visitacion valley middle school principal
Prompts for reading a White Supremacy Culture article (Courtesy of Joe Truss). Call Us. Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K.) Even in failure, there is growth, if you are using a critical lens to understand and improve. "I am feeling elated," he said after the announcement and celebration in the school's auditorium. After graduating from Seneca Valley in 1996, I e arned my bachelor's degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. - Managed relationships and contracts with principals and key staff at our 3 middle schools. Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco Unified school district (Courtesy of Joe Truss). Discussing WSC gave us more impetus to make changes, because we now knew what was happening if we refused: microaggressions, dehumanization, widening the opportunity gap, and producing disproportionate outcomes. Price: $759,000. At Visitacion Valley Middle School (VVMS), in the San Francisco Unified school district, our brave staff spent a majority of the 2018-19 school year unpacking White Supremacy Culture (WSC). We have seen attempts at creating buy-in fail for initiatives like ethnic studies, mastery-based grading, or project-based learning. Stacey Buchwald promoted to principal at Valley Middle School of STEM District 196 Superintendent Mary Kreger today announced the promotion of Dr. Stacey Buchwald from interim principal to principal of Valley Middle School of STEM in. Less than a year after starting Quiet Time, which is in part funded by . Theres an explosion of mental health problems among young people and its going to be incredibly expensive to treat in the future. White Supremacy Culture. Once white fragility is defined and debriefed amongst a team, we can begin to talk about racism, anti-racism, and White Supremacy Culture. To our teachers and staff, joyful learning means that each student is able to maximize his/her abilities and be successful in learning through different learning methods. When the bells sound twice a day at Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco, students who used to be too rowdy to even sit still close their eyes and spend 15 minutes clearing their minds. So the privately funded non-profit Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education (CWAE) was set up. Phys Ed: The Benefits of Exercising Before Breakfast, Dog Needs a Walk? Bursts of laughter and errant shouts punctuated the buzz. In addition, we might see curricula that affirms and engages students of color and assessment practices that dismantle racial bias in standardized testing. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff. We focus on equitable teaching practices and encourage student participation. School communities gather twice a year to review data and previous actions in order to intentionally plan for the coming months. Visitacion Valley Middle School. Callers can still leave a voicemail or send an email or request form at all hours. We might get verbal disagreements, but the kids are able to talk through it and move on instead of punching each other, says ODriscoll, adding that the last fist fight at the school was three years ago. Additionally, kids get to participate in fun activities, including recreation, cooking, dance, technology and leadership. Having served the past two years as Assistant Principal, VVMS is a community that I love and care for. Principal & interest $1,163. Imagine that. This requires dismantling White Supremacy Culture and building a new foundation for an anti-racist and empowering education. The second pitfall I will offer is avoiding the tendency to externalize the work of dismantling White Supremacy Culture. It serves 358 studentsin 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.3:1.Its teachers have had 79 projects funded on DonorsChoose. We can have equity missions plastered on walls and front that we are about closing the opportunity gap, but we dont go deeper than diversity trainings. To do this, we use diverse staff resources and improve student access to high quality programs during the school day and in after-school programs. Ive found that it makes peoplestudents and teachersmore joyful, Dierke said, To have that time to reflect and be still is important.. For a more complete list, see the 15 WSC characteristics from Tema Okun and Kenneth Jones in the 2001 Dismantling Racism Workbook. $1,041. We needed to go deeper than our previous conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Specifically, this pushed on us to think about and change how we work together: We worked to create norms that encourage people of color and women to contribute, we shifted the relationship between teachers and administration so that teachers had more input in budget and hiring decisions, and finally, we adjusted the pace of our professional-development plans to emphasize quality over quantity. Research shows that chronic stress