Newsletter
Exciting new opportunities for Spring 2021!
Greetings, friends and colleagues,
Last week marked one year since the shutdown began–when, as a country, we began a year of unprecedented loss and disruption. For children across the U.S. (and the world), the pandemic has become the defining moment of their childhood. And for World Savvy’s school partners, educators and students, this has been a year of navigating unparalleled ambiguity and change.
At World Savvy, working to build an inclusive, future-ready education system also means embracing how to navigate constant change–in our communities and the world around us–and to respond in ways that move us toward more equitable, inclusive and sustainable systems. In reflecting on the immense challenges of the last year, we’ve also been privileged to see so much optimism, creativity and resilience from our network of partners. Administrators like Alec Wyeth, Cindy Derrane and Margo Fraczek in Norwood Public Schools (MA), who leaned into uncertainty and created an opportunity to think differently about teaching and learning. They created new frameworks that center equity, cultural and global competence as the priority for their learners–and engaged educators district-wide in reflecting on their own teaching practices. Or Principal Holly Kleppe in Minneapolis, who is transforming Jefferson Community School (K-8) in Minneapolis into a Global Studies and Humanities focused school–and engaging her entire community in the process.
World Savvy’s team has also leaned into our values – believing big things are possible, noticing and disrupting exclusionary patterns and intentionally growing and changing – to respond in ways that drive our critical mission forward. We’ve used the last year not only to pivot and expand our thinking about responsive programs–creating more than a dozen new offerings and bringing 100% of our work online–but also to welcome new school partners from Nebraska, Minnesota, Massachusetts and beyond. We’ve tripled our portfolio of school partners. And our team has expanded across the country, and our commitment to equity has deepened as we work toward becoming an anti-racist organization.
As we reflect on a year distinguished by a global pandemic, a national reckoning with racial injustice, and the fragility of our democracy – it is clear that World Savvy’s work is more urgent than ever. And so we have some big things on the horizon, including continuing to expand our program team and hosting our first ever virtual Be Bold Benefit: Building the Future of Education, where we’ll share more about our Vision 2030 plans for increased impact in education across the country–and the world.
We are so grateful for the opportunity to partner with you in this movement. Thank you for all you do to support us.
In solidarity,
World Savvy
At World Savvy, we know that our work has never been more urgent, nor has the demand for it ever been so high. In order to meet this moment, our team is growing! Meet the newest World Savvy staff members, and then keep scrolling to learn about current opportunities to join the team!
Shumit DasGupta joined World Savvy in November 2020 as our Bay Area Professional Learning Facilitator. He brings deep experience in classroom teaching and teacher training as well as science, art, and engineering. Shumit is excited to use science as a vehicle to promote equitable pedagogy and the building of community with World Savvy’s partners, educators, and students.
Lynnea Atlas-Ingebretson also joined World Savvy in November 2020 as our new Chief of Staff, supporting facilitation and leadership of strategic and operational planning, budget administration, infrastructure and capacity building, talent management and governance. By translating vision into strategy and objectives, Lynnea is already supporting World Savvy’s ambitious goal to reimagine education for the 21st Century and impact broader shifts in education policy and practice.
Andrea Satter joined World Savvy in January 2021 as our new Minnesota Executive Director, where she oversees the organization’s growth strategy in the Minnesota region, expanding program and fundraising partnerships. We are thrilled to have Andrea, a successful project leader, facilitator, trainer, public speaker, event planner, and community collaborator, leading this work in Minnesota!
We are thrilled to announce that World Savvy is hiring! If you’re looking to join a diverse team of outstanding people who share your passion for reimagining education in a way that equitably engages and inspires all students, and want to be a part of an inclusive and dynamic workplace, check out one of our opportunities below.
- K-8 Professional Learning Facilitator (Minnesota)
- K-12 Professional Learning Facilitator (Minnesota)
Honoring and Celebrating Black History All Year Long
Black History Month 2021 may have drawn to a close, but that doesn’t mean our commitment to learning and celebrating Black history should end. In the spirit of continuing to learn and do the work of anti-racism together, we are sharing some resources we love for Black History Month and beyond. Check them out here!
“World Savvy Program Team is advancing our equity learning this spring by listening to and discussing podcasts that focus on race and racism in the U.S. Our team enjoys making direct connections between our equity learning and our World Savvy work. This learning definitely informs how we can best support our students, educators, and learning communities.” – Susan Costello Tennyson, Chief Program Officer
Strange Fruit (31:04)
Billie Holiday helped shape American popular music with her voice and unique style. But, her legacy extends way beyond music with one song in particular — “Strange Fruit.” The song paints an unflinching picture of racial violence, and it was an unexpected hit. But singing it brought serious consequences. Source: NPR Throughline
Unwritten (35:53)
The color of your skin influences your life in prison, from sharing food to celebrating birthdays. Meet Andrew Sabatino (Drew) and Arthur Snowden (AR), two guys whose close friendship often challenges the unwritten rules of race relations on the inside.
Source: Raddiotopia’s Ear Hustle
You’re invited to World Savvy’s Be Bold Benefit: Building the Future of Education!
Get your tickets today to our Thursday, May 20 virtual fundraising event and come connect with others who want to make the world a better place. Attendees will hear from compelling speakers, get a glimpse into World Savvy’s programs, and learn firsthand what inspires our teachers and students every day. Click here to reserve your spot.
Share these upcoming opportunities and resources with the educators in your life!
World Savvy Partnerships
We partner with schools to build inclusive, adaptive, future-ready learning environments. Our multi-year partnerships are designed collaboratively with school leaders to align with each school’s strategic vision and goals.
Online Learning Opportunities
World Savvy offers professional learning that introduces key elements of our educational approach and effective principles from our work in the field, hosted by our staff, consultants, and partner educators.
Micro-credentials
Through a partnership with Digital Promise, we offer Global Competence Micro-credentials, which allow educators to demonstrate mastery of a range of skills to promote global competence within the K-12 learner experience.
Discover our spring virtual professional learning opportunities!
Explore new approaches to project-based learning and culturally responsive pedagogy that create engaging, equitable, and student-centered classrooms. Click here to learn more and register!
Exciting opportunities for students:
Videos for Change Competition (Open to U.S. middle and high school students)
Can young people change the world in one minute? We believe they can! Now more than ever, it is critical that we empower and equip students with the skills they need to become active, engaged, and thoughtful citizens. The 2021 US Videos for Change competition is an opportunity for middle and high school students across the United States to create and share their message for social change. Entries open on March 1 and close on April 18. The competition is free to enter.
Click us.videosforchange.org for information about the competition and how to access free resources for your classroom.
Design the 2021 Gathering of Champions Logo! (Open to Minnesota students)
Synergy & Leadership Exchange are currently accepting original 2021 Gathering of Champions logo design ideas. The winner will receive a $100 prize and a framed copy of the winning design. This contest is open to ALL Minnesota K–12 students, not just Academic All-Stars. Share this opportunity with your friends, family and teachers. Multiple entries per student are welcome! Teachers are encouraged to make this a classroom activity! Celebrate the importance of academics and the arts. Logo designs are due by May 1, 2021.
To download a logo submission form and for complete contest rules, click here.
Interested in a comprehensive school partnership to support your teachers, students, and school leaders to deeply integrate global competence into teaching, learning, and school culture?
Our multi-year partnerships are designed collaboratively with school leaders to align with each school’s strategic goals. Take a look the program elements of a school partnership here!