Part 1. What implications will these facts hold for you as an educator in a school within this county? The first thing that stands out about these demographics is that the county is not heavily populated, which would indicate that it has a high percentage of rural citizens. The second statistic of note is that nearly one quarter of the population of the county consists of citizens under the age of 18. The county also has a large Hispanic/Latino population and a significant percentage of households where English is not the primary language spoken. A high percentage of the population is living below the poverty line and only 80% graduate from high school.

As an educator, this means that an emphasis must be placed on making certain that students that are English as second language learners receive the focus and attention that they need to succeed. It is important to identify students at risk for academic struggles and who may need additional support to complete their high school diploma. The county has a high population of students that may be at risk for failure due to socioeconomic issues that do not create the optimal learning environment. Lesson plans and curriculum must be culturally sensitive to the Hispanic/Latino population. Special attention must be paid to students that appear to be struggling or having difficulties due to language barriers. The educator must strive to make certain that all students have a chance to feel accepted and to achieve academic success the same as all other students in the classroom.

Part 2. What implications will these facts hold for you as an educator in a school within this county?

The school district is relatively small. There is a high percentage of Hispanic/Latino families in the school district. School board represents both the Hispanic/Latino community and the Caucasian community. It is the role of the Board of Education to set educational policies with the district. These policies must account for the unique demographics of the school district and provide sufficient funding to carry out a fully inclusive multicultural program within the school district that focuses on strengthening the Hispanic/Latino community surrounding the school district.

Although no information was given as to the demographics by program, the high percentage of Hispanic/Latino students and the location of the school district indicates that attention needs to be focused on ensuring that students and their families have the resources that are needed for learning success. This may include the need for additional funding for programs targeted towards ESL students, or involvement with social workers.

Part 3. Taking into account the scan you’ve done of the county and the school district, what do you project to be five items you will need to be mindful of as you serve as a staff member (a student teacher) in this school district?
Assuring that the students in the Hispanic-Latino community have the resources available to them to optimize their learning environment
Making certain that materials and lessons are presented in a way that is culturally relevant to all students in the classroom
Making certain that those in need of additional learning or language support are identified and receive the support they need for success
Assuring that the Board of Directors and administration set aside special funds as needed for the academic development of the Hispanic/Latino and economically disadvantaged students to assure that they have the same opportunities as students that are not Hispanic/Latino community or economically disadvantaged.
To make certain that families of students in at-risk families have the social support that they need to help their students achieve academic success. This will increase future opportunities for students in the community, regardless of their background or circumstance.