can impair healthy brain development and the ability to learn, and that Transcendental Meditation, a stress-reducing technique that involves thinking of a mantra, can reduce You can find more information about the fair at sfusd.edu/fair. The trouble is we dont even see it. Those selecting Dierke for the honor noted how a gunman entered the school, threatening teachers and students in 2004. They are owned by a bank or a lender who took ownership through foreclosure proceedings. Our teachers use Community Building and Restorative Practices. Don't be confused. Ale House Alley, Mission Blue, and Lucky's Bakery & Cafe. In my dream, I imagine that Culturally Responsive Teaching, restorative practices, and deeper learning are all alive in classrooms across the United States. This week's important updates are available! This is true for our staff as well, contributing to racial fatigue and staff sustainability for IBPOC. Two other schools in SFUSD have begun their own Quiet Time programs and a district spokesperson said other schools have begun asking questions about Visitacion Valleys success. 420 Harkness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134 | MLS #422713413 | Zillow By Owner New Construction These properties are currently listed for sale. Ultimately, we are here to help students empower themselves through education. Two controlled studies have been published so far; others are in submission In 2007 a meditation programme called Quiet Time was brought in to meet some of these challenges. This organizational structure reflects a "school-within-a-school" concept and is designed to help students make a successful transition from the self-contained elementary classroom to the fully departmentalized, comprehensive high school setting. Specifically, this pushed on us to think about and change how we work together: We worked to create norms that encourage people of color and women to contribute, we shifted the relationship between teachers and administration so that teachers had more input in budget and hiring decisions, and finally, we adjusted the pace of our professional-development plans to emphasize quality over quantity. After School Program at Visitacion Valley Middle School As the elementary programs established themselves and became more successful, R.O.C.K. Parks near 132 Britton St include Crocker Amazon Playground, Visitacion Valley Greenway, and Bayview Park. Dierke, who has been principal at the school for 13 years, said things reached a turning point about five years ago. In addition, meditating students reported sleeping better as well as higher Parks near 83 Ervine St include Visitacion Valley Greenway, Bayview Park, and Louis Sutter . Further, we must look at how it has affected us and how we have perpetuated White Supremacy Culture. 1. Visitacion Valley Middle School prides itself in its active role in the community by welcoming parents, families, and community partners to participate on all levels of creating a culturally responsive 21st Century Middle School. Principal Broker: William J Oliver. 1971 Visitacion Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94134. One teacher, Mary Chirichella added, "Some teachers had the courage to approach others to have tough conversations about microaggressions. Maybe having half an hour just to focus on themselves so they get awareness and grounding, might have some impact., And it could help reduce costs later. Racial-equity leaders must be both intentional and responsive when doing this anti-racist work. One other middle school and two high schools in the Bay Area adopted the program. levels of self-confidence and happiness. The success of some schools efforts This year, the school has had to integrate more than 100 new students onto campus after another nearby middle school was closed by the district. View SFUSD's most recent athletics participation dataor past years' reports. Public, 6-8 Serves this home. Our attendance is trending up significantly We used to have one of the highest suspension rates, now we have one of the lowest among all middle schools. They simultaneously tell us that we are not good enough and keep us to the bottom rungs of racial hierarchy if we do not assimilate. One of San Francisco's toughest schools transformed by the power of meditation As for getting the children to start. In fact, based on certain urban zip codes, education researchers can predict students attendance rate, behavior, test scores, and overall academic achievement. 