Kent School District hosts education leadership session

Published 11:25 am Tuesday, November 10, 2015

The Kent School District and 10 additional districts took part in an education leadership session with Pedro Noguera from the University of California, Los Angeles, Graduate School of Education and Information Studies on Nov. 6 at Kent Phoenix Academy.

The training focused on educational equity and improving educational relationships with students and their communities.

Conversations revolved around race and culture, low and high performing students and discipline. The goal was to find ways to connect with students form each category and help them reach their full potential.

“What (Noguera) is sharing is necessary to meet the needs of each student,” said Calvin Watts, Kent School District superintendent. “Equity and excellence is the foundation of our work, and the people who are responsible for that are here.”

“I’m impressed by the turnout,” Noguera said. “It shows great commitment and determination. However, the value is not what happens today, but what happens next to push their district forward.”

Noguera is a professor of education and the co-author of the book, “Excellence through Equity: Five Principles of Courageous Leadership to Guide Achievement for Every Student”.