You are involved with a local group called Heart Work. Explain the mission of this organization.

Heart Work is a group of Fort Worth women that are working together to highlight and uncover how racial injustice impacts our local community. In addition to sharing perspectives, we commit to seeking understanding through self-reflection and inquiry. It is a collective commitment as well as a singular one. The “heart” in heart work requires us to look within- to find our own biases and perhaps the ways in which we contribute (voluntarily or involuntarily) to systems of inequality.

What inspired your involvement with Heart Work and what have you learned?

As soon as I learned about the group, I was ready to participate. After the George Floyd protests when the global lens was focused on racial justice, I wanted to be a part of the dialogue. I was pleased that Heart Work had a local focus as I was convinced that smaller more immediate circles would produce more meaningful change.

I have learned that there is so much about race in America that we just don’t know. That means people are negotiating issues of racial justice and systemic inequality without foundational understanding. Yet, that is not an excuse. It is up to us, ALL of us to educate ourselves so that we don’t repeat past mistakes; so that we can move forward and not backwards.

How can others get involved?

Others can get involved by joining the Heart Work community and being willing to listen and learn and then speak. We value your voice, but your ears are just as important. I am always surprised by the number of participants who listen without saying a word. My belief is that they are reflecting, and that reflection is a vital part of the work we have to do.

You are also an adjunct professor at a local community college. What do you teach your students?

I teach them that their opinions matter. I teach them how to make their ideas understood. I take great joy in helping them master the art of critical thinking and harness the power of their individual voices. As a writing instructor, I think that’s the most important thing. Once you can communicate effectively, you sparkle and shine differently.

You’re passionate about literacy as a civil right. What improvements could the education system make to achieve equitable learning opportunities for kids of all ages?

If we want to get education right for all kids, we are going to have to do a better job of actually teaching foundational skills. That means better teacher preparation and more responsive, reflective instruction. The teacher is actually the most important factor in the educational equation. The teacher must be trained to do the job; and the more vulnerable the student, the better prepared the teacher needs to be. We aren’t getting that part right. It’s easy to get caught up in the “achievement gap.” Yet, if our current educational practices were stronger, the gap wouldn’t matter as much. If the majority of students (Black, Brown or White) were headed for the moon, the ones that didn’t make it would still be among the stars. Currently, many aren’t getting off the ground. If we think of literacy as a civil right, then it becomes our duty to make sure everyone is successful.

You have three kids of your own. How do you balance work, community involvement and family life?

I always laugh and say that if I actually wrote my full schedule out on paper, I would insist that I couldn’t possibly do it all. But I do! And then I remember that I’m able to “do it all” because I’m not alone. I have an amazing husband who is an equally amazing father. As a team, we just seem to always make it work. It’s kind of like magic.

Originally from Ohio, you found yourself in Fort Worth. What do you love about our city?

I love that Fort Worth is a big city with a small-town feel. There is a real sense of community in Fort Worth, and I think that’s what keeps me here. I can truly say, “I love where I live.”

Although she prefers burnt orange to purple, Hannah Bush is happy to call Fort Worth her new home. She began freelance writing a few years ago to break up the monotony of her 9 to 5 and to prove to her parents that she’s making good use of her journalism degree. When she’s not hanging out with her cat, Hannah can likely be found on a patio with her fiancé, talking about her cat.

The post Worthy Convos: Elisabeth Ivy on Family, Work, and Doing the Heart Work first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Heart Work (HW): Tell us a little about yourself and your teaching history.

Grecia Flores (Ms. Flores): My name is Grecia Flores. I am a 1^st grade Dual Language teacher, going into my second year at T.A Sims elementary. I live in Dallas but work here in Fort Worth ISD. I am a UNT alumna and a part of the 2019 DFW Teach for America corps. I have always been interested in education and have taken on other roles in my career, such as teaching assistant and substitute, to better prepare me for my role as a dual language educator.

HW: Tell us about T.A. Sims and your students – the challenges and payoffs, highs and lows, home life and school life, etc.

Ms. Flores: T.A Sims is a wonderful campus that caters to students of various ages here in Ft. Worth ISD. Our staff is very supportive of one another, we have outstanding students, and our families are always supportive and willing to lend a hand whenever possible. We have built a community of inclusiveness within our families and always aim to promote family involvement in all areas. We serve a diverse group of students with diverse needs and work to meet each individual student’s needs at all times. We offer various extracurricular programs to promote student/community engagement such as running club, an after-school program, football, cheerleading, Battle of the Books, and UIL.

HW: We know how challenging it will be for kids to learn virtually for the first several weeks of school. How have you prepared to connect with them as a group and individually?

Ms. Flores: Given the current circumstances, we at T.A. Sims have decided to host a virtual “Meet the Teacher” night to allow those relationships to start flourishing between our families and students. We acknowledge that this isn’t an ideal situation for anyone, and we would love nothing more than to host a meeting in person, and although that might not be an option, we still want families to know that they can count on us staff for whatever they may need during this period of time. We want families and students to feel seen, heard, safe, and supported during virtual/in-person learning.

HW: How has FWISD addressed your students’ particular needs (during the pandemic and before) and what can our community do to fill in the gaps?

Ms. Flores: FWISD has always been proactive and attentive to the needs of their students and families within the community. During the pandemic they have been extremely inclusive and welcoming to any feedback from teachers and families as well, taking it into consideration before making important decisions involving stakeholders.

FWISD also set-up meal pick-up services across the district to ensure that students and families were receiving fresh meals daily, during the pandemic, a service that continued through summer school as well.

HW: We are excited about the mentorship/book buddy program – how do you think this will benefit your students? How much time should volunteers plan to commit to each week?

Ms. Flores: This will benefit our scholars because it will further instill/promote a love for literacy and offer them an opportunity to build relationships with mentors that they wouldn’t have otherwise. Yes, they have their teachers and staff at T.A Sims as systems of support but knowing that they have an extra advocate, and extra system of support will hopefully promote literacy skills in a fun and non-intimidating setting.

HW: What type of work has impacted your students the most, for example, STEM learning, book clubs, community programs?

Ms. Flores: I believe community programs have been the most impactful because they offer students a chance to work alongside others to reach certain goals and give back to the community that they are a part of. I believe it brings our students a sense of ownership and pride.

HW: If you could grant one big wish for your school, what would it be?

Ms. Flores: A big wish that I would grant for my campus would be for all of our students to have the best access to an equitable education, the necessary resources and overwhelming systems of support, to allow their love for school to flourish. I want our students to meet every goal they set in mind, regardless of how impossible it might seem at first. I also hope that they grow up to be outstanding, brilliant, compassionate, curious, and innovative individuals. Overall, I wish for our students to be proud of their community, proud of their campus, proud of their teachers, but most importantly, proud of themselves.

The post Heart Work Q&A with T.A. Sims’ Grecia Flores first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.