Summit School District Committed to Racial Justice & Equity Literacy Professional Learning
(FRISCO, CO – September 25, 2020) - Summit School District (SSD) is daily reaffirming the commitment made on June 23, 2020 to address the systemic racism, injustices and inequities that directly impacts our scholars’ opportunities to learn and thrive. As we continue this transformative work, the District acknowledges the continual work needed to end the injustices that exist in our schools, our community, and our country.
As the District stands together in our commitment to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion, SSD staff had the opportunity to engage in an all-staff Professional Learning Day on September 25, 2020 focused on Equity Literacy with keynote speaker Dr. Paul Gorski. This type of professional learning, to be offered throughout the school year, equips and empowers SSD staff to identify inequities, eliminate inequities, and actively cultivate sustainable, equitable and just learning environments for all scholars and families.
Reflecting on our current moment in history, SSD acknowledges the pain, anger and trauma resulting from the continued murders of innocent Black lives. We stand with our Black and African-American colleagues, friends and loved ones, as well as people who advocate and fight for humanity, against racism of all forms, in the nationwide marches and protests to end police violence against the Black community. We support service to our communities during this time, in alignment with our district commitment to “stand together against racism and injustice.”
It is not only the life and injustice of the killing of Breonna Taylor but also the devastating racial biases of the U.S. justice system for not charging the two officers responsible for her murder that we are mourning right now. It is also the trauma and racism our society has sustained and upheld for more than 400 years. We also reel from the threats, weaponized bias, and murders of many Black, Indigeneous People of Color over many centuries, that pile on weight and hurt.
SSD is striving to become an organization that leads with equity to ensure success of each scholar and eliminate opportunity and achievement gaps. This requires each of us to engage in critical awareness of who we are and how who we are, shapes how we think and what we do. A continued part of this work is through collective learning, policy development and implementation of culturally-responsive practices at the systems level. Through continued equity literacy professional learning, taking action to interrogate the norm, and personal commitment, SSD staff stand united in support of equity, diversity and inclusion as we advance pedagogy and classroom culture to build capacity and lead change in alignment with the District's current Safe, Equitable and Welcoming Environment Resolution and development of a comprehensive Board-adopted equity policy.
Striving toward this commitment requires us to think differently, engage differently, and act differently as we move beyond words to transformative action.
We are in this together!