Research reiterates that culturally sustaining schools are safer for everyone; yet, narratives continue to be told by those who hold the power, excluding voices of historically marginalized groups. Not acknowledging those stories in our classrooms hinders the establishment of culturally sustaining school environments. In a time of Islamophobia, Arab American students are being targeted from multiple angles. They are not recognized on the census and are omitted from much of the academic conversation about inclusion, achievement, and equity. This session will focus on research findings about the exclusion of Arab American students and the impacts on their social emotional development and academic achievements. It will also debunk myths and stereotypes that are often associated with this subgroup. Attendees will gain tips for combating bias in the classroom, creating more inclusive curricular materials, examining intrinsic bias, starting critical conversations in class, leveraging technology purposefully, and evaluating how equity issues impact everyone.
