Equity Team

The Equity Teams at East and West were brand new initiatives for the DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) department this year, and each team had a mix of students, teachers, and administrators dedicated to promoting equity, inclusion, and anti-racism at school. Equity Team student leaders started the year by conducting a deep dive analysis into the Panorama student survey data collected over the last two years. Students identified trends to prioritize as a team before brainstorming ideas on how to address specific pieces of data related to teacher-student relationships, engagement, school climate, and students’ sense of belonging. Many ideas included specific suggestions for classroom teachers, which students later presented to faculty at department meetings in the winter.

In February and March, the Equity Teams hosted lunch sessions for students and staff to process, ask questions about, and share concerns related to recent changes in immigration policies, as well as continued protection and support for LGBTQ+ students. The Equity Team students also launched an “Equity Team Mailbox” for students and staff to communicate concerns or requests to the team. The mailboxes received many pieces of “mail,” and students on the Equity Teams used this data to advocate for various policy changes. 

Over the course of the year, the Equity Teams worked on a variety of projects. The East Equity Team launched a schoolwide “Culture Jars” project where students were invited to design a culture jar representative of their personal identities during their advisory periods. The jars are displayed on a first floor bulletin board in the 427 building. The East Equity Team also organized and stocked feminine hygiene products in baskets that are now found in the student bathrooms at Sturgis East. At West, students advocated for increased lunch portion sizes and developed ideas for cheaper field trip options.

Sturgis hosted the Barnstable Human Rights Commission’s spring Human Rights Academy at 529 with a session in October and another in April. Approximately 100 students from all over Cape Cod and their faculty advisors attended the conference to share how their schools are promoting and protecting human rights. Sturgis East and Sturgis West each presented the work of their Equity Teams and gleaned some ideas for next year (such as post-it walls with messages to promote positive self-image). Mari Keleshian, a 10th grader at East, is the student representative to the Barnstable County Planning and Advisory Committee for the Human Rights Commission. She gave a welcome and closing address at the Spring session. 

The Equity Teams wrapped up their first year by examining two school policies that related to both the Panorama data analysis and trends from the Equity Team mailboxes: the electronics policy (namely, headphone use) and the bullying prevention plan. After gathering community feedback, the Equity Team student leaders developed and presented a set of recommendations during formal meetings with administration. 

During the final weeks of school, each Equity Team gathered for a potluck luncheon to celebrate and honor all that was accomplished in this first year. We envisioned what the future holds for the Equity Teams, and we are so excited to hit the ground running next year!