At Bell School, we believe that providing the best education for our students is directly tied to having the most motivated and knowledgable educators. A major component of this is Professional Development, where our educators and administrators are given the opportunities necessary to refine, expand, polish and perfect their crafts. By supporting Professional Development at Bell, you can help ensure that our educators and administrators are given the newest methods, techniques and tools to help every Bell Student be successful is this ever changing world.
As part of Professional Development, Bell will continue to partner with Single Story. Single Story is an organization dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work in schools, and they develop strategic plans which meet the unique needs of their school partners. At Bell, Single Story will be providing staff and parent equity training and will advise our administration on current initiatives. Testimonials (all from Single Story's site) from other elementary school administrators who have engaged in this important work include:
Working with Single Story Inc. and Brian, in particular, has been transformational for the NPES faculty. The full faculty workshops and SEED seminars have allowed us to dig deeply and profoundly into issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our own community, as well as the broader world, in incredibly meaningful ways. Brian is the perfect facilitator to lead educators on this journey as he brings heart, a vast amount of knowledge and expertise, vulnerability, humor, and passion to his work. We are so grateful for the partnership with Single Story Inc.
- Head of School, North Park Elementary School
I’ve worked with Single Story, Inc. at two schools, public and private. Their insights, knowledge, and patience helped me grow as a professional and as a person. They helped transform institutions that serve thousands of people, changing and improving the trajectories of our lives and our communities.
- Former Head of School, Ogden International School of Chicago
Single Story has a unique way of pushing the envelope around your thinking on how you approach race and equity throughout your organization. Brian and Kellie are genuine and intentional about their work. I always look forward to the sessions. They constantly provide things that I can add to my toolbox.
- Assistant Principal, Skinner North Classical School
SEED as facilitated by Brian Corley of Single Story, Inc., has been incredibly valuable to me, personally, and to our Pulaski community. Teachers who have interrogated their biases and have practiced having difficult conversations about race and racism are able to model, instruct, challenge, and support students in having these conversations. Teachers who have done this work are able to engage with the very important questions students have about our society and support their inquiry in a way that generates compassion and understanding. SEED participants are able to see the ways in which our classroom practices, norms, curricula, and books are shaped within systemic racism, and with this understanding we can begin to break down and build more just approaches. Our children need and deserve to have teachers who are prepared.
- Special Education Teacher, Pulaski International School of Chicago
