Hazel Wolf parents, staff and students are invited to the Cafetorium for the second General Session meeting of the year from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, to hear important Hazel Wolf K-8 Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) updates and to stay for the guest speaker, Erin Jones: “Black Lives Matter at School: The Power of History and Words” (updated title).
The PTSA has invited Ms. Jones in light of the increased awareness of work and education that is needed following the recent student-led protest about harmful racial slurs being used in our community. Ms. Jones will be discussing why it is important to address these issues, defining diversity vs. racial justice (equity), race, ethnicity, culture, and the history of the n-word and other similar words and why they’re so dangerous. Also, there will be interactive activities to get our community talking. Lastly, she will provide a helpful list of videos, podcasts and tools for parents to use and continue their own learning and their children’s learning.
More about our speaker: Erin Jones has been involved in and around schools for the past 26 years. She has taught in a variety of environments, from predominantly Black to predominantly White to some of the most diverse communities in the nation. Erin received an award as the Most Innovative Foreign Language Teacher in 2007, while working at in Tacoma and was the Washington State Milken Educator of the Year in 2008, while teaching in Spokane. She received recognition at the White House in March of 2013 as a “Champion of Change” and was Washington State PTA’s “Outstanding Educator” in 2015. After serving as a classroom teacher and instructional coach, Erin worked as an executive for two State Superintendents. Erin left the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2012 to work in college-access at the school district level. She left her job to run as a candidate for State Superintendent and was the first Black woman to run for any state office in Washington state, a race she lost by a mere 1%.
We invite everyone to join us to better building community that allows all students to thrive. You do not have to be a PTSA member to attend. Dinner and childcare will be provided.
We hope to see you there!
