visitacion valley middle school principal
The work of exploring White Supremacy Culture gave our staff a new framework to define our North Star, being an anti-racist school. 1971 Visitacion Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94134. With after-school programs at both Visitacion Valley Middle School and El Dorado Elementary School, R.O.C.K. Homeowners' Insurance. WSC dehumanizes people of color. Property has a great layout with large kitchen, formal dining room, living room and decent size bedrooms. were the happiest in the whole of San Francisco, to more schools in the city introducing the programme, Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education, recommended the Department for Education designate three schools to pioneer mindfulness teaching, international lessons in education series. At VVMS, we were able to get past defensiveness and excuses and get to the heart of the matter. Bursts of laughter and errant shouts punctuated the buzz. When you have it up, it keeps the rain off, and you can focus on trying to build a culture with kids. Principal and Interest. Price: $759,000. This can create power struggles, a learning opportunity gap, and as the scholar Monique Morris writes, students being pushed out of schools. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider regarding any medical condition. Mortgage insurance $0. One teacher, Mary Chirichella added, "Some teachers had the courage to approach others to have tough conversations about microaggressions. 375. Out of view, city dignitaries and his students waited inside Visitacion Valley Middle School to surprise him with the news: He was the National Middle School Principal of the Year.. Visitacion Valley also got attention from actor Russell Brand, who visited the school just before Christmas on a trip sponsored by the David Lynch Foundation. Therefore, it was necessary to create shared understandings and subsequent commitments, which was facilitated by exploring a framework of White Supremacy Culture. But now I meditate twice a day, and I do it at home. I am deeply honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as Principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School. Others rested them on the backs of their chairs. Perhaps even more remarkable, last years California Healthy Kids Survey from the states education department found that students at Visitacion Valley middle school were the happiest in the whole of San Francisco. 375. Out of view, city dignitaries and his students waited inside Visitacion Valley Middle School to surprise him with the news: He was the National Middle School Principal of the Year. Ft. 45 Arleta Ave, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. Visitacion Valley Middle School. The second controlled study, authored by WestEd, an independent evaluator, found that after seven months of the Quiet Time Program, ninth grade After graduating from Seneca Valley in 1996, I e arned my bachelor's degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. We needed to go deeper than our previous conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Public, 6-8 Serves this home. 1500 Visitacion Ave, San Francisco, CA is a single family home that contains 1,068 sq ft and was built in 1944. Visitacion Valley Middle (San Francisco) is a 06 to 08 grade school in San Francisco, and has made tremendous strides in improving the acceptance rate and education its students receive. Visitacion Valley Middle School - find test scores, ratings, reviews, and 36 nearby homes for sale at realtor.com. Visitacion Valley Middle School provides quality education that prepares students for a fulfilling life in a global society. . Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K.) An assistant principal suggested the idea for quiet time after she saw Hollywood director David Lynch speak about the program and the accompanying benefits of transcendental meditation. Thus, we are building a collective purpose and a commitment to learning. In fact, based on certain urban zip codes, education researchers can predict students attendance rate, behavior, test scores, and overall academic achievement. One teacher, Mary Chirichella added, Some teachers had the courage to approach others to have tough conversations about microaggressions. The work to address racism in schools has been called cultural competency, diversity training, and equity. Some conversations fell flat, and others were superficial. Speak with a TM teacher: 888-LEARN-TM (888-532-7686), Stanford research: TM is twice as effective, Reduced for adults, The results of 17 studies conducted to date in the Bay Area, varying in duration from three months to one year, showed benefits across parameters including reduced stress, increased emotional intelligence, reduced suspensions, (Dan Schreiber/The Examiner) In 2004, two students discovered the partially decomposed body of a 19-year-old stabbing victim. This listing's school district is San Francisco Unified School District. In order to build this ideal structure, we must start at the base and engineer for equity. This took the form of discussions, watching short video clips, annotating readings, and doing