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Collective Equity
Foreword by John Almarode
- Grade Level: PreK-12
- ISBN: 9781071844748
- Published By: Corwin
- Year: 2021
- Page Count: 216
- Publication date: October 29, 2021
Price: $39.95
Description
It’s time for a new beginning
As we transition through very uncertain and challenging times, we have a chance to start again—and do better as a Collective. With newfound acknowledgment of the damage done by structural inequities, systemic racism, and implicit bias, we are ready to create communities that value and support everyone.
In education, that means challenging and dismantling systems that have harmed historically marginalized children and families for generations. Here you’ll find a powerful model for using relational trust, cultural humility, and appreciation of diverse perspectives to build learning communities that collectively uplift all students and all members of the learning community. Features include
- An original Collective Equity Framework for creating transformative equitable learning environments
- Protocols for enacting cultural humility, vulnerability, and mutuality dispositions leveraged to create culturally sustaining learning communities
- Strategies and tools for organizational analyses to guide conversations that support the implementation of culturally fortifying practices at organizational, curricular, programmatic, and instructional levels
- A behavioral-outcome measurement tool for charting the progress of the members of the Collective towards developing culturally conscious actions and equity focused outcomes.
- Vignettes and case studies from district and school leaders reflecting examples of how the collective members of their organizations work towards creating transformative equitable learning environments
Positive outcomes always take work. When we build relational trust, value and validate the dimensions of identities for all members in the learning community as a Collective, we are able to create Equity Pathways and Equity Pavers to chart a new course where we can ALL Breathe and achieve our shared objective: educational equity for all.
Author(s)

Sonja Hollins-Alexander
Dr. Sonja Hollins-Alexander is the Director of Professional Learning for Corwin Publishing. She has been in the field of education for 24 years, with 18 of those years in educational leadership positions at school, district, and higher education levels. She has served as a school social worker, teacher, assistant principal, principal, coordinator, assistant director, director of professional learning, and chief of staff within two Metro Atlanta, GA school districts. Dr. Hollins-Alexander has served on numerous United Way non-profit boards, most recently as the affiliate board president for Learning Forward, GA. She currently serves on the National Affiliate Leadership Council for Learning Forward. Throughout her professional journey, she has gained experience in Strategic Planning, Organizational Improvement, Policy Development, Stakeholder Communication and Engagement, Grant Writing, Instructional Design, Curriculum Development and Implementation, Adult Learning Facilitation, Leadership Coaching, and Conference Facilitation and Design.
As the Director of Professional Learning for Corwin, she is committed to partner engagement and the design and implementation of professional learning services that positively impact teaching and learning.
Expertise
- Educational Leadership
- PLCs
Workshops
- Online Professional Development through Virtual Learning Communities: This seminar demonstrates how any district and school can conduct powerful and sustainable professional development by combining well-designed online instruction with the energy of peer-to-peer collaboration using Alexander's unique Learner-Learner model.
Certified In
- Collective Equity

Nicole Law
Nicole Law, PhD, served as a curriculum coordinator for English language learners, cultural responsivity, AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination), district equity, and mathematics and science instruction in the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township in Indianapolis, Indiana. In this position, Nicole created multilayered and multifaceted professional learning for teachers and administrators covering all aspects of directed programs and curricular areas. In 2008, Nicole received the National Milken Award from the state of Indiana. Prior to her leadership role, Nicole was a science teacher, administrator, and a building principal. She has an MED in elementary administration and supervision from Butler University and a PhD from Indiana State University. Nicole is the co-author of Collective Equity and Comprehension: The Skill, Will, and Thrill of Reading.
Certified In
- Balanced Literacy
- Collective Equity
- Deep Equity
- Distance Learning
- How Leadership Works
- Leader Credibility
- PLC+
- Rebound
- Social-Emotional Learning
- Success Criteria
- Teacher Clarity
- Visible Learning+ Foundation Series
- Visible Learning+ Impact Series
- Visible Learning+ Impact Coaching
Table of Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Publisher’s Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction
Chapter 1: Coming Together
Coming Together Through Our Shared Truth
Working Together
Coming Together to Work Together
Connecting Dimensions of Identity
Community Agreements and Equity Fatigue
Coming Together Using a Collective Equity Framework
Equity Pathways and Equity Pavers
Understanding the Three Levels of Culture
From Culturally Conscious to Culturally Humble (An Equity Pathway)
Chapter 2: Cultivating an Environment of Collective Equity
From Deficit Thinking to Asset-Based Actions
Shared Truths and Purpose
Vision and Mission Development
Essential Components of Collective Equitable Cultures
Collective Engagement by Design Process
Chapter 3: Enacting Motivation and Relational Trust for the Collective Equity Movement
Relational Trust
The Circle of Trust Approach
The Art of the Heart
The Stimuli of Building Relational Trust
Motivation to Nurture the Collective
Can We Breathe?
Chapter 4: Culturally Fortifying Practices
From Equity Moves to Culturally Fortifying Transformational Practices
Culturally Fortifying Classroom Strategies
Chapter 5: Equity Dispositions for The Collective
Cultural Sustainability
From Systems to Classrooms
Collective Efficacy
Collective Equity Dispositions
Chapter 6: Realizing the Promise of Collective Equity
Leading for Collective Equity
Collective Equity Leadership Attributes
Disrupting Systems of Oppression and Inequity
Engaging the Collective
Equity Pathways
Equity Pavers
Final Words From the Authors
Glossary
References
Reviews
"Sonja Hollins-Alexander and Nicole Law use a highly interactive and practical approach to conveying the theories and best practices of realizing the imperative of collective equity."James McKay
School Superintendent, Community High School District 117
"Collective Equity is timely at any stage of professional development. It will help to set the stage for prospective educators and challenge them to think deeply about the importance of collectively and authentically providing instruction. It will help to strengthen their capacity to engage and commit to consistent proven practices that best meet the varied needs of students. This book charges us to be lifelong learners."Dr. Theresa W. Yeldell, Ed.D
High School Principal, Milwaukee Public Schools
"Successful implementation of educational equity requires joining forces with all school stakeholders to build brave spaces where all voices and perspectives are acknowledged, affirmed, and validated. This is the key to unlock creativity, innovation, and sustained commitment. Collective Equity provides a blueprint of the essential dispositions, components, structures, and reflection tools for engagement in this never-ending equity journey. Collective equity brings the plane down to earth so that we can close the knowing and doing gap."Waldo V. Alvarado, M.S.Ed.
Director of Equity and Diversity, Reading School District
"Sonja Hollins-Alexander and Nicole Law eloquently illustrate the synergy that can happen in a collective learning community to address inequities and make a real impact in schools. Send a copy of this book to every school administrator, classroom teacher, and policymaker you can find and urge them to read it."Ron Wahlen
Director of Digital Teaching and Learning, Durham Public Schools
Other Titles in: Cultural Competence | Professional Learning Communities | Administration & Leadership
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Related Professional Learning
Related Signature ServicesRelated Webinars
Related Resources
- Access to companion resources is available with the purchase of this book.
- Collective Equity Introduction [Lessons and strategies]
- Coming Together Using a Collective Equity Framework [Lessons and strategies]
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