Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union (FNESU)
FNESU will utilize grant funds to support the implementation of their multi-year Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) plan through training, guidance, and professional learning designed to strengthen and expand a culturally responsive, equity literate, and inclusive learning community. FNESU will continue their work with Dr. Rebecca Haslam of Seed the Way to inform and support the DEI Coordinator, DEI teams, and school staff through equity audits and curriculum studies, which will guide policy changes, daily practices, and curriculum design.
Hartford School District
The goal of Hartford SD’s project is to provide a more inclusive lens to student learning by updating the curriculum and student text offerings, and to provide voices from the community to engage the students. This work will begin with middle grades Social Studies and English departments with an intent to expand across grade levels and content areas. Resources will be designed to help prepare students when faced with differing opinions, points of view, cultures, religions, and understandings of gender in the real-world. To compliment the curriculum work, identified speakers from the community will share their culture, stories, and experiences to broaden student understandings of equity literacy and civic responsibility in a diverse world.
Lamoille South Unified Union School District (LSUUSD)
LSUUSD will utilize the Equitable Education Systems grant to focus on four specific goals: engaging with families and community partners, school board policy analysis, adult and youth partnerships, and the cultivation of culturally relevant curriculum with faculty and staff. An equity audit process will assist in advancing equitable instructional design and aide in cultivating an inclusive school culture as LSUUSD hopes to develop youth leaders and student voice opportunities to assist in closing equity gaps. Providing professional development for the school board and allowing for student representation on the board will assist the SD in more equitable decision making, and aide the board in policy review. LSUUSD recognizes that learning happens in “third spaces” and plans to provide community partnership opportunities for students, as well as engage and support the community and families in forums and focus groups.
Mount Abraham Unified School District (MAUSD)
MAUSD plans to utilize data from student (6-12) and staff survey results regarding diversity and inclusion to inform decisions regarding curriculum, practices and supports that would best guide their equity work. Educators will be provided opportunities to update their curriculum with an inclusive, multi-cultural lens that prioritizes and values difference. Professional development will also be provided to educators as they will have an opportunity to benefit from transferable-skills-aligned trainings that address, promote, and prioritize equity. In order to strengthen awareness and engagement with the broader learning community, MAUSD will provide monthly offerings focused on equity and anti-racism work to community and family members.
Washington Unified Union School District (WCUUSD)
WCUUSD has identified the creation of an Intersectional Justice Council as a strategy to prioritize and sustain their equity and intersectional justice goals. Recognizing the interconnected nature of race, gender, and other identity markers, WCUUSD will create a council comprised of stakeholders -- community members, students, staff, a board member - to focus on the development, implementation and monitoring of policies, practices, strategies, and a culturally responsive and inclusive curriculum. The intended work also includes whole staff professional development and a focus on diversifying the educator workforce to aide in addressing equity gaps that have been identified within the recently consolidated SD.
Windsor Central Supervisory Union (WCSU)
WCSU will work with the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium to complete an equity audit and develop an Equity Plan to explore factors that create barriers to equitable education within the SU. The audit will serve as a self-assessment tool to identify equity improvement targets in seven areas, including school policy, school climate/environment, and standards and curriculum development. Dr. Luvelle Brown will facilitate workshops for school leaders and community members to foster equitable school environments and promote cultural responsiveness and inclusion. In September, high school students will have the opportunity to participate in a Leadership Summit on Racial Justice with goals that include empowering student leaders with the skills to make change locally and globally.
Contact Information:
If you have questions about this document or would like additional information, please contact:
Martha Deiss, Student Pathways Division at Martha.deiss@vermont.gov