I wanted to share an update with all of you regarding the work our district is doing around our commitment to ensuring equity for all PSUSD students. I am so proud of our staff and community members who have not only embraced the concept of this important mission but have also stepped up to help us implement a wide array of programs, projects, and initiatives to help get us to where we want and need to be.
“Palm Springs Unified is committed to an equitable, socially just and anti-racist educational system that is based on fairness, dignity and democracy in order to foster student success. We serve and honor our diverse student body in regard to ethnicity, language, culture, national origin, socio-economic status, age, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious beliefs, and family structure. We commit to be an anti-racist and anti-discriminatory learning community that creates safe learning spaces where all students are welcomed, included, and respected. Every student, every day.”
The above is our Equity Statement, and it is our mission as the Palm Springs Unified School District to do everything possible to ensure that our entire staff and students are properly educated on how we get there. About a year and a half ago we launched our Anti-Racism Coalition (ARC), and in that short time we have accomplished so much, some of the accomplishments are listed below. In addition to the work of ARC and its subcommittees, our Family Engagement Center and a committee comprised of dedicated staff and community members, recently hosted the PSUSD second annual Community Equity Conference. If you were able to attend, you would have seen and experienced the fruits of some of our PSUSD family’s work. The good news is that if you did not have the good fortune to attend, most of the seminars as well as the keynote presentation are available to view here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ0gHueghkLghJd1mTsChjA. I encourage you to view all the breakout sessions and guarantee you will learn a lot.
Some of our other endeavors over the past 18 months include:
- Hiring of our first Coordinator of Diversity and Racial Equity
- Professional Development for staff including Conscious Education, Culturally and Linguistically Responsive (CLR) training and Campus Security Officer training on working with our diverse student population
- Initial planning of district-wide affinity groups
- Work on diversifying staff across the staff including attending nine recruitment fairs at Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) in 2021
- Launch of Native American Parent Advisory Council (NAPAC)
- Monthly Junior Black Achievers meetings
- District-wide HBCU tour in spring of 2022
- Continuation of monthly African American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC) meetings
- Black Student Unions (BSUs) expanded to all comprehensive high schools
- Inclusion of Diversity/Equity/Belonging questions on District Panorama Survey.
- Continued education and promotion of cultural celebrations
- Resources for staff/student activities
- Collaboration with diversity and racial equity consulting group
We have come a long way, and we have so much more to do. I will continue to provide you with updates on this crucial work, and, as always, thank you for your continued support and partnership. It means everything.
See you next month,
Mike Swize, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
