All of us Will Learn: Astou Thiane’s Commitment to All Students
Since undocumented students don’t have the option of leaving their status at the doors of our classrooms, we as teachers must sit in our discomfort, learn about this issue, and act from within the classroom to make sure when we say “All Students Will Learn”, we truly mean All.
This five-word phrase is written on the walls of every KIPP school across the country. The meaning seems clear, but what does it mean in practice? What does it mean to truly ensure every student – documented or undocumented – receives the quality education they deserve and the support they need to imagine endless opportunities in life.
Astou Thiane, ELA teacher at KIPP Academy Middle School, shares her own journey in education to ensure our KIPP teachers support all learners by incorporating discussions of diversity and immigration into our classrooms. In Astou’s words students “cannot learn algebra from you or anything else if their community is living in constant fear and you as a teacher have nothing to say.”
Continuing our Core Values series, watch Astou teach our community about the importance of our role as as educators to affirm, connect, and protect ALL of our students.