some deep personal introspection. As for getting the children to start. Due to stereotype threat, this is especially problematic when students of color are a numerical minority in a classroom or school. As a leader, it is easy to hoard power, claim objectivity in decision making, or believe that there is only one way to fix education. To do it properly Visitacion Valley middle school made the day 30 minutes longer. It is time that we detox and make the invisible visible. We can have equity missions plastered on walls and front that we are about closing the opportunity gap, but we don't go deeper than diversity trainings. Your health questions answered by Times journalists andexperts. ODriscoll was sceptical at first about mediating himself, but since giving it a try he can concentrate better and feels less stressed. A $60K Starting Salary for Teachers? For instance, we might see folks making eye contact, leaning into conversations about racial identity, and asking probing questions. This post originally appeared in KQED's MindShiftblog. With respect to race, the foundational issue is White Supremacy Culture, and we must attack the problem head on. At times, it appeared that we weren't clearly aligned philosophically and did not have a focused call to action. WSC shuts down learning. It can result in white rage, broken relationships, grievances, and further harm to oppressed students. Like most groups of educators, we had spent a few years dancing around topics of racism and struggled to make lasting change. Quiet Time is just like an umbrella. If you would like to learn more about our wonderful school, please join our School Info Session on Tuesday, October 25 at 5 pm or 6pm. In 2008 Mr. Dierke was named MetLife/NASSP National Middle Level Principal of the Year. Research shows that chronic stress can impair healthy brain development and the ability to learn, and that Transcendental Meditation, a stress-reducing technique that involves thinking of a mantra, can reduce After the shooting, the usual culprits were blamed: guns, violent movies and video games, says Rice. She used to have trouble at home and get into fights with her family, says ODriscoll. White Supremacy Culture. Most definitely recommend this school to parents in the neighborhood with kids in Kinder-5th grade. Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco Unified school district (Courtesy of Joe Truss). Therefore, unexamined behaviors of White Supremacy Culture are preventing students from being comfortable or supported enough to learn and flourish. We publish a weekly newsletter to keep parents informed, hold workshops, and offer many opportunities for parent communication and involvement. the Visitacion Valley principal who brought the program to life in 2007. Anther example might be superficially speeding through content or discouraging interruptions for questions. But Quiet Time is a relatively inexpensive intervention Racial-equity leaders must be both intentional and responsive when doing this anti-racist work. 2023 San Francisco Unified School District, Week 25 newsletter in different languages, Week 24 newsletter in different languages, Week 21 newsletter in different languages. Over the next three years, Visitacion Valleys suspensions dropped by 79 percent, attendance rose to 98 percent, MLS # 423724059 He said the neighborhood around Visitacion Valley can be rife with violence and crime. Consequently, all other cognitive functions such as learning, problem solving, or creative thinking stop, (Hammond, 2015) activating our fight, flight, or freeze response. Further, staff moved to thinking about how our school practices perpetuate WSC and send negative messages to our students. Thats what were gradually doing here., The payoff might be most evident in students like Angelica Mahinay, who says, Man, when I hear students getting an attitude, or theyre saying theyre going to fight, I say, Hey! Yet that's where real leadership comes in, the organization noted. At VVMS, we were able to get past defensiveness and excuses and get to the heart of the matter. Parks near 83 Ervine St include Visitacion Valley Greenway, Bayview Park, and Louis Sutter . This home last sold for $840,000 on Feb 2, 2021. "I am feeling elated," he said after the announcement and celebration in the school's auditorium. That funds four and a half (full-time equivalent) Quiet Time staff on site to teach the classes and support students. Students at Visitacion Valley School in South San Francisco observe 15 minutes of quiet time every morning. "Instead, the parents demonstrated their faith in Dierke's leadership by not withdrawing any children from the school.". But this messy middle is precisely when we need to stay curious, be vulnerable, and innovative. At Visitacion Valley Middle School (VVMS), in the San Francisco Unified school district, our brave staff spent a majority of the 2018-19 school year unpacking White Supremacy Culture (WSC). On a personal note, I was born and raised in the midwest, but I have called San Francisco home for the last 13 years. My Only Regret Is That I Didnt Find This Practice Twenty Years Ago , Why I Learned Transcendental Meditation Three Years Ago And