CREATING A DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PLAN IN A SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICT
by Emily White Director of Communications and Marketing Sunnyvale ISD
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n early June, a little over a week after the death of George Floyd, I received a text from a former student — a brilliant, talented and extremely intelligent woman I deeply admire and respect. This alumna, who has worked internationally for a human rights organization in the fight against human trafficking, texted me of her pain and sadness. “I just read through [fellow alumnus’] Facebook post. My heart is heavy,” she wrote. Young alumni in our community had taken to social media to express their disappointment — and disenfranchisement — as persons of color during their time in our high school. Her words unraveled a web of emotions within me — sadness, embarrassment, shame, guilt, anger — all at the idea that this person could have been hurt by me or by those with whom I work. We love our kids — what could we have possibly done to hurt them? However, the stark truth was that my feelings were nothing compared to those that she — and young people across the nation — have felt for ages in their long pursuit of equality. This summer was tough. While families were grappling with a lingering pandemic and divisive political issues, cities across the nation erupted into racial unrest unlike anything we have seen since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Students voiced their frustrations in communities across the nation. My district was no exception. An alumni Facebook group was created in which teachers and administrators were disparaged. A student-led protest was held. How were we, as school administrators, to handle this situation? What could our national climate teach us? How could we authentically create an open and healthy dialogue in our schools and community about race relations and inclusion? My superintendent — also a leader in TASA — led our team through a communitywide effort that led to growth and learning for everyone. In Sunnyvale ISD, we felt that because the school district is the center of the community and the heart
16 Winter 2021 | www.TSPRA.org
