Thank you to our 2024-2025 committee!
IDEA Committee
The IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access) Committee is a district-wide, parent-led group that supports the families, faculty, and staff of the Hillsborough City School District.
We are committed to acknowledging and embracing our diversity to foster a sense of belonging. We are committed to a collaborative relationship and dialogue with the District in an effort to provide an inclusive and supportive environment that will represent and uplift all of our children as well as raise awareness within our community.
2024-2025 IDEA Committee Members:
Co-Presidents: Sanjana Reddy and Zeryn Sarpangal
Past Presidents: Amy Rodde and Erin Schaefer
Secretary & Treasurer: Elizabeth Jardina (South)
Communications Chairs: Chenchen Feng (South), Amy An (West)
Parents Event Chairs: Sapna Jain Palrecha and Nisha Ahluwalia (West)
School Events Chairs: Cristin Chinn and Joo-Lee Lim
North Representatives: Rebecca Kaplan, Lara Brumlow, Laith Salma
South Representatives: Ani Vartanian , Sarah Jacobsohn, Merrin Thompson
West Representatives: Jenn Merrill, Kari Schiro, Kat Hai
Crocker Representatives: Eric Sarbib, Bahrig Mikaelian, Nicole O’Connor, Aya Takeuchi
District Liaison: Kim Oliff
💡IDEA Mission Statement:
IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access) is a district-wide, parent-led group that supports the families, faculty, and staff of the Hillsborough City School District (HCSD) to create an environment that welcomes and is informed by diversity, fosters a sense of belonging, and prepares our students to make a positive impact on the world.
What IDEA does to further this mission:
Creates and shares DEI Resources with the HCSD community
Works with the district to organize and run initiatives like Building Belonging Week
Hosts parent and family education events
Serves as liaisons to both school Parent Groups and the District DEI pillar teams
Supports and helps implement District DEI efforts
💡Our Story:
The Hillsborough City School District embarked on a formalized DEI effort in the 2020-21 school year. This DEI initiative has four pillars under which the work is categorized: Educator Growth, Classroom & Climate, Student Belonging, and Community Cohesion. An initial goal of the Community Cohesion Pillar was the formation of a Parent / Community Team, and that led to the formation of the IDEA Committee. In January 2022, we collected applications to form the first district-wide IDEA committee. Each year we will go through the nominations process to secure new committee members.
💡Upcoming Events:
We are actively recruiting volunteers! Please reach out to your school representatives.
💡How to Get Involved:
Follow us & reach out to any of your school representatives directly to learn more. We are always looking for IDEAs and volunteers!
