Champions for Change

Promoting Inclusiveness and Academic Success for All Students

When your schools begin to mirror the diverse world surrounding them and the workforce their students will one day enter, that’s something to celebrate. That’s exactly the intent of the cultural proficiency training program for Lakota staff called “Champions for Change.”  

At its core is building a stronger culture of inclusiveness that supports high academic achievement for students of all different backgrounds. The program acknowledges a demographic trend at Lakota defined by steady changes in the cultural, racial, socioeconomic and even cognitive make-up of the district’s students and families.

Every ceiling, when reached, becomes a floor.

Aldous Huxley

​The Champions for Change program takes that approach to the next level, offering staff the skills and strategies they can use in the classroom to better understand potential barriers and partner with families for the best possible outcome for all students.  

A “champion” from every Lakota school meets regularly for practical training provided through reading, open dialogue and even expert visitors on topics like cross-cultural communication, understanding poverty and barriers to the achievement gap. These leaders are charged with sharing their learnings and strategies with the rest of their colleagues, in a format that can be applied to their work.