Enasia Mc-Elvaine

6th and 7th Grade Science Teacher, Westlake Middle School (2024)

Oakland Unified School District

How do you define educational equity?

Educational equity is providing every student with the necessary resources to be successful.  It’s de-mystifying for teachers that every student must have a 25 page IEP to achieve success. It’s sharing with parents that we need them to be collaborative partners in the educational journey of their child.  It’s getting all educational partners involved and creating a culture where a growth mindset is the norm for all students, parents, staff members, regardless of the obstacles they have experienced in the past.  Sure you are going to spend more time and resources on those students who have collected some learning gaps along the way.  It wasn’t their fault.  They did not have a choice on the world they were born into.  However a great education levels the playing field for them.  This is why we need educational equity.  The American Dream is still obtainable when educational equity is present.