1. Cultural Proficiency Continuum
Cecil County Public Schools
Cultural Proficiency Professional Development

2. What is cultural proficiency?
A way of being that enables both individuals and organizations to respond effectively to people who differ from them.
Cultural proficiency is not an off-the-shelf program. It is an approach; it provides tools and help for an increasingly diverse world with an increasing number of well-intentioned and fearful people.
The use of specific tools effectively describing, responding to, and planning for issues that emerge in diverse environments.
Policies and practices at the organizational level and values, beliefs and behaviors at the individual level that enables effective cross cultural interactions among employees, clients, and community.

3. “What Ought to Be…”
… listening… requires not only open eyes and ears, but open hearts and minds. We do not really see through our eyes or hear through our ears, but through our beliefs... It is not easy, but it is the only way to learn what it might feel like to be someone else and the only way to start the dialogue.
-Lisa Delpit

4. The Continuum Cultural Destructiveness Cultural Incapacity
There are six points along the cultural proficiency continuum that indicate unique ways of perceiving and responding to differences.
Cultural Destructiveness
Cultural Incapacity
Cultural Blindness
Cultural Pre-Competence
Cultural Competence
Cultural Proficiency

5. Cultural Proficiency Continuum
Downward Spiral Conversation
Incapacity
Pre-Competence
Proficiency
Destructiveness
Blindness
Competence
Downward Spiral Conversation gives us limited possibility.
Upward Spiral Conversation takes us to a new place.
Upward Spiral Conversation

6. Cultural Destructiveness
“See the difference; stomp it out.”
Using one’s power to eliminate the culture of another.
Examples
Genocide or Ethnocide
Exclusion Laws
Shun/Avoid certain curriculum topics
“When we redistrict we can get rid of THAT neighborhood!”
“Why are those kids speaking Chinese at lunch?”
“There are so many problems coming from Lakeside.”
“If we could get rid of the special needs students, our scores
would improve.”
Allow listeners time to record examples from the PowerPoint of cultural destructiveness on their chart.
Sample quotes came from Cecil County Public Schools employees in December 2006.

7. “See the difference; make it wrong.”
Cultural Incapacity
“See the difference; make it wrong.”
Believing in the superiority of one’s own culture and behaving in ways that disempower another’s culture.
Examples
Disproportionate allocation of resources to certain groups
Lowered expectations
Expecting “others” to change: My way or the highway.
“Another generation to never leave the trailer park.”
“His mom admitted he was special education when she went to school, so we
can’t expect him to do well”
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Lack of an equal representation of staff/administrators that reflect diversity in our
district.
Allow listeners time to record examples from the PowerPoint of cultural incapacity on their chart.

8. “See the difference; act like you don’t.”
Cultural Blindness
“See the difference; act like you don’t.”
Acting as if cultural differences do not matter or as if there are not differences among/between cultures.
Examples
Discomfort in noting difference
Beliefs/actions that assume world is fair and achievement is based on merit
“Our school does not need to focus on multicultural education- we have no
diversity.”
“Everyone learns the same.”
“Just don’t recognize their religion. We don’t want to offend.”
“I’m not prejudiced. I don’t see color in my students.”
Allow listeners time to record examples from the PowerPoint of cultural blindness on their chart.

9. Cultural Pre-Competence
“See the difference; respond to it inappropriately.”
Recognizing the limitations of one’s skills or an organization's practices when interacting with other cultural groups.
Examples
Delegate diversity work to others, to a committee
Quick fix, packaged short-term programs
Unclear rules, expectations for all diversity programs for staff
“Diversity is covered through our Language Arts curriculum.”
Cultural programs asked to be lead by those of that background.
“I’ll do my best to make the Special Education student feel part of the Honors
course.”
“Make sure you do an activity for Black History month.”
Allow listeners time to record examples from the PowerPoint of cultural pre-competence on their chart.

10. “See the difference; understand the difference that difference makes.”
Cultural Competence
“See the difference; understand the difference that difference makes.”
Interacting with others using the five essential elements of cultural proficiency as the standard for behavior and practice.
Examples
Advocacy
On-going education of self and others
Support, modeling, and risk-taking behaviors
“You are you. I am me. But together, we are we.”
SIT plan goals for all students.
“I think it is interesting to look at another’s perspective through another lens.”
Our county mission statement capitalizes ALL.
Allow listeners time to record examples from the PowerPoint of cultural competence on their chart.
Five essential elements: listed on staff survey…
Assessing culture
Valuing Diversity
Managing the Dynamics of Difference
Adapting to Diversity
Institutionalizing Cultural Knowledge

11. “See the difference; respond positively. Engage and adapt.”
Cultural Proficiency
“See the difference; respond positively. Engage and adapt.”
Esteem culture; knowing how to learn about organizational culture; interacting effectively in a variety of cultural groups.
Examples
Interdependence
Personal change and transformation
Alliance for groups other than one’s own
Differentiate to the needs of all learners.
My boys aren’t doing well in reading. I need to start integrating more non-fiction.
“With the addition of _____, our classroom experience has become richer. The
other students are learning from him also.
“Thank you for calling the parents and explaining in Spanish about our field trip.”
Allow listeners time to record examples from the PowerPoint of cultural proficiency on their chart.

12. Cultural Proficiency…
in our school!
Using the sticky notes provided at your table…
Record one example per sticky note of a situation, quote, scenario, or something you have heard that represents each of the six parts of the continuum.
Try your best to provide at least two examples of each:
Cultural Destructiveness
Cultural Incapacity
Cultural Blindness
Cultural Pre-Competence
Cultural Competence
Cultural Proficiency
When you are finished, place the sticky notes on the corresponding chart paper.
While the group is completing this activity, circulate and facilitate the process.
When the group has finished, allow time for a gallery walk through the various chart papers which should contain various examples of each part of the continuum.
When the gallery walk is complete, discuss the process that took place:
What did you notice as you wrote or read the comments?
Did anything surprise you?
What does this make you feel, think, or wonder?
What does this say about our school, district, and community?