Palm Springs Unified School District puts diversity first this school year

Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) is requiring all district staff to undergo conscious education so everyone has a better understanding of the staff and students they work alongside with.

According to Dr. Nicole Crawford, the PSUSD Diversity and Racial Equity Coordinator, conscious education is an exploration of unconscious biases that everyone has. "We may or may not be aware of them. So we study what racism is, discrimination is, and micro-aggressions," she explained.

The training began during the summer and will continue through the school year.

Christina Miramontes who is a sixth-grade science teacher for the district said the training was a real eye-opener. She plans on taking what she learned and applying it to the classroom.

“Having training like this has made it possible for us to be better introspectively with our own needs and taking that to where it really matters which is the student's daily lives,” said Miramontes.

On the other end, Daniel Lowe who works in the district office said the training helped him better understand his coworkers.

“Fear comes from not understanding," said Lowe. "So when you understand that your coworker has a past, has a culture, has a background, it helps you connect with them better.”