Articles

Best Wishes To Percy Brown In His Next Chapter!

Percy Brown is resigning from his position as Director for Systems Improvement at the end of this school year. Percy started working in the MCPASD in 2012 as the Dean of Students in the Red Maple House at Middleton High School After two years in that role, Percy transitioned to the district office and served as the Director for Equity and Student Achievement, a role that evolved to the Director for Systems Improvement in recent years.

Percy’s leadership has been vital to the district’s equity efforts. While a Dean at MHS, Percy was instrumental in establishing the Student Voice Union and co-advising the Black Student Union These student leadership groups gave students opportunities to connect on deep levels; to learn about history, equity and social justice with the support of powerful organizations such as the Minority Student Achievement Network (MSAN); and to advocate for equitable change to school and district leaders and the Board of Education. The “Land, People, and Power” course at MHS, which is required of all freshmen, grew out of these students’ advocacy for a high school ethnic studies course.

Percy also coordinated student spring break trips focused on historical and cultural learning. He shepherded students and staff to places such as Detroit, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Memphis. On these trips, students experienced life-changing, unforgettable learning, not only about history, but about identity, connection, and community For some students, it was the first time they had been immersed in racially diverse urban environments and seen many professionals of diverse backgrounds, which served as a source of inspiration and possibility.

During his tenure at the district level, Percy served as an MCPASD representative on the MSAN Research Practitioners’ Council and co-coordinated the efforts of the District Equity Leadership Team. He facilitated many equity-related conversations among district and school leaders.

Percy collaborated with the National Equity Project, MCPASD colleagues, and partners at the University of Wisconsin to design powerful professional development opportunities that have impacted hundreds of educators over the years Some of these opportunities have included the MCPASD Equity Institutes and the Hidden Curriculum course series (Black Experience, Latino Experience, and LGBTQ+ Experience), which were widely attended and deeply impactful. In 2017, Percy co-presented with MCPASD and UW colleagues on our partnership at the American Educational Research Association.

Percy’s facilitation of book studies (such as The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness and The White Racial Frame) and community rounds for groups, including students, families, staff, school boards, and governmental agencies have led to individual, team, and system development and improvement. His “Black Excellence Series” helped staff and community members better understand the contributions and strength of Black people throughout history and the present day; he has given presentations to students and school staff on the history of the n-word; and he helped to co-found the Dane County Equity Consortium

Percy has a way of teaching people about topics such as implicit bias, history, and student and staff empowerment that engage and inspire others to action. He is a bridge-builder who calls people in.

At his core, Percy is a student advocate and servant leader who centers on change, persistence, and sacrifice in order to model and create the “Beloved Community” described by Dr Martin Luther King, Jr

The MCPASD thanks Percy for his years of service to our district, our students and their families, our staff, and the greater community We wish him love and success now and into the future He will be focusing on his consulting business, an endeavor that takes him across the country to work with school districts and school teams in pursuit of equitable outcomes for students.

MCPASD Values its Employees: Board of Education Approves 6% Salary Increase for 2023-2024 School Year

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) has always recognized the critical role that its employees play in shaping the future of its students That's why the district has made it a priority to provide its staff with competitive compensation ackages ecently, the Board of Education took a significant step towards this goal by approving a % salary/wage increase for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year The decision to locate over 4 million budget dollars towards salaries/wages is a testament to the district's commitment to its employees

The 6% salary/wage increase applies to all employee position groups defined as regularly contracted, such as administrators, supervisors, teachers, para-educators, professional services support personnel (PSSP), custodial/maintenance, food service, and transportation

The salary/wage increase is a clear indication that the district is committed to creating a great place to work for all Staff can expect an email from employee services with more information in the coming weeks

Senior Leaders to Meet with BIPOC Staff for Feedback and Goal-Setting

On Wednesday, May 24, 2023, senior leaders will meet with BIPOC staff (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) at the high school launch pad in room 1901 from 4:30 - 5:45 PM. Staff will be paid for their attendance. ALL BIPOC Staff are invited to attend!

The purpose of the meeting is to go over feedback collected from BIPOC meetings earlier this year. This feedback detailed the district's strengths, weaknesses, and improvement opportunities from our BIPOC staff

Senior leaders will be going over the feedback and also explaining some goals that will be set next year in our District Strategy map to help support our BIPOC staff along with our students. These goals will be designed to address the issues and concerns raised in the feedback and to ensure that our BIPOC staff feel supported and valued in our district.

Overall, this meeting is an important opportunity for BIPOC staff to have their voices heard and to provide feedback that will help shape the future of our district. By working together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all members of our community.

We hope to see you there!