Name Change
Task Force

Name Change Task Force

The Name Change Initiative at Sheridan Arts Spanish Dual Immersion is lead by a task force comprised of school teachers (2), parents (6), administrators (2), staff (3), and community members from the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization (2). Throughout the fall of 2020 open bi-weekly zoom meetings were conducted to discuss the who we are, the importance of our name, the history of Philip H. Sheridan, potential impacts on the community and students, and the criteria and process for selecting a new name. Within the school, teachers and student groups are working through the meaning of the change and researching potential new names. We look forward to reviewing the suggested names and submitting a community selected name to the MPS Board for an official vote.

We are encouraged to see that through the consideration of our name, The Sheridan Story, a nonprofit organization started at our school, decided to change it's name in October to Every Meal and the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization has begun to consider a new name as well.

All are welcomed to participate in this task force. If you would like to receive an invites to our meetings please email mpssheridanpto@gmail.com

Our Intentions

• To tangibly live out our values and inspire others to create positive change.

• To continually work against violence and oppression.

• Not to ‘erase’ or ignore the history of Philip H. Sheridan, but rather to LEARN from the past and to consciously build a future of inclusion and celebration of diversity.

• Not to tarnish the many wonderful memories students and staff of Sheridan school created since its founding in 1932. Selecting a new name for the future does not mitigate the positive experiences from the past.

• To include the community in the selection of a new name.

Name Selection Considerations

• We seek a name that amplifies or embodies our vision of a caring, diverse community of creative, inclusive, critical thinkers who empower its members to be lifelong learners.

• We desire the new name to resonate with and reflect our diverse student body, which is primarily students of color.

• We acknowledge the historical and current reality of systematic erasure and oppression of Indigenous and Black communities both locally and globally. We seek to do better than this status quo.

• We acknowledge the imperfect and human nature of selecting an individual for naming; we also see the value of selecting a tangible person who exemplifies our stated vision and values.

• We acknowledge the wisdom of the future and that the name selected may not always represent or inspire the student body. We are selecting a name for the present.

• We are not opposed to a concept, word, or phrase (non-individual) if it has the ability to inspire and reflect our students.

• The name should be recognizable, pronounceable, and unique - not shared by other schools in the area.