Woodland Parents, Community Invited to Implicit Bias Presentation

Woodland parents and community members are invited to attend a presentation on Thursday, Sept. 20 called "History and Impact of Implicit Bias."

The presentation, scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, September 20 at Woodland Middle School, is being given by Roger Moreano, a Gurnee resident and president of B.R.I.D.G.E.S. (Building Respectful, Inclusive, Diverse & Globally-Engaged Schools).

Moreano has been working as a consultant with the district's Equity and Inclusivity Committee, which started meeting in August to maintain a focus of everyone in our diverse community having a voice, feeling welcomed and being challenged for academic excellence. The committee grew out of a Woodland strategic plan goal under Student Learning, Student Well-Being and Staff Recruitment and Development. The Student Well-Being goal says, "Create learning opportunities for stakeholders addressing the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of the "Whole Child."

"Woodland administrators have participated in two implicit bias trainings and I anticipate those who attend Thursday night will have the same reactions and understand perspectives through a new lens," said Dr. Steve Thomas, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, who chairs the Equity and Inclusivity Committee.