Renaming Update: The Top 7 Names
This message was sent to the Jefferson community by Principal Mary Cazden on October 16, 2020
We are writing with an exciting update on the progress toward renaming of the school, with the selection of seven names moving forward for community and classroom discussions.
The selection of names
The naming advisory committee received a total of 69 different name suggestions. The committee scored the names with reference to criteria that included: being inspiring to children, reflecting community values, increasing representation, likely to be enduring, as well as reflecting local history and/or connecting to education.
The committee’s charge was to winnow the list to select six or seven names to be incorporated into the plans for school-based learning during the three weeks set aside for this special activity. There were many names with compelling stories. After an initial straw poll, the committee reviewed 18 names which scored highly enough to be discussed further, and then spent two meetings working towards the choice of a diverse array of seven names that together represent many of the key criteria. In alphabetical order, the names selected are:
Betty Reid Soskin - local activist, Rosie the Riveter park ranger
Maya Angelou - poet, author, activist (who lived in Berkeley in 70's)
Muwekma Ohlone - the name of the local indigenous people
Ruby Bridges - courageous child, now activist, integrated school in Louisiana
Ruth Acty - trailblazer; first Black teacher in BUSD, taught for 50 years
Ruth Bader Ginsburg - Supreme Court justice, fought for gender equality
Yoshiko Uchida - Berkeley author, wrote about the Japanese-American experience
Note re Muwekma Ohlone:
The committee was honored to obtain direct permission from Muwekma Ohlone ribal leadership to include their name among the finalists. This permission had also been sought during the renaming of Sylvia Mendez School, but had not been approved in time for consideration. In a special meeting, Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Chairwomen gave committee facilitators grace kong and Natasha Beery the permission to use the Ohlone name, and indicated that their strong preference is to use the name “Muwekma Ohlone” to accurately reflect the indigenous people upon whose land our school sits. They look forward to partnering in the learning experience to ensure that curriculum reflects accurately the history, culture and continued presence of Muwekma Ohlone people.
Note re Sequoia
The committee plans to bring a special recommendation to the Board about the name “Sequoia.” The name was on the short list of 18 names, but did not rise to the top 7 during committee polls and discussions. Even had it risen to the top 7, there is no guarantee that the name would ultimately be selected for the school. The committee will recommend to the Board another path, that there be a permanent recognition of the 2003-2005 renaming effort through the use of the name “Sequoia” on the campus, so that no matter what name is chosen for the school in 2020, the legacy of the effort is commemorated. The committee recommends that the school’s cafetorium be formally renamed by the Board, and designated as “Sequoia Hall” so that the name has a daily use in the life of the school. The fact that the room is the community meeting place makes this place name particularly meaningful for recognition.
Next Steps:
The Board will hear a report on the process, including the list of all 69 names proposed, as well as links to information about the finalists at the October 21 Board Meeting.
A committee of school teachers has volunteered to prepare age-appropriate educational materials about each of the finalist names. The materials will be shared with classrooms and posted online for the school community, as well as on the district website.
Over the course of three weeks, beginning on October 19, classrooms and the school community will have an opportunity to learn about the seven names, at a pace of two to three names per week, with special slideshows on each name shared online and via newsletter.
At the end of the three weeks of learning, during the week of November 9, classrooms and the school community will have straw polls and focus groups to provide feedback on top choices for the Superintendent and Board to consider, before the final decision is made by the Board on December 2.
Thank you to all who so thoughtfully provided suggestions, including students, staff, families, and the wider community. We hope you are looking forward to learning more about the seven names!