As part of the district’s commitment to provide a positive and supportive learning environment for all students, we have seven instrumental committees focusing on equity:
Equity Support Team
An Equity Support Team was established in 2020 for the purpose of supporting the district’s goals in equity including professional development, parent engagement, school climate, curriculum and instruction, staffing and student voices. The group is comprised of staff, parents and students and will help the district engage a diverse breadth of voices from among our community. If you are interested in serving on this committee for the 2022-23 school year, please email Emilie Hard, our Director of Equity.
Student Voices
A group of Tahoma students meets on a regular basis to share experiences and discuss ideas for improving the school climate in our schools through surfacing inequities and identifying solutions. The group is facilitated by Carrie Burr, THS Assistant Principal.
Family Engagement
A diverse group of parents and community partners meets on a regular basis for the purpose of increasing family participation and communication across our school system so that we can strengthen our support for student success. This group is led by Tahoma Parents.
School Climate
Betty Gibbins, Tahoma Parent and Bambi Fuller, RCES Paraeducator facilitate this committee which meets regularly. Their overall purpose is to advise the district on strategies for creating a welcoming, inclusive, safe environment where all students are valued and respected.
Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development
Reviewing and providing input on curriculum and instruction is the goal of this committee. Parents, staff and students participate in reviews of materials including individual books and larger curriculum adoptions for the purpose of supporting curriculum that includes multiple perspectives. This committee also supports professional development in the area of equity for Tahoma staff. We will grow and evolve in our understanding of diversity and what it means to be culturally competent by engaging in ongoing training, looking inward at our own racial identities and uncovering biases and stereotypes. Dr. Caprice Hollins, of Cultures Connecting will support this professional development. This committee is facilitated by Rondelle Jeffery and Betty Bernstein, Counselors at MVMS and Emilie Hard, Director of Equity.
Staffing
Staff from across the district serve on this committee which is identifying strategies for attracting, recruiting and retaining a diverse staff to reflect the population and serve as role models for our students. The facilitators are Amanda Blashaw, LWES Dean, and Keri Silvers, GPES Counselor.