Eliminating educational inequity and integrating schools is core to our mission at DSST. But essential to tackling these challenges is the internal work we must do of sharpening our own equity lenses as we create more equitable systems. In partnership with our staff, students, and families, The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team is dedicated to cultivating a school network that welcomes open discussion and self reflection around these issues. This has been done in several different ways, including the Affinity Groups that launched last month, annual Equity Working Groups, and two resources to help us reflect on where we have been, assess where we are as a network, and revisit our goals for the future. These are the FYI on DEI and a larger Compendium of Research, illuminating our network’s DEI journey and providing ways for you and your school to join in on this incredible growth.
The FYI on DEI outlines the challenges we face, the work that has already been done, the new initiatives that we are working through, and where our journey leads. Laying the foundations for our DEI work has been done in partnership with the National Equity Project, with the main goals of:
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Authentically embracing DEI work as a cornerstone for student success
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Understanding the importance of an equity mindset in our day to day work
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Building the opportunity to participate in spaces that allow for space and voice, particularly for non-dominant populations
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Ensuring that our commitment to integrated schools is more than just an enrollment policy - it is demonstrated in all of our core practices, processes and ultimate outcomes.
The FYI on DEI includes quantitative and qualitative data on how we are improving student outcomes and staff recruitment and fulfillment. It details the intentional work we have done over the last three years in sharpening our equity lens. This includes the development of 8 paradigm shifts to how we approach our work, revising the Core Values language to ensure it is as inclusive as possible, and this year, we have opened up more spaces for challenging conversations and growth that will bring us closer to our goals.
If you would like to get involved in DEI work at DSST, there are many avenues! You can join an Affinity Group, or contact Aaron Griffen and Uzma Chowdhury to initiate a specific program within your school community. There are also many DEI resources already available at your fingertips, including tons of recommended articles, videos, books, websites and audio to help us learn and reflect on the many aspects of identity, diversity, equity and inclusion. This work is never complete, and there is always something new to learn, so please feel free to share your own recommendations on the feedback form, and we’ll be happy to share them with the network.
The more we can reflect upon and discuss with each other our unique viewpoints, and listen to those of our colleagues, the closer we will get to growing our equity mindsets, making our schools an even more welcoming place for our vibrantly diverse team of students and staff, and eliminate educational inequity.
Do you have a story? Share it with us at mac@scienceandtech.org.
Have a suggestion for us? Send us a note anytime.
