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Classrooms for All

Districts in Kent County and nationwide are experiencing increasing diversity, with students representing various races, ethnicities, identities and cultural backgrounds. In a new series, SNN explores this trend. We will highlight the many ways diversity is a strength for students, teachers and communities alike, while requiring an intentional focus on equity and awareness. Even as much of the nation is roiled by conflict over immigration and racism, SNN will feature diversity as a source of cultural competence and real-world education for students.

00:00:25

She’s shaking things up

Grand Rapids Community College Alexis Stark
As the first female director of bands at GRCC, Professor Shannon Shaker seeks to ensure everyone has access to a high-quality music education...

A celebration of nations

Kentwood Erin Albanese
In traditional clothes and waving flags, students celebrated their home countries during the Parade of Nations...

From classroom to lunch room, schools help Afghan students adjust

Places of Refuge Charles Honey
The recent influx of refugee students from Afghanistan has put teachers on the front lines of helping students adjust academically and recover from trauma...

On his own since 12, refugee student sets his sights on college and career

Kent ISD Morgan Jarema
‘Education is the universal key to unlocking any door,’ says Myanmar native an...

He’s a leader who is always learning

Student Leaders Morgan Jarema
Kent ISD’s interpreter program, now in its second year, is helping ESL students find purpose in their new country using gifts they honed in their native countries...

First-gen college grad gives credit to parents, K-12 years

Caledonia Alexis Stark
Amer Bektaš is the son of Bosnian refugees, a sports enthusiast and radio voice, and is months away from being the first generation in his family to graduate college...

Around the world in seven holidays

Classrooms for All Alexis Stark
Students celebrated holidays as diverse as the number of cultures and languages spoken at the school...

Professor co-authors antiracism glossary

Classrooms for All Erin Albanese
The Antiracism Glossary for Education and Life includes 48 terms and how people have experienced them...

Area schools prepare for the arrival of Afghan refugees

Classrooms for All Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
More than 200 participants have attended Kent ISD programs designed to highlight ways to welcome students and their families...

District begins multi-year effort to improve equity, scholar success

Classrooms for All Erin Albanese
A multi-year initiative, District Equity and Scholar Success Team, will work to embed equity practices into all areas of education...

Students focus on equity in letters to Board of Ed

Classrooms for All Erin Albanese
The Equity Project is a new twist on an argumentative writing unit. Normally, teacher Katie Sluiter assigns a topic, but this year she knew students had a lot on their minds...

Today’s classrooms look more like the world

Classrooms for All Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
Kent County schools are experiencing substantial change in the racial and ethnic makeup of their students, with classrooms looking more and more like the society and world around them...

‘God gives me hope’: a refugee student’s hard journey to graduation

Kelloggsville Phil de Haan
On a journey from the Congo to Grand Rapids, faith, and the people placed in his path, have helped a Kelloggsville senior deal with some tough circumstances...

Students reflect on personal experiences as Asian Americans

Classrooms for All Alexis Stark
Students respond to the spike in hate crimes, reflect on experiences as Asian American students...

Students celebrate the beauty of multiple languages

Classrooms for All Alexis Stark
Students celebrated their Spanish-speaking heritage with International Mother Language Day at Alpine Elementary...

Students explore the globe, zoom in on where they are from

Classrooms for All Erin Albanese
The ongoing project is a way for the school’s 137 ELL students to learn more about where they are from and share it with others...
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School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent County, which enroll more than 90,000 students. Founded in 2013, we are an editorially independent news site funded by Kent ISD, local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and photojournalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues that enhance or discourage student success, and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

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