The Role of Race and Implicit Bias in Schools: Addressing the Need for Equity
Enroll in the Online Self-Study course and complete it at your own pace.
1 CE hour available for behavioral health clinicians upon completion.
When implicit bias goes unchecked in schools, it quietly shapes decision-making that can derail the success of students of color. For many BIPOC students, academic outcomes are often less about performance and more about perception.
In this thought-provoking course, you’ll explore the roots of implicit racial bias in education and discover how to begin interrupting cycles of harm—starting with awareness and leading to sustainable action.
Enroll in the 1 CE Online Self-Study for $20
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Dr. Sonja Sutherland, PhD, LPC, ACS, BC-TMH, is a nationally recognized educator, clinician, and advocate for culturally responsive care and equity in education. With decades of experience in counseling and mental health education, Dr. Sutherland brings deep insight into how race, identity, and bias intersect in school systems and how clinicians and educators alike can lead the way toward change.
Through Dr. Sutherland’s clear, compassionate, and research-informed teaching style, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how implicit bias develops and persists—and how it impacts both individual relationships and institutional decisions.
This one-hour, self-paced training explores how implicit bias takes root, how it shows up in daily school interactions, and how educators and behavioral health professionals can support more equitable outcomes. Dr. Sutherland introduces critical race theory as a foundational lens and addresses key issues such as microaggressions, racial socialization, systemic disparities, internalized racism, and culturally informed decision-making.
Instructor
Dr. Sonja Sutherland, PhD, LPC, ACS, BC-TMH,
Dr. Sonja Sutherland is the founder and CEO of Legacy Changers Worldwide, an organization dedicated to family education and mental wellness. With over 25 years in the mental health field, she has worked across private practice, residential, and outpatient settings, specializing in adolescents, couples, and families. More information on services and programs offered by Dr. Sutherland can be found here.
Through Legacy Professional Development & Training, Dr. Sutherland provides advanced continuing education and clinical supervision for mental health professionals. Her research and publications focus on racial trauma, cultural competence, and social justice in clinical practice and supervision. Dr. Sutherland's CV can be found here.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the unconscious drivers of bias: Learn how implicit bias is formed through lived experience, cultural messages, and developmental influences.
- Recognize how bias shapes school dynamics: Discover how bias operates in everyday classroom decision-making and contributes to inequitable disciplinary and academic outcomes.
- Take first steps toward equity: Identify actionable practices that clinicians and educators can use to disrupt bias and promote more just environments for BIPOC students.
Why this course?
- A trusted expert in the field: Dr. Sutherland brings years of specialized experience, academic rigor, and a deep commitment to equity-based practice.
- Tailored for behavioral health professionals: This training was designed specifically with clinicians in mind—whether you work directly with schools or support youth navigating educational systems.
- Meaningful, applicable change: Unlike generic cultural trainings, this course equips you with real-world strategies to identify and interrupt the dynamics that perpetuate racial disparities.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain implicit bias and how it is developed.
- Describe how implicit bias influences educational decision-making.
- List initial steps needed for influencing more equitable outcomes for black and indigenous students of color.
If you're working with school-aged clients or collaborating with educators, this course provides the essential tools to better understand—and begin to dismantle—the impact of racial bias in educational spaces. Start your learning journey with Dr. Sutherland and bring intentional, equity-informed practice to your work.
Enroll now to begin learning instantly.
This non-interactive self-study course. Instruction consists of 1 hour of video instruction and a post-test.
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Availability:
From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.
Who Should Attend:
This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.
Teaching Methods:
This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.
How to attend:
Directions for completing a course can be found by clicking here.
This program was recorded on August 31, 2021.
Testimonials
Iveyana Kiara Smith
Jessy Hainbach
Bryant Wilson
Ben Keyser
Mei Chan
Meghan Co, LCSW-C, LICSW