February 11, 2025

Written By Kathy Ebenal

In Attendance: Kelly Myers, Quinn Howell, Jemme Rippe, Stephanie Ota, Tory Blackwell, Collaine Kelly, Luz Escobar

Agenda & Notes:

  • As always…quick reminder of our ‘center’

  • Review notes and action items from last meeting

  • Discuss change idea next steps…

FEEDBACK/INPUT/QUESTIONS:

  • Should we get former employees to sit for empathy interviews?

  • Should we pick a ‘neutral’ place to do the interview?

  • Empower the employee to choose place and way (in person or Zoom)

  • Possibly do empathy interviews as ‘teams’ (student and teacher)

  • Should we do group or individual empathy interviews?

  • Give the participant the questions in advance for best responses

  • What kind of supports should we have in place for interviews that ‘go wrong’ or have unresolved issues?

  • What are the district numbers when it comes to retention?

  • Link to Cultivating Belonging survey link here.

Action Items (centered on the decision to center change the idea on empathy interviewing district staff of color to increase retention and recruitment):

  • Find out how our district Zoom’s are recorded (to assure privacy for participants)

  • Get demographics of our building in preparation for interviews 

  • Would you like me to tailor these questions to a specific role or context?

Here are seven empathy interview questions to explore the retention of staff members of color in a school district:

  • Can you describe a few times when you felt truly included and heard in your school community? What contributed to that experience? 3

  • What challenges, if any, have you faced as a staff member of color in this district, and how have they impacted your experience? 2

  • If you could change one thing to improve retention for staff members of color, what would it be and why? 6

  • What support systems or professional development opportunities have helped you thrive, and what additional resources would be beneficial? 5

  • What factors do you believe influence whether staff members of color stay or leave the district? 4

  • Is there anything you would like us to know about? 7

Can you share your experience working in this school district? What aspects of the environment make you feel valued and supported? 1 (excluded as same as 3)

Kathy Ebenal
Next

January 14, 2025