HASP
Hawaiʻi
Association of
School Psychologists
Session Description
This session will use the metaphor of a lens (how we perceive an experience and make meaning of it) to frame our collective reflections and conversations about how systemic oppression shows up within ourselves and the educational institutions where we serve students and families. The session is intended to be a starting point in answering the question, “How can I build my practice as a leader for equity starting with who I am and and how I understand my own experiences around oppression?” Topics will include: power differentials, positionality, and inequalities in Hawai’i’s education systems. Participants should be prepared to reflect on inquiry questions in a journal (digital or hard copy) and discuss oppression and bias from the “I” perspective. In addition to contextualizing the language of oppression through self-inquiry and reflection, participants will leave with a “starter language toolkit” and resources that will enable learning to continue beyond the boundaries of the session.
Session Objectives
Participants will learn common vocabulary for how to talk about systemic oppression in their personal and professional lives.
Participants will engage in self-inquiry and reflection while discussing how oppression and bias shows up for them.
Session Resources
Lens of Systemic Oppression - National Equity Project
Dr. Alyson Kaneshiro is a middle school learning specialist and SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) Facilitator at Redwood Day School in Oakland, California. In her role as a learning specialist, she works to create accessible and equitable education for students with disabilities in the independent school space. As a SEED facilitator, Alyson leads monthly seminars with educators to create space for intentionally structured conversations about systems of oppression and privilege. Prior to these appointments, she taught as an adjunct professor in the Master of Arts Special Education Program at the University of San Francisco, California while also working as a learning specialist at San Francisco Day School. Alyson also worked in the Hawai’i Department of Education for twelve years as a Student Services Coordinator and special education inclusion teacher at Pearl Ridge Elementary in Aiea, Hawai’i. Her professional interests include equity focused educational practice, action-oriented social justice in schools, and creating inclusive systems of support for students with disabilities. Alyson holds an EdD in Professional Practice from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and an MA from National University. Born and raised in Kona, Hawai’i, she credits her family and Big Island community for creating a culture of compassion and care that informs her worldview and commitment to loving accountability in doing equity and justice work in educational spaces across the country.
©2019 HASP: Hawai'i Association of School Psychologists is a non-profit organization.