Institute Participant Feedback   

Testimonials from participants at recent BayCES Leading for Equity and Coaching for Equity institutes.

Thank you for everything! The LFE experience was more than I had imagined it would be! Amazing! Each of you made such a great contribution. I feel incredibly fortunate to be in this work with each of you. You are all inspiring to me. I see what you do and I am in awe. I look forward to all that is ahead.
- Mike Watenpaugh, Superintendent, San Rafael City Schools

The shortest distance between theory and action is BayCES. Change is not easy, but BayCES makes it easier. They opened a difficult door for us and set us on our path.
- Santiago Casal, Chair, United In Action, Berkeley

What an opportunity to delve into our values around equity and social justice! As we engage our communities in an agenda of reform, BayCES provides support, strategies, and protocols to improve teaching and learning.
- Michele Dawson, Supervisor, San Francisco Unified School District

If you are an educator really ready to get started addressing educational equity, then this Institute is an excellent starting point.
- Jennifer Obidah, Director, Education Evaluation Centre, University of the West Indies

Best professional development I have experienced throughout my teaching career. It was both a process of self-discovery and acquisition of practical skill facilitated by caring and knowledgeable professionals.
- Michelle Estekantchi, Consultant, Diversity Management; Halifax Regional School Board, Canada

Thank you for the excellent Institute. I often find myself feeling that we don't delve deep enough when addressing the issues of equity. At the end of this Institute I can honestly say we went deep and reflected on the challenge of the equity work ahead of us. I leave hopeful.
- Maria Cárdenas, Program Manager, Fremont Unified School District

This Coaching Institute touched all of the participants in ways that allowed them to look deeply at the work they are doing. Participants came up to me all three days and thanked us for helping them grow. As you all know, many of the coaches scored themselves as proficient on coaching skills prior to the Institute. It is only when they were required to practice coaching skills in the authentic settings designed by the planning team that they begin to understand they have much more to learn..... Thanks for the journey to improving the learning for all of the staff.
- Mary Buttler, Executive Officer, Instructional Services, Oakland Unified School District

What great accolades! Thank you all for your collaborative inspiration and leadership. What a fabulous partnership we have with BayCES and how fortunate we are to benefit in so many ways from your rich offerings. I have no doubt that OUSD's teachers and students will benefit from this work. I look forward to what I anticipate will be the illuminating and challenging ideas and insights that have emerged from this institute.
- Brad Stam, Chief Academic Officer, Oakland Unified School District

Anonymous Comments

o The opportunity to have an authentic lively discussion about race is an activity that is very necessary but seldom done at our sites. I feel like I had lost many of those principles in the day-to-day grind of teaching and my emphasis on student accountability and responsibility.

o Honestly this was the first time I ever dealt with equity issues that we face daily at our school. Our BayCES coach is the best: her talents, abilities, attitude, and spirit are unbelievable.

o I have been to similar conferences in the past and have left feeling all sorts of negative feelings, so that is what I expected. But you showed me the difference. I learned through positive role modeling and intent - this is how I want to walk into my classroom, as a leader.

o I have learned, experienced, and grown this weekend in a way that I never have time for in the course of the year. I am re-engaged in a year of challenges and anger. I am taking away that I do have leadership skills that I have not always known how to use.

o This has been an incredible experience, especially in my first year of teaching. I feel like it is setting me up for a higher level of success as a white teacher in Oakland public schools. I do not want to burn out, yet not addressing these issues of race seems like a path towards frustration and resentment. ...When I feel exhausted and defeated, these conversations will help me to gain perspective, clear my mind, and be the leader I aspire to be.