You probably believe that you always make clear and unbiased decisions … ensuring equal treatment and equal opportunity for all your teachers, staff, students, and parents. However, the simple truth is that we all have filters that can prevent us from seeing the world in an unbiased way. And often, that bias is completely unconscious.

In this video, Yassmin Abdel-Magied challenges our thinking regarding unconscious bias. This may be one of the most powerful presentations you’ll watch this year! Then, as a follow-up, this article by Sara Taylor in SmartBrief (written for executives) offers some additional tools for dealing with unconscious bias.

Unfortunately, we can’t wave a magic wand and suddenly make all our biases disappear. But we can use tools like these to increase our awareness of bias. And awareness of any issue is the first step towards a solution … ultimately making our school (and the world at large) a better place.