Renetta Kepler-Vigilance

Special Education Teacher; African American Success Committee Parliamentarian;Val Verde Teachers Association Secretary; VVTA Representative on the leadership team at Tomas Rivera, Tomas Rivera Middle School (2023)

Val Verde Unified School District

How do you define educational equity?

Educational equity to me is defined as a measure of the fundamental fairness of a school or district system.  Fairness is not equality for all; it is giving students what they need to be successful.  This may look different in each school.  It is the expectation that every student, highlighting those representing historically struggling groups, is entitled to the best education available, no matter their zip code, as well as the support they need to attain grade level proficiency.  Examples are students joining the AVID program, or making the AP classes more appealing, giving access to information, having African American role models in administration and teaching positions so that kids can see themselves doing those jobs, having unconscious bias trainings, building relationships, learning about other cultures, and humility.