Title
The Opportunity Myth and Gap: What Educators Need to Know
Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
Denver Public Schools
Second Presenter's Institution
N/A
Third Presenter's Institution
N/A
Fourth Presenter's Institution
N/A
Fifth Presenter's Institution
N/A
Location
Session 55 (Scarbrough 3)
Strand #1
Academic Achievement & School Leadership
Relevance
Presenter will provide.
Brief Program Description
Most educators believe that so long as students do everything we ask them to do in school, they will be successful (the Opportunity Myth). Students attend school, engage in projects, collaborate with peers, and show proficiency on the standards and yet many are still not successful. The Opportunity Gap is where many students—primarily students of color—do not have the supports needed to be successful. In this session, Dr. Montoya will discuss the challenges facing students of color and what educators can do to change the myth and close the gap in order for these students to be successful.
Summary
Most educators believe that so long as students do everything we ask them to do in school, they will be successful (the Opportunity Myth). Students attend school, engage in projects, collaborate with peers, and show proficiency on the standards and yet many are still not successful. The Opportunity Gap is where many students—primarily students of color—do not have the supports needed to be successful. In this session, Dr. Montoya will discuss the challenges facing students of color and what educators can do to change the myth and close the gap in order for these students to be successful.
Evidence
Presenter will provide.
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Wes Montoya is the principal at the Gilliam Youth Detention Center for Denver Public Schools, Denver, CO. He has worked with youth-at-risk, primarily Latino students, for more than 28 years. As a teacher, he taught math, science, and social studies, and has been a Dean of Students and an assistant principal in both low and high performing schools with free and reduced lunch (FRL) populations as high as 100%. Dr. Montoya has worked at the Colorado Department of Education as a Title I Senior Consultant. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Denver, Denver CO
Presentation Year
2020
Start Date
3-10-2020 10:15 AM
End Date
3-10-2020 11:30 AM
Recommended Citation
Montoya, Wes, "The Opportunity Myth and Gap: What Educators Need to Know" (2020). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 157.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2020/2020/157
The Opportunity Myth and Gap: What Educators Need to Know
Session 55 (Scarbrough 3)
Most educators believe that so long as students do everything we ask them to do in school, they will be successful (the Opportunity Myth). Students attend school, engage in projects, collaborate with peers, and show proficiency on the standards and yet many are still not successful. The Opportunity Gap is where many students—primarily students of color—do not have the supports needed to be successful. In this session, Dr. Montoya will discuss the challenges facing students of color and what educators can do to change the myth and close the gap in order for these students to be successful.