8:15 a.m. - MWTh 3:00 p.m.; 8:15 a.m. - TuF 1:15 p.m. SFUSD's Student Family School Resource Linksupports students and families innavigating all of the SFUSD resources available to them. Yet that's where real leadership comes in, the organization noted. Our school commits to delivering high quality educational program that addresses individual needs. Students. Yes, it is exhibited by leaders at all levels, including me. 3. That funds four and a half (full-time equivalent) Quiet Time staff on site to teach the classes and support students. Students straightened their backs and closed their eyes. With respect to race, the foundational issue is White Supremacy Culture, and we must attack the problem head on. Once Quiet Time started, she mellowed out and started getting along with people. Stacys academic performance has also improved shes in the top 5% of the class. years of my tenure, the school was dominated by stress and fighting. But in the last few years, he said, we have had very few fights.. With the help of the David Lynch Foundation and the San Francisco-based Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education (CWAE), Visitacion Valley trained teachers on how to conduct Quiet Time sessions in their class. But Quiet Time took years to develop. As a leader, it is easy to hoard power, claim objectivity in decision making, or believe that there is only one way to fix education. What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? At times, it appeared that we weren't clearly aligned philosophically and did not have a focused call to action. This coming year, we are looking at how to build more community in the classroom, how to unify our students across cultural differences, and how to reduce bias in our discipline systems. We work hard to create a positive school climate where students are recognized for their growth. If I can be vulnerable and honest, white educators can and must do the same. Now, The middle school years are critical times of development for students and families, and I look forward to working with all of you to ensure our school helps students feel a sense of belonging and joy, as well as prepares them for high school, college, and beyond. Now that the shock of reading these words has worn off, lets explore what it is and why we need to dedicate more time to exploring its dehumanizing effect in our schools. visitacion valley middle School students 14The QuieT Time Program DaviD Lynch FounDaTion 1 5 7. Therefore, it was necessary to create shared understandings and subsequent commitments, which was facilitated by exploring a framework of White Supremacy Culture. Staff watch a clip about white fragility during a staff meeting (Courtesy of Joe Truss). I look forward to our partnership this upcoming school year and collaborating with all of you to support our brilliant students. It's important to note that these responses work to maintain current consciousness and white supremacy. Otherwise, white fragility will shut the anti-racist party down; it's an equity consciousness buzz kill, for real. Photo at top courtesy of Joe Truss: VVMS staff match examples of White Supremacy Culture to the definition of each characteristic. Classes take place at students desks after the qualified TM teacher rings a bell. It helps kids reduce anxiety and increase their ability to reason and concentrate., Principal Dierke said, as a result of Quiet Time, the schools image is changing. I saw this personally at VVMS, as situations got awkward, uncomfortable, and uncertain. This can create power struggles, a learning opportunity gap, and as the scholar Monique Morris writes, students being pushed out of schools. It can result in white rage, broken relationships, grievances, and further harm to oppressed students. The UK has already started experimenting with meditation: 400 secondary schools offer programmes like the Dot B mindfulness meditation programme, which tends to take place once a week in personal, social, health education (PSHE) class. I had never done meditation before, but now I do Quiet Time. Entire contents copyright 2023 Maharishi Foundation USA, a non-profit educational organization. In addition, we might see curricula that affirms and engages students of color. But now I meditate twice a day, and I do it at home. We are continually navigating the phases of a call out to call in culture with each other.. Beginning with the 1983-84 school year, Valley Middle School organized into interdisciplinary teams referred to as the Village System. Besides dealing with problems outside school, Visitacion Valley faces challenges in school, too. $1,150,000 Last Sold Price. White Supremacy Culture is the silent killer flowing throughout classrooms and school hallways, like carbon monoxide gas. Visitacion Valley Middle School. Visitacion Valley also got attention from actor Russell Brand, who visited the school just before Christmas on a trip sponsored by the David Lynch Foundation. Now, I have other principals asking me about Quiet Time. Nearby homes similar to 183 Tucker Ave have recently sold between $1,150K to $1,150K at an average of $475 per square foot. For example, pushing students to work independently or write before processing verbally can lead to stress and isolation. Our Zoom link is: https://sfusd.zoom.us/j/89260175755?pwd=R2VLdWJQOVdySElJa1c2UUhCTkw5QT09. For example, we looked at how our implicit