Cultural Proficiency

Culturally Proficient Professionals

Cultural Proficiency The East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) is a culturally proficient school district as evident by its policies, practices, values, and behaviors of individuals that enable the person, department or school to interact effectively in a culturally diverse environment.

A culturally proficient professional in EBRPSS exhibits six essential elements:

Assesses culture. The culturally proficient professional is aware of his/her own culture and the effect it may have on the people in his/her work setting. He/She learns about the culture of the organization as well as the cultures of the clients, and anticipates how they will interact with, conflict with, or enhance one another.

Values diversity. A culturally proficient professional welcomes a diverse group of clients into the work settings and appreciates the challenges diversity brings. He/She shares this appreciation with other clients, developing a learning community with each client.

Manages the dynamics of difference. A culturally proficient professional recognizes that conflict is a normal and natural part of life. He/She should develop skills to manage conflict in a positive way. He/She also helps the clients to understand that what appear to be clashes in personalities may in fact be conflicts in culture.

Adapts to diversity. A culturally proficient professional commits to the continually learning that is necessary to deal with the issues caused by differences. He/She embraces the substance and structure of his work so that all of us are informed by the guiding principles of cultural proficiency.

Academic rigor. A culturally proficient educator will include curricular and pedagogical equity that will encourage students to accept culturally inclusive subject matter requiring high levels of cognition with bias-free assessments. Further, he/she will promote a positive and welcoming atmosphere responsive to cross-cultural communication skills with evidence of new knowledge gained from ethnic and gender studies.

Institutionalizes cultural knowledge. A culturally proficient professional continually works to influence the culture of his/her organization so that its policies and practices are informed by the guiding principles of cultural proficiency. He/She also takes advantage of teachable moments to share cultural knowledge about his/her colleagues, their managers, the clients, and the communities from which they come. He/She creates opportunities for these groups to learn about one another and to engage in ways that honor who they are and challenge them to be more.

2003 Randell B. Lindsey, Kikanza Nuri Robins, and Raymond D. Terrell

East Baton Rouge Parish School System, 1050 S. Foster Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, PH 225-922-5400 Contact Us