Values

LOVE

The Office of Equity is committed to building a caring and loving environment where every individual—whether student, staff, or community member—feels valued, respected, and supported as their full selves. Our work nurtures positive relationships, empathy, and understanding across differences to promote growth and development and create a sense of belonging for all.

HEALING AND WELLBEING

The Office of Equity is concerned with the physical, emotional, and mental health of all members of the community, starting with our own teachers, and the students and families we serve. Because we recognize that a healthy and supportive environment is essential for student and adult learning and growth, our resources, supports, and practices promote safety, belonging, self-care, collective-care, and healing.

BELONGING & CONNECTION

The Office of Equity's work is designed to create an equitable, inclusive, and welcoming environment where all students, families, partners, and staff members feel a sense of belonging and connection to the school and district community. We celebrate and honor the diverse cultural fabric of our district, and provide opportunities for meaningful engagement and collaboration to nurture a sense of belonging, which we know is fundamental to student and staff success and well-being.

CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS

The Office of Equity uses Zaretta Hammond's definition of cultural responsiveness from her book, Cultural Responsiveness and the Brain. Hammond defines cultural responsiveness as, “An educator’s ability to recognize students’ cultural displays of learning and meaning making and respond positively and constructively with teaching moves that use cultural knowledge as a scaffold to connect what the student knows to new concepts and content in order to promote effective information processing. All the while, the educator understands the importance of being in a relationship and having a social-emotional connection to the student in order to create a safe space for learning.”

In practice, this means we acknowledge and embrace the cultural backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of all members of the district community, incorporating culturally responsive curriculum, practices, and policies that honor and affirm the identities of all students and their families. A culturally responsive context supports students to succeed academically while maintaining their cultural identities and building a deeper understanding and respect for those of their peers and other members of their communities.

LISTENING, NOTICING & REFLECTING

In part by creating opportunities for open dialogue and feedback, the Office of Equity prioritizes listening to and following the lead of the voices and experiences of all members of the district community. By noticing and reflecting on what is happening and what is shared by community members, we commit to a practice of continuous improvement, learning from both success and failure to strengthen our service. Our goal is to ensure that all students, families, and staff members are heard and understood. We recognize that active listening is essential for building trust, holding space for healthy conflict, and making informed decisions in the best interest of the community.