bias when responding to student behavior leads to racially disproportionate discipline incidents and we organically identified restorative practices as a focus for the following year. My Only Regret Is That I Didnt Find This Practice Twenty Years Ago , Why I Learned Transcendental Meditation Three Years Ago And Why I Still Practice It , 6 Benefits Of Transcendental Meditation (And How You Can Get Started Today) , James Dierke, Principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School, urban students, drugs, gangs and violence, Newly published research on the effect of the Quiet Time/Transcendental Meditation program, MetLife/NASSP National Middle Level Principal of the Year. We must name, define, and plan for white fragility, the defensive response by whites when discussing racism. Lastly, this work connected well with our concurrent work of racial affinity groups, social-justice teaching, and revising our school mission statement. As a result, staff were curious to take action to be anti-racist and promote a learning community that did the same. She is a frequent guest on KQED's "Newroom" television show and "Forum" radio show. We might also see students connecting their identities to their learning and applying it back to their communities to manifest social justice. Executive Director Gerald Tirozzi of the association noted that Dierke has given the community around the school a sense of hope. This is a 4-bed, 3-bath, 1,597 sqft property. In recent years however, Principal Dierke and a growing number of other educators have found a way to break the predictive power of demographics. Our GPA has trended up significantly since the start of Quiet Time., All of this indicates that we are winning the battle against the predictor power of demographics. Racial-equity work is like trying to defuse a bomb and cutting the wrong wire. Once white fragility is defined and debriefed amongst a team, we can begin to talk about racism, anti-racism, and White Supremacy Culture. School: Visitacion Valley Middle: District: San Francisco Unified (District Profile) County: San Francisco: Address: 1971 Visitacion Ave. San Francisco 94134-2700: Phone (415) 469-4590: Web site* CDS Code: 38 68478 6059919: School Type: Intermediate/Middle Schools (Public) Charter School: No: Principal/Administrator: Courtney Harris, Principal . We were looking for a way to get kids to relax, he said. 82616 to call in a student absence. These kids hear gunshots on their way to and from school. Start with one class or year and let it grow from there.. 2,414 Sq. In 2007, James Dierke, then the principal of the Visitacion Valley Middle School in a troubled neighborhood in San Francisco, was determined to improve both the quality of education and student behavior in his school. The school has something to offer everyone, from new programs of study and a variety of clubs to join. A restless din filled the large room. $1,862. Places. Visitacion Valley Middle School Catering to our kids grades 6-8. These beliefs lead to actions that are dehumanizing to all races of people; however, they have a more drastic effect on indigenous, black, and people of color (IBPOC). 3. For instance, we might see folks making eye contact, leaning into conversations about racial identity, and asking probing questions. Quiet Time is just like an umbrella. Student-centered learning advances equity when it values social and emotional growth alongside academic achievement, takes a cultural lens on strengths and competencies, and equips students with the power and skills to address injustice in their schools and communities. White Supremacy Culture. Consequently, all other cognitive functions such as learning, problem solving, or creative thinking stop, (Hammond, 2015) activating our fight, flight, or freeze response. At VVMS, we were able to get past defensiveness and excuses and get to the heart of the matter. This listing's school district is San Francisco Unified School District. Students, families, and school staff can email requests to sflink@sfusd.edu, call 415-340-1716 (M-F, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., closed from 12 to 1 p.m. every day), or complete an online request form. New Principle, amazing teachers and support staff. At first glance, it might not appear the principal of the year would come out of Visitacion Valley. Eighth grader Stacy* has been meditating since she joined the school three years ago. But adopting the programme isnt without its challenges. Perhaps even more remarkable, last years California Healthy Kids Survey from the states education department found that students at Visitacion Valley middle school were the happiest in the whole of San Francisco. Dont just throw it into 2,000 schools, he says. Further, staff moved to thinking about how our school practices perpetuate WSC and send negative messages to our students. After the shooting, the usual culprits were blamed: guns, violent movies and