HSD Equity and Inclusion Updates

OQS: Julia Anderson & Kari Amick

WRS: Kathleen Grady & Amy DeMatteo

HMMS: Patrick Lincoln & Carley Malloy (Virtually)

HHS: Becky Whitney, Mary Bouchard, & Steve Gagliardone

HACTC: Timmy MacDonnell

TWS: Megan Geiselhart

The Hartford School District was awarded a consultation package through VT-HEC, with support from a grant from the Agency of Education, to develop a statement and practices that address inequities faced by our Neurodivergent Population. A group of experienced and dedicated HSD professionals have been working with Hannah Markos, Coordinator of Neurodiversity and Inclusion at VT-HEC, to begin this process. Our goal is to be able to provide training to all HSD staff around an understanding neurodiversity and best practices that benefit all learners.

Dr. Luvelle Brown joined the December meeting of the Administrative Council to help guide the District work around Vision of a Graduate. We began by collectively sharing our fears, what the resistance will be, what do we do in the face of resistance, and what opportunities will come about.

Gathering feedback from the Hartford Community, a common theme that showed up was the need for continued work around diversity and inclusion. Over and over again folks hoped that the HSD community would provide "a sense of belonging and value in their school community. Recognition of diversity and the importance of diversity in our community" and "continued support and inclusion and belonging." One community member stated, "I have been so impressed that Hartford Students can feel safe and be themselves. I also hope that diverse families, whether that diversity is race, religion, sexual orientation, gender diversity, etc. will continue to feel accepted and feel like they belong."

In an effort to build community and belonging, the HSD has multiple affinity groups in each of its school buildings. An affinity group is a group of people linked by a common purpose, identity, or interest. Affinity Groups play a vital role in ensuring an inclusive environment where all are valued, included, and empowered to succeed. They are never used to promote hate speech, discriminatory behavior, exclusion, or hostility. We offer and/or are creating affinity groups for students of the BIPOC/global majority/multicultural community, LGBTQ+ and their allies, boys/men, and neurodiverse learners.

January 1 New Year's Day

January 5 Guru Gobind Singh's Birthday (Sikh)

January 6 Epiphany (Christian)

January 7 Christmas (Christian - Coptic & Eastern Orthodox)

January 13 Lohri (Sikh, Hindu)

January 14 Makar Sankranti (India, Hindu)

January 14 Pongol (India)

January 20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (USA)

January 29 Chinese/Lunar New Year/Tet (Buddhist - China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam)

January 20 Seollal (Korea)

January 30 Sadeh (Iran, Zoroastrian)

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!