HSD Equity and Inclusion Updates

OQS: Kari Amick & Stephanie Cardente

WRS: Kathleen Grady & Linda Saturley

HMMS: Patrick Lincoln, Angela Janoo, & Susannah Conway

HHS: Becky Whitney & Steve Gagliardone

HACTC: Timmy MacDonnell

TWS: Sheri Gauvin & Julie Gribble

The Winooski School District has been targeted recently for speaking up and supporting their students.

Over the Thanksgiving Break, a Winooski 7-year old second grader and his mom were detained by ICE and sent to a detention facility in Texas. Winooski Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria and the community responded immediately and are trying to get legal representation for this family.

In the beginning of December, the Winooski School District raised a Somali flag to show support for its Somali community in response to President Donald Trump’s calling Somali’s “garbage” during a Cabinet meeting. 9% of students in Winooski are Somali. This action caused a backlash of racist and violent messages which forced the School District to take down its website and disconnect many of its office phones.

On December 17, 2025 The Hartford School Board signed the following letter of support for the Winooski School District. We are asking other VT School Boards to sign it as well so that we can let the Winooski community know that we see them, support them, and that they are not alone.

If you haven't had a chance to read this Valley News Article about the awesome work happening at the Hartford Memorial Middle School (HMMS), please do! Patrick Lincoln, HMMS Dean of Students, started this group after recognizing a need for boys to have a safe space and time to talk about their feelings and to redefine masculinity. Affinity Groups help students feel connected and free to be their authentic selves. https://vnews.com/2025/12/12/middle-school-masculinity-discussion/

I recently facilitated a workshop with the VT-HEC about how the Hartford School District (HSD) builds and sustains equity work. It was a great opportunity for me to reflect on all the things we have built here in the HSD - from our Equity Policies (Anti-racism and Gender Inclusivity) to our Affinity Groups (BIPOC/Multicultural, LGBTQ+, Boys, Neurodivergent). None of this can be done without the people who sustain this work - Building Equity Leaders who serve as a resource to others, educators participating in equity-centered professional development, families who value diversity, community members and consultants who provide their expertise and experiences. The HSD is an incredible place where equity is valued and the core of what we do!

The Hartford School District Equity Committee is focusing on three topics this year to sustain and move our equity work forward - Onboarding, Community Events, and Accountability.

The Hartford School District is proud of the diversity of its students and families. We know that we are stronger if we can build connections with each other and hope that you will want to help us with that endeavor. Please take a minute to fill out this quick survey with your interest in being a part of the HSD Family Partnership for Equity Group, brining your culture into the classroom, and/or meeting up in affinity groups! https://forms.gle/FbJQTFS1cHGydC5x6

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January 1 New Years Day

January 4 World Braille Day

January 6 Epiphany (Christian)

January 13 Lohri (India)

January 14 Orthodox New Year (Eastern Europe)

January 15 Pongal (India)

January 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (USA)

January 24 International Day of Education

January 27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day

In your school's weekly newsletter, we provide a quick blurb, article, video, or story to help you better understand the HSD Anti-Racism and Gender Inclusivity Policies. Here is a link where you can access all the past Curiosity Corner information!