Why I Still Practice It , 6 Benefits Of Transcendental Meditation (And How You Can Get Started Today) , James Dierke, Principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School, urban students, drugs, gangs and violence, Newly published research on the effect of the Quiet Time/Transcendental Meditation program, MetLife/NASSP National Middle Level Principal of the Year. Its important to note that these responses work to maintain current consciousness and white supremacy. But this messy middle is precisely when we need to stay curious, be vulnerable, and innovative. "He's like our own American Idol," Garcia said. Even I, a black educator who has studied ethnic studies and critical race theory, still perpetuate tenets of White Supremacy Culture. Theres an explosion of mental health problems among young people and its going to be incredibly expensive to treat in the future. One does not have to be a white supremacist to hold these beliefs, because we have all been conditioned through exposure to media, parenting, schooling, and our interactions with power structures. The letter is also available inChinese/andEspaol. Ka warbixi maqnaanshaha. Visitors are always amazed, Dierke said afterwards, but it works. Service Learning James Dierke, Principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco, like so many thousands of principals and teachers who are working in inner-city schools throughout the US, knows how frustrating it can be trying to provide an education in Americas low income, high stress localities. Like most groups of educators, we had spent a few years dancing around topics of racism and struggled to make lasting change. 9 . Two other schools in SFUSD have begun their own Quiet Time programs and a district spokesperson said other schools have begun asking questions about Visitacion Valleys success. It is invisible and it is toxic. It has 358 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. Mad Sal's Dockside Inn in Ale House Alley, and Mission Blue. years of my tenure, the school was dominated by stress and fighting. But in the last few years, he said, we have had very few fights.. We focus on equitable teaching practices and encourage student participation. By Kyle Palmer On a recent morning at Visitacion Valley Middle School in South San Francisco, Principal James Dierke looked out over the school's auditorium at more than 100 eighth graders. However, when we name oppression, racism, and more explicitly White Supremacy Culture, folks have to determine where they stand, what they value, and why they work in education. Please use 651-683-6969 Ext. Check out the 2022-23 academic calendar here. I value growth because I am constantly reviewing data, asking how we can be better for our students. So the privately funded non-profit Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education (CWAE) was set up. The first day of school will be Wednesday, August 17, 2022. This leads to resistance or failure to follow through, maintaining a status quo of disproportionate outcomes for students based on race. When the bells sound twice a day at Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco, students who used to be too rowdy to even sit still close their eyes and spend 15 minutes clearing their minds. Visitacion Valley Middle School, Public District Grades 6-8; Revere (Paul) Elementary School, Public District Grades KG-8; . This requires dismantling White Supremacy Culture and building a new foundation for an anti-racist and empowering education. "He has put his heart and soul into making sure his students feel safe and secure in their school building and has developed a school climate that nurtures academic excellence," Tirozzi said. Public, 6-8 Serves this home. The teacher has also seen dramatic transformations in his students. What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? This coming year, we are looking at how to build more community in the classroom, how to unify our students across cultural differences, and how to reduce bias in our discipline systems. NOTE: Due to late submission for 2021-22 school year data collection, schools in Texas and Washington were not included in this locator tool.To search for public . This took the form of discussions, watching short video clips, annotating readings, and doing some deep personal introspection. I saw this personally at VVMS, as situations got awkward, uncomfortable, and uncertain. For example, we looked at how our implicit bias when responding to student behavior leads to racially disproportionate discipline incidents and we organically identified restorative practices as a focus for the following year. provides quality after-school programming to children in the area. Some conversations fell flat, and others were superficial. Students then repeat a personal mantra (a word from Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language) in their heads until they reach a deep feeling of relaxation. They thought their classmates would be making fun of them, staring at them, maybe possibly even hitting them, he says. Grades: 6-8. Property taxes $170 Home insurance $105 . Home has a beautiful view with a nice size backyard for entertainment. Further, we