As a culturally responsive teacher, and a person of color, identifying each individual’s unique-ness is my expertise. As a person of color (AAPI/Filipino American), I have experienced social inequities pretty much my whole life, but surprisingly did not notice it until after Mr. George Floyd’s death. In the past year, I reflected – quite deeply – about certain aspects in my life that were left unanswered. I am now able to pinpoint and identify areas of my life where injustices had been done.
My strength as a teacher has grown exponentially to the point that I now live and breathe equity. I have material/lessons that are diverse in nature and do reflect each child’s uniqueness, challenges stereotypes, encourages sensitivity/inclusion, all of which promotes our community to do the same. My compassion and empathy towards those who are continuously challenged by specific “standards” due to systemic racism and other inequities, drives me to teach students about accepting who they are and accepting others unique individuality.
Although I am a secondary English Language Arts teacher – particularly in literature – I utilize background historical information prior to or while teaching literacy. I typically start with the Hate Pyramid to explain why certain people behave the way they do. This serves as a foundation to many of the literature books I teach. Just recently, I have learned about The Intersectional Diversity Flower by Ayva Thomas, Assistant Director for the Racial and Equity Justice department (Northshore School District); this is something that I will fit into my lessons. To reinforce awareness towards our marginalized communities, I provide resources that connect to the lessons I teach. For example, in “American Born Chinese,” (Gene Luang Yang) I link websites and teach its historical background on Asian immigration. Because we are on Native American soil, I included a Land Acknowledgement slide in my PowerPoint presentations prior to starting a lesson. My favorite literature of all time – The Hate U Give, by Angela Thomas (published in 2017), is absolutely the best book that resonates with George Floyd’s death. This book is something that I would teach after teaching Night by Elie Wiesel. The underlying theme between both literatures seem to reflect each other.
2020 had my eyes open to a whole new plethora of information that I was not aware of and am now recognizing in my life as an educator. I question everything around me that I never questioned before. With answers, I am now able to apply it in my teaching career. My hope is that every student’s needs are met with the kind of attention they require in order to be successful in life. I also hope that their experience in my classroom will give them the confidence to advocate for what is right and equitable in our communities. My dream is to no longer have a society where they do not have to feel and be marginalized. And I dream that when they walk out into the world, that they, too, breathe equity with every step they take.
AAPI Teacher 