DEI Department Newsletter

Greetings from the DEI Office,

Before we head off into a (much needed) break, we wanted to share some of the thoughtful and impactful work & celebrations that are happening across the district in support of our mission to be a more equitable and inclusive school community. As you will see below, our department's approach is to be collaborative across buildings, roles, and community partners.

As we close the year, we also want to send you off with wishes for time for rest, reflection, and joy with loved ones. This season can bring many feelings and as a community, we are mindful of the heightened sense of grief, fear, and anxiety of what is happening around us and throughout the world. NPS remains committed to the pursuit of honoring all members of our diverse community with respect, safety, and affirmation.

We hope you find solace in time with loved ones and we look forward to continuing this very important work in 2024! ~ Kathy & Naomi

On Wednesday, November 29th, nearly 100 administrators participated in a refresher training on the NPS Non-Discrimination Protocol at Admin Council. We highlighted that every NPS staff is responsible for reporting ANY act of discrimination, the reporting & investigation process & timelines, and reinforced the ultimate goal of education and restoration when possible.

Although we always prefer that reports go directly to a trusted adult or NPS employee, there is also an option to submit a report via our Online Reporting Tool. Parents, staff members, and students may use the Online Discrimination Reporting Form to report an incident of alleged discrimination or harassment. The information provided through this form is forwarded to the NPS Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for further review and potential investigation.

Earlier this month elementary educators and staff across NPS engaged in professional learning, centered around culturally responsive instructional moves. This is an ongoing priority for Newton as our educators are on year 3 of whole school, CRI professional development.

Elementary staff will continue to share, collaborate, and learn in subsequent sessions that will be held in the second half of this school year. NPS remains committed to sustaining equitable practices in our schools.

The Human Resources & DEI Department co-hosted an NPS Hiring Manager training to support efforts of recruiting a diverse workforce. With the 2024-25 hiring season approaching, hiring managers (principals, assistant principals, and department heads) attended via zoom to learn recruiting strategies and access resources to support an equitable hiring and ongoing retention process.

NPS was awarded $82,037 focused to "support local school and district efforts to strengthen and diversify existing teacher recruitment and retention programs." Newton will use these funds for targeted licensure support; to expand affinity groups and resources for LGBTQ+, AAPI, and neurodiverse staff; to support supervisory staff through complex conversations about race and identity; to support NPS training through COSEBOC; to provide attendance at BMEC; and to address teacher recruitment strategies "that create equitable opportunities and experiences for all students, particularly those that have been historically underserved."

The Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ) chapters at Newton North and Newton South High Schools invite all staff and families in our school communities to an online hour of engagement and education with the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Newton Public Schools. The NPS Non-Discrimination Protocol is a crucial component in cultivating inclusion and belonging for all members in our community.

During the meeting you will:

• Develop an understanding of how NPS makes decisions
• Goals of corrective and restorative action
• Role parents can play in having conversations at home

Click HERE to RSVP.

NPS middle schools welcomed Urban Improv to do a workshop with all 6th graders.

This year we were able to fund the program through a Hate Prevention Grant from the state of Massachusetts. Urban Improv combines improvisational scenes and live group discussions to reinforce empathy and respect, while giving participants the opportunity to learn, reflect, practice and share. Topics for the workshop include:

• Microaggressions (scenes where characters experience subtle discriminations (racial, religious, gender, sexual orientation, identity expression, ability, age) in their daily lives and navigate their own emotions and social relationships around them.)
• Cyberbullying & Technology
• Bullying & Bystander Issues

On November 7th, students at Day participated in Community Day to engage in a dialogue about identity, belonging, bias, microaggressionsm and discrimination. Each grade engaged in differentiated, scaffolded lessons based upon prior learning:

• Grade 6: Explore the layers of identity
• Grade 7: Explore the danger of stereotyping and a "single story".
• Grade 8: Explore the intersection of identities and how it impacts our interactions.

