10 Steps to Become an Equity Detective

By Dr. Irvin Scott

In my work with system and school leaders around the country, creating more equitable experiences and outcomes for students has taken center stage — and even more so as we look to recover from the pandemic. Identifying and exposing inequities in outcomes and experiences is a first step toward taking action that leads to long term change.

But it’s not enough to identify the inequities; ultimately, it’s a moment for action. In other words, I’ve been learning with these leaders how to become an “equity detective”: a leader who actively looks for and takes action to address structural and systemic inequities in schools and school systems.

I hope these 10 principles inspire you. Please let us know what else you’d add and what you learn.

  1. Get proximate. The best equity detectives are a part of, or deeply engaged with, the system that they’re looking at.

Dr. Irvin Scott is a member of the Board of Directors at Education Resource Strategies and a Senior Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Dr. Scott joined the faculty of Harvard Graduate School of Education during the summer of 2016. At Harvard, Irvin’s concentration is Educational Leadership. Irvin is excited about his work teaching at HGSE in the School Leadership Program and Doctor of Education Leadership Program.

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We are committed to creating learning environments that equitably support every student — especially students of color and low-income students. belenetwork.org

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We are committed to creating learning environments that equitably support every student — especially students of color and low-income students. belenetwork.org