Julie Ancona, an Organizer of Every Student Counts Alliance (ESCA), is being recognized as a Community HOPE Champion for increasing access to the HOPE Building Block- Environment.
Feeling a sense of safety in school is critical if children are to learn and grow. Julie and the advocates, parents and community members that comprise ESCA, work tirelessly with school leaders to create safe, equitable school environments where every child can thrive.
Through the elevation of student voice, parental experiences and the sharing of local data on disparities in educational outcomes and best practices to school and community leaders, they have been successful in reforming school discipline practices. Changes were made to existing policies and practices to make them more trauma informed and rooted in equity.
In 2021, after years of collaboration with ESCA, Spokane Public Schools (SPS) adopted a new “safety model” which replaced commissioned police officers with campus safety specialists on school campuses. To maintain a safe environment and reduce the incidence of suspensions, expulsions, restraint, and arrest, the campus safety specialists focus on the social and emotional well-being of children. Specialists are now trained to “connect before correct” with the aim of identifying the root causes of a child’s struggles.
This paradigm shift from punishment to support is expected to be especially beneficial to students of color and those in special education who have been disproportionately impacted by punitive school policies and practices.
As Spokane Public Schools transforms school culture, policies and practices, Julie and ESCA will be there every step of the way to ensure that every student counts!
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