Students in all three grades then joined an assembly led by Day METCO Counselor, Daniel Arroyo, on the negative impact of microaggressions on individuals and our community and strategies to intervene and interrupt them when you hear them.

Student Orgs - MESWANA (Middle Eastern, SouthWest Asian, and/or North African), SASA (South Asian Student Association) and ASO (Asian Student Organziation) - held a Potluck with food from around the world and activities such as henna, music, and games. One reason why these gatherings of social groups are so important is because it allows students to have cultural experiences and provide a platform for people to share and experience diverse cuisines, customs, and traditions. It promotes cross-cultural understanding and appreciation, fostering a sense of unity, and respect among participants. By showcasing a variety of foods and traditions, participants can learn about, and celebrate the unique aspects of each culture present. This can contribute to a more inclusive and tolerant society. Sharing meals also allows people to engage in conversations, learn from each other, and ask questions about different customs. This dialogue can break down stereotypes and dispel misconceptions, fostering a more open-minded and accepting community. In both cases, whether referring to meetings, groups, and potlucks, the key is to create a space where individuals with commonalities can connect, collaborate, and support each other, leading to positive outcomes for both individuals and community. - Sophie Livington (NSHS Student)

Newton South hosted its second annual Disability Awareness Day, an event that informed, inspired, and provoked meaningful conversation across the school. The goal is to celebrate the amazing community of differently-abled learners and educators at South, while also raising awareness for those who do not have a disability.

The D-Block presentation included a panel of community members who identify as disabled. Seeing members of our school share their experiences elevates our experience and makes it more relatable. Listening to the voices of those we share classes and hallways with will help all of us understand the experience of disabled students and staff better.

During E-Block, there was a lecture and discussion about how disability is portrayed in media. With a focus on print, TV, movies, and political & social media. The goal is to enlighten the audience about ways in which popular storytelling gets it "right and wrong."

Last month, the Center for Black Educator Development hosted its 6th Annual Black Male Educator Convening (BMEC) in Philadelphia. With collaboration from the Grant, Human Resources, and DEI Depts, NPS was able to support all six Black male administrators to attend the 3 day gathering of 1,000 Black male educators across the country. The agenda included distinguished speakers, lively panels, and targeted workshops to inform, inspire, and energize our commitment to serve the increase and retention of Black educators and improve outcomes for our students.

Lasell University hosted its Fall Education Symposium - A night of presentations of research by their graduate and undergraduate students in Education and Psychology. DEI Director, Kathy Lopes, was invited as the keynote speaker and many others were able to celebrate the research work of our NPS staff currently enrolled in the M.Ed program.

Lasell will be accepting applications for the 3rd cohort for the M.Ed program this spring. As a reminder, this program is tailored for BIPOC Unit C staff who are interested in pursuing or completing their master's program in the hopes of teaching here in the district. If you are interested, please reach out to the DEI Department to be informed of upcoming information sessions.

We are proud to highlight the incredible turnout from BIPOC staff across the district at our BIPOC Winter Social on December 8th! It was amazing to see so many staff reconnect with one another as well as build new connections. The food, connection, and energy was high all evening long!

Many thanks to our incredible BIPOC Staff Coordinators for putting together an awesome first event for the year. We appreciate you Blayne, Chrysolite, Daniel, Gabrielle, and Tiyana!

We are still hiring for a middle school coordinator. If you are interested in joining this team, please consider applying HERE.

NPS has a partnership with Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY), where employees have access to unlimited webinars, online conferences, and their On-Demand Library.

To create your personal account, click HERE.

This will bring you to MPY’s registration page, where you can enter your information to request access to the members only section of the website. It is required that you use your work email when registering or your account will not be approved. Members will be asked to create a unique username and password. MPY will approve members’ accounts within 24 hours.

ADL offers a variety of professional learning opportunities to equip educators with tools to engage young people in conversation around bias. Click HERE to learn more.