Strategies to Support Action Step 1
Strategy 1
Renamed "Catlin Gabel Culture Assessment" to better reflect the intent and purpose of the survey. While positioned as Interim Director, the current Director of Equity & Inclusion conducted an assessment equitable design process that centers research participants as experts rooted in community-based participatory research, participatory action research, and social action research (Israel, et al., 1998; Kim-Gervey, et al., 2020; Meenahan, et al., 2004; Soriano, 2012).*
Strategy 2
Focus group and individual interviews were conducted with Catlin Gabel constituents to prioritize lived experiences as individuals describe them in their own words. Focus groups and individual interviews were held with Middle and Upper School students, parents and guardians (across divisions), and employees (across departments and divisions).
Strategy 3
With data resulting from focus groups and the application of knowledge and experience from conducting equitable research, five versions of the Culture Assessment were designed (one version per constituent group: Lower School students, Middle School students, Upper School students, parents/guardians, and employees.) The assessment will be sent to the community during the 22-23 school year and in subsequent years.
Strategy 4
The Culture Assessment Review Team (comprised of eight employees, across divisions and departments, identities, and positions) workshopped the Culture Assessment. The goals included:
- Review of overall themes with a focus on inclusion; i.e., are all prominent themes for different constituents included; which themes feel extraneous; consideration of the value of including themes that might prompt discomfort.
- Strategic review of content; i.e., is the assessment asking questions that we can realistically expect to address once we receive feedback?
- Language review; i.e., is the assessment asking questions using language that matches their intent?
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*Israel, B.A., Schulz, A.J., Parker, E.A., & Becker, A.B. (1998). Review of community-based research: Assessing partnership approaches to improve public health. Annual Review of Public Health, 19, 173-202.
Meenahan, T. M., Kiltie, K. M., & McNutt, J. G. (2004). Social Policy Analysis and Practice. Lyceum Books.
Soriano, F. I. (2012). Conducting Needs Assessments: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Sage Publications, Inc.
Kim-Gervey, C., Castillo, I. L., Gallegos J., Kramer, N., Bartelmann, S., & Angus, L. (2020). Crisis de Nuestro Bienestar: A Report on Latino Mental Health in Oregon. Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Human Services.
