurodiversity, appreciating their essential role in fostering inclusive learning landscapes.
2. Recognize and value the unique qualities, abilities, and educational requirements of students, with a keen understanding of their cultural and neurodiverse contexts.
3. Apply the tenets of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and culturally responsive pedagogies to meet the diverse learning styles and necessities of all students.
4. Shape and sustain educational spaces that are welcoming, well-organized, and culturally attuned, ensuring every student feels a strong sense of belonging and achievement.
5. Cultivate an educational philosophy that celebrates diversity, promotes self-advocacy and empowerment, and assists students in affirming their identities.
6. Engage in introspective examination of one’s own teaching methods and prejudices, pledging to ongoing growth in cultural sensitivity and support for neurodiversity.
7. Formulate and execute strategies to weave culturally competent and neuroinclusive approaches into teaching, aiming for a comprehensive and just educational experience for every learner.

Audience: All educators prek-12

Instructor

Dr. Ben White

Ben is an educational leader and researcher focused on providing an inclusive, safe, and fun educational learning experience for students. He has expertise in anti-racism professional development, policy development and preparing aspiring school leaders. Additionally, he is experienced in early literacy, specifically teaching equity and diversity through literature, as well as creating systems which foster innovation. He currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for SAU 29. He has also worked as a Director of Curriculum, Communication and Innovation, Principal at the elementary level, an Assistant Principal at the middle-level, Program Director for at-risk children through a non-profit, and served as an educator in grades PreK-8th. He has a BS and an M.S.Ed from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine and his Ed.D. through New England College.

Required Readings:

Not included in the course tuition.

The Neurodiversity Edge: The Essential Guide to Embracing Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Neurological Differences for Any Organization (Dunne, 2024)

Lyiscott, Jamila (2019). Black Appetite. White Food: Issues of Race, Voice, and Justice Within and

Beyond the Classroom. Routledge. ISBN: 978-1138480667

For additional course information

Benjamin White
(603) 803-1739

For additional registration information

Center for Schools Team
(802) 468-1325

Register Now!