Happy February! My best wishes for good luck to all schools scheduled to open their doors to students for term 3. Continuous professional development is a cornerstone of our work, and it is essential to improving our practice as educators. This month, I am highlighting multiple professional development opportunities. I encourage you to avail yourselves of these opportunities to improve your knowledge and practice. I am also including one resource that addresses the use of masks in schools and the prevention of “mask bullying” as schools reopen their doors.
Restorative Justice Professional Development Opportunities for Educators. Restorative justice is an ever-evolving field that offers new strategies to improve our practice as we engage with students, fellow staff members, parents and families, and the community. Restorative DC has planned a month full of opportunities for professional development on restorative justice practices and applications, from coaching and skill-building sessions to workshop sessions that enhance your knowledge and skills on restorative justice.
Center for Safe Schools. The Center for Safe Schools has two upcoming webinars for the months of February and March that focus on grief and finding meaning during the pandemic, as well as bullying prevention through social-emotional learning. Both topics are essential to building self-efficacy for an overall improved well-being for the entire school community. The strategies learned can also be taught within schools to help students develop and manage their social-emotional well-being.
Guidance for K-12 School Administrators on the Use of Masks in Schools. As schools open their doors, “mask bullying”—the practice of unmasked students bullying masked students for wearing a mask, and vice versa—should be addressed. The CDC has expressed concerns about bullying, discrimination, and stigma arising within schools as a result of students choosing to wear or not wear a mask. The CDC has also provided recommendations and strategies to support students at all levels on the use of masks.
Mary Wallace | Human Rights Officer
Pronouns – she, her
District of Columbia Office of Human Rights
441 4th Street, N.W., Suite 570N
Washington, D.C. 20001
Main: 202.727.4559
Direct: 202.727.3651
Fax: 202.727.9589
ohr.dc.gov
facebook.com/DCOHR
twitter.com/dchumanrights
instagram.com/dchumanrights
Register for upcoming OHR workshops and events at ohr.dc.gov/events.
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