Dr. Ayo Olufade, Ph.D.’s Post

We are working with educators to remove the barriers that girls of color have in learning and persisting in STEM. Read how at https://bit.ly/41hrZRV.

Bridging the Cultural Gap in Our Classrooms Did you know that while 54% of our students are of color, 82% of their teachers are not? This startling disparity not only affects representation but deeply impacts the learning and growth of students of color. In my TEDx Talk, I explore the profound implications of this gap and share actionable ways we can begin to bridge it. Join me in a conversation about representation, inclusion, and empowerment in education. Your thoughts and shares can help ignite change!   🎥Watch, like, comment, and share to see how a community can truly uplift a classroom. 🌐https://bit.ly/4cgBFPq

Bridging the Cultural Gap in Our Classrooms Did you know that while 54% of our students are of color, 82% of their teachers are not? This startling disparity not only affects representation but deeply impacts the learning and growth of students of color. In my TEDx Talk, I explore the profound implications of this gap and share actionable ways we can begin to bridge it. Join me in a conversation about representation, inclusion, and empowerment in education. Your thoughts and shares can help ignite change!   🎥Watch, like, comment, and share to see how a community can truly uplift a classroom. 🌐https://bit.ly/4cgBFPq

In a time when trust in democratic institutions is declining, civics education has never been more essential. A recent article by high school freshman Robert Gilbert in The Hechinger Report highlights the alarming reality that many students today know less about civics than previous generations. Yet, they face an even greater need for these critical skills. As Robert points out, some schools have deprioritized civics education due to standardized testing or fears of controversy. But without understanding how our government works or how to engage effectively as citizens, how can the next generation navigate and strengthen our democracy? It’s time to bring civics education back to the forefront. The future of our democracy depends on it. #CivicsEducation #Leadership #EducationForAll #Democracy #WGULearners #WGU

Let’s get to the real talk about inclusion. My new role at Spectrum Gaming is to develop a learning community for autistic young people. In a perfect world, (in the world that I see written into most EHCPs actually), no one would need me to do this new job. Mainstream school would be as inclusive as needed and meet all needs, all the time. Of course, that is a pretty daft statement. No one would expect to be able to have one job that could create all of the products we need and meet all of the expectations of humans all the time. We expect that of our schools and teachers though. For many autistic young people, mainstream school is hell. Sensory hell. Executive function hell. Social interaction hell. Communication and mental health hell. We push it to make these young people appear included, even though they may not wish to be. If autistic burnout hits, then the associated trauma and school based distress can cause a rift between the child and their school regarding attendance. Creating an alternative where young people have the opportunity to feel safe enough to interact again and to move into learning again. “Inclusion is not about bringing people into what already exists; it is about transforming our culture, spaces and norms to create a new, better space for everyone.” Caroline Keep This is one of the most comprehensive list of resources regarding inclusion, education and neurodivergence (also my podcast gets a mention!). Most definitely worth checking out. 🥰

We just published a new blog post exploring how we can make STEM education a pathway to social equity. From inclusive classrooms to accessible resources, let’s build a future where innovation and opportunity go hand in hand! Check out the post for insights on making STEM a tool for empowerment and change. #STEMeducation #SocialEquity #InnovationForAll

This week's #stemeducation focus piece discusses the public perception of STEMED and its progress over the years. https://lnkd.in/eJCBbyXb

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the THINC Foundation, a new 501(c)(3) educational advocacy nonprofit that is dedicated to promoting Transparency, Honesty, and Integrity in the Classroom. THINC’s mission is to champion an inclusive approach to Ethnic Studies education that promotes multicultural acceptance and prepares students to succeed in an increasingly diverse nation, while fighting the "Liberated" approach to Ethnic Studies education. Inclusive Ethnic Studies highlights the achievements, struggles, and contributions of America's rich tapestry of ethnic groups, neither shying away from historical prejudice nor letting it define our present. We want our classrooms to cultivate curiosity, mutual understanding, and respect, where every child feels seen, heard, and valued. Liberated Ethnic Studies (LES) – a critical race theory-informed political ideology that often is called “Critical Ethnic Studies” – teaches kids to see everything through the lens of race. This worldview inverts Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous dream of judging individuals by the content of their character rather than by their skin color. LES sees success as a zero-sum game, teaching our children to distrust and resent one another, and attributes all unequal outcomes to racism. For the sake of our shared American future, LES can't be allowed to expand further. THINC will combat it by gathering data, providing resources to grassroots advocates, and raising awareness about the dangers of LES across the country. We look forward to partnering with educators, parents, other nonprofit organizations, and communities to create classrooms where children are taught how to think, not what to think. Learn more about THINC at https://thinc.org/ and join us in shaping a brighter future for all students. #THINCCritically #InclusiveEthnicStudies #THINCForKids #THINCAboutOurSchools #THINCAboutOurFuture #EducationNotActivism #EducationNotPolitics

Love this! We need more role models and STEM role models. "41% of girls with role models report an interest in STEM subjects, compared to 26% of girls without a role model." And what a bonus that it improves self-esteem. This is how we get more Women in Tech! #womenintech #STEM #WIT2024

THINC believes that our positions are shared by huge majorities of the American public - but we had to check. To inform our position, we commissioned a nationwide survey of nearly 1,500 parents of children ages 0-17. The results are clear. 93% of parents support Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous quote: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." This statement is antithetical to the teachings of Liberated Ethnic Studies (LES), which assess people based on immutable characteristics like their ethnicity or race. 83% of parents believe that the value of diversity of thought should be taught in the classroom alongside ethnic and religious diversity. 81% of parents want their children to learn the importance of a colorblind society – one that primarily takes into considerations a person’s actions and character, rather than their race or ethnicity. 88% of parents believe that it is important for their school district’s K-12 curriculum to be publicly available. 63% of parents believe it is unacceptable for teachers to share their personal political views with their students. 70% support inclusive Ethnic Studies education that equally values the contributions of all ethnic groups in American society. By contrast, just 40% support teaching Liberated Ethnic Studies, which was defined in the survey as “an explicitly political framework that excludes the histories of ethnic groups deemed to be white and encourages students to participate in social justice activism and to ‘engage in acts of resistance.’” The data show that THINC’s commonsense positions – upholding colorblind equality, supporting curriculum transparency, and evaluating people as individuals – are shared by significant majorities of American parents. Join with THINC to advocate for transparency, honesty, and integrity in the classroom. Learn more at https://thinc.org. #THINCClearly #EducationNotActivism #THINCAboutOurFuture #InclusiveEthnicStudies