Thirteen States Across the Midwest and Plains Regions Come Together in the Fight for Educational Equity
Indianapolis, Indiana, August 31, 2022 – The Region III EAC The Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center (MAP Center)—a project of The Great Lakes Equity Center—is proud to announce that Naperville Community Unit School District 203 (Naperville) has been selected as
the 2022 MAP Center Equity Innovator. Naperville will be recognized at the 2022 Equity Leaders Institute, “Fortifying Ourselves and the Work Toward Education Justice: Attending to the Mental Health of Educators and Students.” Naperville will receive a special plaque and present at the Equity Leaders Institute.
Naperville was selected for the 2022 MAP Center Equity Innovator recognition because of the passion and persistence exhibited by school community stakeholders, educators, and administrators in pursuit of educational equity for all students in the district, with particular attention to groups of students who have been historically marginalized. This work and the creation of an extensive district improvement plan was created in collaboration with the MAP Center.
“What a moment of pride! It’s gratifying for the equity learning and work in which our district has engaged to be recognized at this level,” said Ms. Jackie Thornton, Principal of Naperville Central High School.
The 2022 Equity Leaders Institute, hosted by the MAP Center, consists of participants from 13 states whom will engage in two days of dynamic learning around centering equity in definitions and implications of mental health for adults and students in schools. This annual event will be held virtually this year and galvanize 60+ educators from across the country to collaborate in action planning toward equity and mental health school-based supports.
The Great Lakes Equity Center, an educational research and service center located in Indiana University’s School of Education at IUPUI, engages in equity-focused technical assistance and related research with educational and community agencies focused on systemic improvements to serve all learners with particular focus on educational access, participation and outcomes for those who have been historically marginalized. The collection of projects housed at the Great Lakes Equity Center includes one of four Equity Assistance Centers in the U.S., the Midwest & Plains Equity Assistance Center (MAP Center). The MAP Center provides three tiers of technical assistance related to race, sex, national origin and religion desegregation to K-12 public education agencies in a 13-state region free of charge.
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If you would like to provide press coverage of this event and/or interview a member of the MAP Center executive team, please call the MAP Center at 317-278-3493, or email glec@iupui.edu. For an interview with Naperville, please contact Alexander Mayster, Executive Director of Communications at 630-420-6412, or email AMayster@Naperville203.org.