Michigan State University's (MSU) undergraduate elementary education program as well as their Master of Arts in Educational Technology program both place a large emphasis on providing educators with the tools, mindsets, and resources they need to ensure that all students receive an equitable education, no matter what.

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Aligned well with MSU's vision of ensuring an equitable education for all students is Endeavor Elementary's mission: to inspire a productive and passionate future story for every child - no matter what.

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As a 5th grade teacher at Endeavor Elementary and a former MSU undergraduate and graduate student, I practice both of these visions each and every day with my students.  Endeavor Elementary is currently the #1 most diverse public elementary school in Michigan, and out of 55,152 public elementary schools in America, Endeavor Elementary is ranked #61 in diversity, according to Niche.

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At our elementary school alone, our students speak over 30 languages, with over 40% of our student population being multilingual learners.  Not only do our students speak so many languages, but they also practice various religions, come from various socio-economic backgrounds, and represent many different racial and ethnic backgrounds, coming from over 100 different countries.

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In my school, adopting a "no matter what" mindset is one of the most powerful and essential tools to ensure an equitable education for all students.  When I form relationships with my students, I form them with a "no matter what" mindset.  When I plan a lesson, my "no matter what" mindset is what guides me.  When I support students in meeting my behavioral and academic expectations, when I advocate for additional services for students, and when I show up for my students each day, my "no matter what" mindset impassions me.

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The diverse group of students that I get to teach, empower, and learn from are what inspires me each and every day.  They inspire me to be kind, inclusive, and celebratory of the infinite number of differences we as humans hold, no matter what.