Participants in this professional development book study will read and discuss: Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity: The Keys to Successful Equity Implementation written by Floyd Cobb and John Krownapple. In Belonging through a Culture of Dignity, Cobb and Krownapple introduce the reader to the foundational elements upon which educational equity is based, belonging and dignity. A deeper dive into this work brings to light the need for inclusion, belonging and dignity as keys to successful equity implementation. The authors aim to equip educators with the tools necessary to create a classroom and school in which people feel appreciated, validated, accepted, and treated fairly.

Outcomes: Upon completion of this study, the participants will have:

• Deepened their understanding about the concepts and strategies in the book.
• Enhanced their own perspectives and learned from the perspectives of others through reflection and collaborative conversations.
• Connected the learning to their classroom/schools.

Who Should Attend: The material is geared for all educators

Satisfactory completion requirements:

• Attendance is based on your signature in and out of the session. Failure to provide a signature in and out will result in no credit. Virtual attendance is taken via the Zoom Chat.
• Participants must complete an electronic course evaluation within two weeks of the session date to be sent a certificate.
• Accommodations, questions and complaints can be directed to: professionallearning@truenorth804.org

Cost Information: Participation fees are waived for TrueNorth employees, TrueNorth member district employees, and parents of students in our TrueNorth member districts. For individual participants who do not meet the above criteria, this course participation fee is $75 per session. Participants are responsible for purchasing their own copy of Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity by Cobb and Krownapple. Participation will be billed directly to the school district that employs the participant after the session is complete or the first session in a series is complete. Individuals are asked to not bring payment to the session.

Cancellation and Refund Information: There is no cancellation fee, though we ask for advance notice to open the spot for another person. TrueNorth reserves the right to cancel any session due to low enrollment. TrueNorth does not charge prior to the start of the offered session. If an individual attends the first day of a learning series but is unable to attend the remaining sessions, the school district that employs the participant is able to designate an alternate person. It is up to the individual no longer attending the program to give their replacement the information learned in the first session.

About the Presenters: Jenny Knudson serves as a District Coach for the TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 on the north shore. With a training background in Speech-Language Pathology, she has served as a District Coach at TrueNorth (formerly NSSED) for more than 15 years. She provides both direct coaching services and professional development training on the topics of coaching, social emotional learning (SEL) and equity. As a coach within multiple school districts, she works with school administration, teachers, and support staff to enhance the learning of both educators and students. Jenny has presented work at local, state, and national conferences.
Jennifer Wagrowski serves as a District Services Coach and and NCI Implementation Coach for the True North Educational Cooperative 804. She has been with the district for over 20 years as a Teaching Assistant, Teacher, and District Services Coach. Through partnering with administrators, teams and educators, she provides professional learning through direct coaching services and professional development in the areas of Social Emotional Learning and behavior management to support all students. Jennifer has presented work at local and state conferences.
Andrea Tucker serves as a District Services Coach for the TrueNorth Education Cooperative 804. She began her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist, working in public schools on the North Shore, outpatient clinics and private practices, including the Social Thinking clinic in San Jose, CA for 2 years. In her current role as a district coach, Andrea works in multiple member districts partnering with educators, administrators, and school support staff. She provides coaching services and professional development on the topics of Social Emotional Learning (SEL), engagement strategies in the classroom, differentiation of curriculum, and behavior support for all learners. Andrea has presented work at local and national conferences.
Financial Disclosure: These presenters are employees of TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 and receive a salary.
Non-Financial Disclosure: These presenters have no relevant non-financial relationships.

*Member Districts include:

Northbrook 27, Northbrook 28, Sunset Ridge 29, Glenview/Northbrook 30, West Northfield 31, Glenview 34, Glencoe 35, Winnetka 36, Kenilworth 38, Lake Bluff 65, Lake Forest 67, Bannockburn 106, Deerfield 109, North Shore 112, Township HS 113, Lake Forest 115, New Trier 203, Glenbrook 225.

Have a question? Check out the Professional Learning FAQs or contact professionallearning@truenorth804.org.