SHAPING EQUITY IN EDUCATION:  A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING AND LEADING STANDARDS AND THE DIVERSE EDUCATOR PIPELINE REQUIREMENT IN ILLINOIS

Prepared For:  Illinois Educator Preparation Programs

Introduction

Illinois’ adoption of the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) Standards and Diverse Educator Pipeline requirements marks a pivotal moment in educational reform, pushing Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) to integrate culturally responsive teaching at all levels. These initiatives call for a profound shift, embedding cultural responsiveness across pedagogy, curricula, and assessment within a tight timeline.

The Challenge

Meeting the CRTL Standards and Diverse Educator Pipeline requirements by 2025 requires concerted and deliberate action. EPPs must navigate these changes swiftly, while ensuring their approaches are not merely compliant but transformative. Transformative Partners in Education provides well-aligned guidance and structured collaboration that results in sustainable progress.

Theory of Action

By providing specialized support for designing and implementing CRTL Standards and Diverse Educator Requirements, we enhance EPPs’ ability to create inclusive and responsive educational environments. This not only supports classroom environments but also improves the experience for educators of color, leading to better recruitment, retention, and career pipelines.

What We Bring

Transformative Partners in Education, led by Liam Bird, Mary Ann Pitcher, and Dr. Carole Collins offers a strategic partnership designed to guide EPPs through the complexities of these requirements. With a wealth of experience in educational equity, cultural responsiveness, and systemic transformation, we provide tailored support to ensure your program not only meets but exceeds these mandates. 

Expertise in Equity: Innovative and research-based, with cultural humility.	Research and Data Focused: Data-driven insights to inform outcomes.
Professional Learning: Targeted development to build educator capacity.	Continuous Improvement: Data-driven feedback for ongoing refinement.
Systemic Transformation: Guidance in creating equitable policies and systems.	Strategic Planning: Action plans based on detailed assessments.

Meet Our Team

Transformative Partners in Education is led by experts in educational equity and systemic transformation. Our team has extensive experience co-designing and sustaining equity initiatives across various educational and governmental organizations. We are dedicated to leveraging cultural humility and diverse perspectives to drive meaningful change and justice in education. 

Liam R. F. Bird	Dr. Carole Collins	Mary Ann Pitcher
CEO of LRFB Equity Consulting LLC, he has led equity initiatives in multiple cities, focusing on building equitable systems.	In educational leadership for over 20 years, she addresses racial, social, and cultural conditions in schools and develops leader consciousness and capacity for change.	A seasoned leader with 30+ years in education, she transforms schools to prioritize equity through coaching and a commitment to anti-racist practices.

Contact Us

We invite you to explore this opportunity for your EPP by scheduling a consultation with Transformative Partners in Education. Let’s work together to create inclusive, responsive, and culturally relevant educational environments that empower future educators to succeed.

Schedule a meeting:  https://liambird.com/schedule-a-consultation/