Goals & Strategies

Goals:

• The first recommendation is to provide ongoing, intentional K-12 professional development for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years; Additionally, school administrators heard many positive comments from staff regarding the work of Dr. Renee Azziz. Since we’ve had some professional development with her and the outcomes have been very helpful and positive, the DEI co-chairs are recommending that we continue ties with Dr. Renee Azziz for the professional development listed above.

• The second recommendation is to identify a qualified educator/administrator who will be appointed the WLCSC’s Diversity Initiative Specialist for the 21/22 school year who will oversee the process for creating a framework to address the various needs of our students, parents, and staff as it relates to diversity, inclusiveness, curriculum/instruction, and finding resources to assist with this process.

• The third recommendation is that the DEI Committee will continue to be involved and will work with the Diversity Initiative Specialist. By the spring of 2022, the Diversity Initiative Specialist will present to the School Board the implementation processes that will include resources to implement recommendations from the ongoing work of the DEI Committee.

• Student advocacy and extended student assistance opportunities will be initiated to give all students the opportunity to get assistance and to express their concerns. These may be in the form of counseling sessions and guidance lessons, one on one peer groups, or resources through the school website to name a few. Age-appropriate students will have a formal role in the decision-making processes including school committees that consider curriculum revisions, code of conduct reviews, and staff professional development.

Strategies:

• Develop on-demand training videos regarding equity and inclusion, social justice, culturally relevant pedagogy.

• Continue to work with Dr. Renae Azziz from Virtuoso Education Consulting LLC on in-service workshops and training.

• Provide materials through grant awards to continue work on equity and socially just leadership.

• Collect information regarding school textbooks.

• Create resource network of culturally relevant literature that can be used in the classroom.

• Conduct listening sessions with various stakeholders to collect data.

• Work with Equity Team Members to collect data regarding relevant information such as audit results, policies, procedures, etc.

• Create a report to present to the board and superintendent at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

• Identify students who will go through advocacy training.

• Establish first student advocacy group meeting.

WLCSC Working Definitions

Diversity: A broad range of valued differences and experiences across a spectrum of qualities, traits, and characteristics of life.

Equity: providing students with resources and opportunities that meet their individual needs.

Inclusion: an environment where differences are embraced to ensure opportunities aren’t limited and all feel a sense of belonging and respect.

Culture: The intersectionality of individual and group experiences and identities as they contribute to the tapestry of our community.