The Winooski School District Leadership Team wants to express our deep sadness and outrage at George Floyd’s death, yet another Black person killed because of the systemic racism inherent in our nation.
We understand that despite the long history of racism and injustice in our country and in our schools, Families of Color continue to entrust us with their precious children’s education. We must be worthy of their trust. These are some of the ways we are trying to combat racism in ourselves and our schools:
- A group has been reviewing our hiring procedures and drafting a hiring statement for the active recruitment of teachers of color. We are prepared to back this work with financial resources.
- We are committed to offering a safe space for our students to process their emotions and express their voices – through art, video activism, and letter writing.
- We are training our staff to help facilitate these challenging conversations with our students.
Over the last few years, educators at the Winooski School District have begun the journey of engaging in courageous conversations together about race and equity through different types of professional development. There is much more for us to do. It is moments like this that highlight why this work is so important and it must serve as a catalyst for promoting change in our community so we can expand this important work.
We recognize the need to develop a clear vision and action plan for moving our school community’s equity work ahead. This work will take shape over the course of the next school year. We are organizing informal equity dialogues over the summer to begin this process. If you would like to participate in these groups please email Kirsten Kollgaard at [email protected].
In solidarity,
- Sara Raabe, JFK Elementary Principal
- Kate Grodin, WMHS Co-Principal
- Jean Berthiaume, WMHS Co-Principal
- Kirsten Kollgaard, Director of ELL & Curriculum
- Robin Hood, Director of Support Services & Early Learning
- Nicole Mace, Finance Manager
- Sean McMannon, Superintendent