We find ourselves in challenging times for many reasons. The fabric of our society has been altered in ways that we could have never imagined. The COVID-19 crisis, coupled with the long overdue social and racial reckoning our society is facing, has impacted all of us in profound and challenging ways. The separation between educators, students, families, and school environments has been nothing short of devastating. The scramble to adapt has been exhausting, and, at times, seemingly insurmountable. However, there is a beauty in the way our creativity has risen to this terrible, challenging, and oftentimes isolating occasion. Compassion, empathy, and clear communication must be at the forefront of our decision making and action steps as a school district and community.
As you may have read in the Superintendent’s Message from February 26th, there is an opportunity for all members of our community to come together as members of the West Genesee Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. We recognize that we need to listen to the voices, experiences, and perspectives of people from diverse backgrounds in order to advance our mission and help all members of our community achieve success.
If you are interested in joining our West Genesee Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, please read the mission statement below:
The West Genesee Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council embraces and honors each individual and the diversity of our collective community. We believe we all have a responsibility to educate ourselves and our community members about injustice and discrimination in all its forms.
The West Genesee Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council is committed to empowering all members of our community to have a say in our future as we work collectively to discover the richness and complexity of the cultural world we inhabit. We actively seek to understand the differences that make us stronger and to lean into topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This pursuit and belief prepares our students to be contributing members of a diverse world.
This council is open to all members of our community. Please fill out this Google form and a member of our team will contact you directly.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or one of our other co-chairs:
Steve Dunham, West Genesee Middle School Principal, Director of Secondary Education SDunham@westgenesee.org
Kathryn Ta, Stonehedge Elementary School Music, KTa@westgenesee.org
Keith Newvine, West Genesee High School English, KNewvine@westgenesee.org
Gigina Long, West Genesee High School Art, GYLong@westgenesee.org