video games, says Rice. About This Home Great Visitacion home with 2 bed/ 1bath upstairs and bonus room/bath downstairs. The school faces declining enrollment, test scores that don't meet federal standards, teacher turnover, truancy and a high neighborhood crime rate. (Love, 2019) It is imperative that we examine these deeply held beliefsboth conscious and unconsciousto build on top of a new set of habits, behaviors, and systems. Former principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco and a former Principal of the Year. Some 20 parents gathered outside of Visitacion Valley Elementary School on Thursday morning to protest what they said was a failure by the school principal to take action on pervasive bullying. For over 10 years, Visitacion Valley Middle School has been utilizing Transcendental Meditation to help students address stress and improve focus. As a result, staff were curious to take action to be anti-racist and promote a learning community that did the same. But to start, we must go inward. Nearby Public Schools The nearest high school to Visitacion Valley Middle School is Burton (Phillip And Sala) Academic High School(0.6 miles away) The nearest middle school is Bayshore(0.6 miles away) Some of the work I am most proud of as a teacher and leader is building relationships with all community members to create a supportive and positive environment, as well as creating systems and using data to make informed decisions regarding instructional practices that lead to increased achievement for students. If you would like to learn more about our wonderful school, please join our School Info Session on Tuesday, October 25 at 5 pm or 6pm. Located in a quite cul-de-sac setting with easy access to freeway, banking and various amenities. Jill Tucker has covered education in California for 22 years, writing stories that range from issues facing Bay Area school districts to broader national policy debates. Quiet Time in Los angeles The David Lynch Foundation is partnering with several Los angeles-based institutions which deliver excellence in academics and holistic student development through innovative educational models. The Visitacion Valley Middle School mission is to create, through transformative relationships, an inclusive and collaborative learning community that is relevant to the lives of ourstudents, families, and staff. In the first year of Quiet Time meditation, suspensions at Visitacion Valley were reduced by 45%. The teacher has also seen dramatic transformations in his students. I like to think of myself as a recovering perpetrator of WSC. When I first heard about it I thought it probably wasnt going to work, says ODriscoll. This article was amended on Wednesday 25 November to clarify that Visitacion Valley middle school funds Quiet Time mostly through private donations to CWAE. Yes, this is built into our systems of power, structures, policies, and rules. This 3-bedroom 3 bath Tri level home has a lot of character and with the right owner can be brought up to date. Thats what were gradually doing here., The payoff might be most evident in students like Angelica Mahinay, who says, Man, when I hear students getting an attitude, or theyre saying theyre going to fight, I say, Hey! Its also important to start small. At Visitacion Valley Middle School (VVMS), in the San Francisco Unified school district, our brave staff spent a majority of the 2018-19 school year unpacking White Supremacy Culture. 3 Baths. The work of exploring White Supremacy Culture gave our staff a new framework to define our North Star, being an anti-racist school. The Visitacion Valley Middle school vision is that our students will strength their passion for learning, develop the skills to become empowered community members, and gain the knowledge to be ready for high school with a clear path to college, career, and future success. Now our previous work on Culturally Responsive Teaching, use of rubrics, and adding student voice had a theoretical underpinning. A Bay Area native, Jill earned a master's degree in journalism at the University of Colorado, Boulder and a bachelor's degree from the UC Santa Barbara. Specifically, we must look at how it shows up in our own lives, in our personal relationships, in between school staff, and in our histories. Middle Schools Elementary Schools Fares The Free Muni for Youth Program provides San Francisco youth ages 5-18 with free Muni service, regardless of household income level. for publication. In the first year of Quiet Time suspensions at Visitacion Valley which has 500 students aged 11-13 were reduced by 45% (pdf). Ft. 45 Arleta Ave, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. provides quality after-school programming to children in the area. Nov 2020 - Present2 years 4 months. David Lynch Foundation (20:44), John Hagelin, PhD Sign up for a school tour at sfusd.edu/tours. Students seemed happy, says ODriscoll. Reportar una ausencia.