DEI Student Advisory Council
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Student Advisory Council (SAC) is a group of students in grades 7-12 who act as an advisory group to the Office of Equity & Student Supports, representing the voices of their peers.
DEI SAC members attend meetings to stay informed about relevant issues of equity in the LPS. They represent and report back to their schools, and advise the Office of Equity & Student Supports as part of its decision-making process. They work on special projects and receive valuable training and experience. Most importantly, they help effect change in the LPS to bring greater equity to all members of our community.
DEI SAC members have been involved in several different aspects of the work based on committee membership as outlined below, although student initiative and innovation tends to drive various projects.
"We All Belong"
DEI SAC members also engage in a variety of activities that help promote our LPS Core Value: “We All Belong,” especially in our efforts to promote a district-wide shift towards assets-based thinking of historically silenced and marginalized groups.
Quarterly Newsletters
Some members of DEI SAC create content for the LPS DEI Newsletter (see Updates). The content is focused on promoting awareness around national months of celebration (e.g., Black History Month, LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, etc.). This awareness focuses on profiles of prominent people from the specific identity group that have contributed to American culture in some significant way, as well as staff and student profiles of members from each group. Content might also include media content (quotes, videos, etc.) that highlights what the celebrations mean to allies (i.e., members of our community who do not identify with the group).
Visual Culture
Some DEI SAC members take on visual culture in our schools. What do the halls and walls of our school buildings look like? Who is represented? Who is not? Students working to promote a positive visual culture in our schools work with school staff and student leadership for other groups and clubs to ensure that posters, videos, and other visual imagery in our schools are inclusive and represent all identities, especially those historically silenced and marginalized. This group also creates content that can be displayed on bulletin boards and electronic screens in our schools.
Social Media
Some members of this subcommittee create content for the Director of Equity & Student Supports to promote via Twitter and other social media platforms that highlight the work happening in the district.
Curriculum
Members of DEI SAC occasionally meet with curriculum leaders in the district to provide feedback on lessons and materials as they relate to our district DEI goals.
Previous work includes a tremendously successful focus group with the middle school English Department providing feedback on how educators can include historically marginalized and silenced voices in their curriculum without spotlighting those few students in the classroom who share those identities. Currently, members of the DEI SAC are providing feedback on the district's DEI Community Input Team charge to create a PK-12 DEI curriculum, as well as on the Math Department's work to bring greater equity to mathematics instruction.
Check out the Diversify LexLiterature project that some of our members are working on!
Educator Recruitment
The DEI SAC utilizes student voice to support the LPS Human Resources efforts to recruit, hire, and retain candidates with diverse backgrounds.
Recruitment Materials
Some members create content for the recruitment of staff who increase diversity in LPS (educators of color, LGBTQ+, etc.). These members work individually or with small groups to produce flyers and digital media that will be used to recruit candidates to LPS. Some members also attend recruitment events to speak directly to candidates.
The 2020-2021 DEI SAC created this video that attracted many educators to our school system. The video was also showcased by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at several state-wide meetings.
Hiring Committees
Some members serve on hiring committees in the spring and summer. Some may help create questions to ask candidates and provide feedback on answers that are in line with district goals and values.
Equity Teams
Some members of the DEI SAC serve as liaisons to building-based Equity Teams throughout the district, providing a student perspective for the important work that staff are leading within their schools. In some cases, DEI SAC members participate in school initiatives, such as the "In My Shoes" speaker series at Harrington Elementary.