must look at how it has affected us and how we have perpetuated White Supremacy Culture. Students seemed happy, says ODriscoll. C. Visitacion Valley Middle School is a public school located in SAN FRANCISCO, CA. Distance: 1.7 mi. Can You Safely Lose Weight While Breast-Feeding? . He attributes that to higher levels of job satisfaction. Please read our Welcome Back letter. Of even greater interest, the increase in G.P.A. Most of the students seemed disinterested in Dierkes announcements about the springs impending graduation, upcoming field trips, and recent birthdays. A lot has changed over this period, including three principals coming and going, but ODriscoll puts the turnaround down to the one constant: the calming influence of the meditation programme. Even in failure, there is growth, if you are using a critical lens to understand and improve. Balboa High School. This might include wanting to win an argument, not making space for others to talk, and rushing through meetings. I thought it was just another fad. James Dierke, Principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco, like so many thousands of principals and teachers who are working in inner-city schools throughout the US, knows how frustrating it can be trying to provide an education in America's low income, high stress localities. $1,041. You can see past weeks' newsletters as well. White Supremacy Culture. For years, educators' requests for more. Education in collaboration with the San Francisco Unified School District research department, had more good news. Since beginning Quiet Time, Dierke said things have improved: Daily attendance last year was more than 98 percent, and there have been fewer suspensions and higher test scores. In 2007, James Dierke, then the principal of the Visitacion Valley Middle School in a troubled neighborhood in San Francisco, was determined to improve both the quality of education and student behavior in his school. This presentation was made as part of a National Education Summit on Quiet Time in the Classroom Linda Esposito - What One Urban School District Can Teach the Country About Stress Relief Huffington Post, Report an absence. Once the students got over that, they were open to trying to meditate. We might also see students connecting their identities to their learning and applying it back to their communities to manifest social justice. 420 Harkness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134 | MLS #422713413 | Zillow By Owner New Construction These properties are currently listed for sale. I am privileged to be able to continue to work with our dedicated staff, AMAZING students, and supportive parents. The 1,233 sq. increased attendance and increased academic performance. White Supremacy Culture. These kids hear gunshots on their way to and from school. They worked harder, paid more attention, were easier to teach and the number of fights fell dramatically.. In the first year of Quiet Time meditation, suspensions at Visitacion Valley were reduced by 45%. $365. During those times, students could either practice Transcendental The second pitfall I will offer is avoiding the tendency to externalize the work of dismantling White Supremacy Culture. They simultaneously tell us that we are not good enough and keep us to the bottom rungs of racial hierarchy if we do not assimilate. This change comes at the cost of detaching ourselves from ourselves, which also is dehumanizing. to meditation? With the help of the David Lynch Foundation and the San Francisco-based Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education (CWAE), Visitacion Valley trained teachers on how to conduct Quiet Time sessions in their class. View SFUSD's most recent athletics participation dataor past years' reports. I think of my mantra, and it helps me calm down., Bob Roth, Executive Director for the David Lynch Foundation, said meditation is not just a way for students to relax but has real cognitive benefits. Otherwise, white fragility will shut the anti-racist party down; its an equity consciousness buzz kill, for real. Our kids are coming to school. Visitacion Valley Middle School Unclaimed 1971 Visitacion Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94134 Contact info Website 3 /10 GreatSchools Rating 5 reviews Public school 375 Students Grades 6-8 Updates Compare 3 /10 GreatSchools Summary Rating 2/10 Test Scores below average 4/10 Academic Progress below average 1/10 Equity below average $1,862. Find COVID-19 testing, vaccine, and daily health screening information. Yes, this is built into our systems of power, structures, policies, and rules. As a result of these high-stress conditions, thousands of schools have predictable problems: low attendance, high violence, and low performance. They are more motivated, more confident, more focused, more successful and more joyful. Use the arrows to change between different dates on the calendar. The Visitacion Valley Middle school vision is that our students will strength their passion for learning, develop the skills to become empowered community members, and gain the knowledge to be ready for high school with a clear path to college, career, and future success.