ON THE MESA
Inclusive Teaching at Cate:
Looking Back and Looking Ahead Katie Prudden '21 reviews an assignment in Spanish class in 2019.
By Kate Parker '85
I
n the early 2010s, Cate embarked on an ambitious project to rebuild its curriculum and its academic structures in order to support inquiry, create a school environment that fostered independent learning and curiosity, and embed diversity, equity, and inclusion work in all aspects of Cate life. To that end, a series of high-impact changes rolled out over the ensuing decade—so much so that alumni of just 10 years ago would be quite startled by some of the differences they’d see if they attended Cate today. Over the past several years, the School has eliminated Advanced Placement (AP) courses in favor of unique and independent advanced coursework; rebuilt the Humanities program from the ground up; moved to a trimester system; switched from short, frequent classes to a longer block schedule; and intentionally restructured the Convocation program to support DEI goals.
26
CATE B ULLET IN / F ALL 2020
Recommended Inclusive Practice Teaching Resources BOOKS Hammond: Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain Chávez and Longerbeam: Teaching Across Cultural Strengths Hess and McAvoy: The Political Classroom Feldman: Grading for Equity ARTICLES NAIS “Principles of Good Practice--Equity and Justice” Hughes “How Can We Prepare Teachers to Work with Culturally Diverse Students and their Families?” OTHER MEDIA Invisibilia Podcast: “The Culture Inside” National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Video: “How Schools Can Improve Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Practices”