ManydistrictvotersbelieveLLESDcanenhancetheexcellenceofitseducationbyincluding

diversityinourstrategicpriorities.Diversifyingtheethnic,racial,andotherbackgroundsof
ourteachingteamwithupcominghiresisoneprovenwaytoachieveadistrictthatembraces
andpursuesinclusiveexcellence.

Allstudentsbenefit
frombeingeducatedby
teachersfromavarietyofdifferentbackgrounds,
racesandethnicgroups,asthisexperiencebetter
preparesthemtosucceedinanincreasingly
diversesociety
.

Positiveexposuretoindividualsfromavarietyofraces
andethnicgroups,especiallyinchildhood,canhelpto
reducestereotypes
,attenuateunconsciousimplicit
biasesandhelp
promotecrossculturalsocialbonding
.

Minoritystudentsprofitfromhavingamongtheir
teachersindividualsfromtheirownracialandethnic
groupwhocanserveas
academicallysuccessful
rolemodels
andwhocanhavegreaterknowledgeof
theirheritageculture.

2015reportaccessedfrom
www.shankerinstitute.org
onApril10,2016.

Theneedforempiricalresearchontheactualeducationalimpactofracialandethnic
diversityonthelearningenvironmenthasbecomeclear
inlightoftherecentchallengestoraceconscious
affirmativeactionpolicies.Accordingly,ateamof
researchersexaminedtheattitudesandexperiencesof
facultymembers,basedontheirprofessionaljudgmentasfrontlineeducators,withregardto
theimpactofracialandethnicdiversityontheteachingandlearningexperience.Thestudies
presentedhereindicatethat
racialandethnicdiversityoncampusprovideseducational
benefitsforallstudents
minorityandwhitealikethatcannotbeduplicatedinaracially
andethnicallyhomogeneoussetting.

AmericanAssociationofUniversityProfessors
,2000,accessedfrom
www.aaup.org
onApril10,2016.

Thisreportarguesthat,asourK12student
populationbecomesmoreraciallyandethnically
diverse,thetimeisrightforourpoliticalleaderstopay
moreattentiontotheevidence,
intuition,andcommon
sensethatsupportstheimportanceofraciallyand
ethnicallydiverseeducationalsettings
toprepare
thenextgeneration

TheCenturyFoundation,2016accessedfrom
www.tcf.org
onApril
10,2016.

Decadesofresearch
byorganizationalscientists,

psychologists,sociologists,economistsand
demographersshowthatsociallydiversegroups(thatis,
thosewithadiversityofrace,ethnicity,genderand
sexualorientation)are
moreinnovative
than
homogeneousgroups.

2014article
accessedfrom
www.scientificamerican.com
onApril10,2016

Diverseschoolsarelinkedtoa
hostofpositivelearning

outcomes
forwhitestudents.Theseincludemorerobust
classroomdiscussions,thepromotionofcriticalthinkingand
problemsolvingskillsandhigheracademicachievement.

2012
study
accessedfrom
www.schooldiversity.org
onApril10,2016

DataforbothchartsfromtheCaliforniaDepartmentofEducations
DataQuestwebsite
forthe20142015schoolyear,accessedonMarch29,2016

Source:Eddata.orgusingCaliforniaDepartmentofEducationstatistics.PAUSDsdatadiffersslightlythanthegraphs
duetoaCDEdiscrepancybetweendistricttotalsandindividualschooltotals.Districttotalsshow24%teachersofcolor
vs.aggregatedindividualschooldata,whichshows19%teachersofcolor.

Obviously,ourfirstprioritymustbetoensurethateverystudent
hasthebenefitofbeingtaughtby
skilled,knowledgeableand
caringteachers
ofwhateverraceandethnicity.Thisisand
mustremainourtoppriority.Thatis,raceandethnicityneednot
bethetopfactorindecidinghowteachersshouldberecruited,
hired,assignedorretainedbutthereis
ampleevidencetosupportthecontention
thatitshouldindeedbeafactor,andanimportantoneatthat
.

...diversityshouldbetalkedaboutasinclusiveexcellence,for
only
whenacampusistrulyinclusivecanitmakeaclaimto
excellence
.

InclusiveExcellence
reenvisionsbothqualityanddiversity
.It
reflectsastrivingforexcellenceinhighereducationthathasbeen
mademoreinclusivebydecadesofworktoinfusediversityintorecruiting,admissions,and
hiringintothecurriculumandcocurriculumandintoadministrativestructuresandpractices.
AACU,2102,
BroadeningOurDefinitionofDiversity
accessedonApril11,2016

...issuesof
teacherqualityandeducationalopportunitycannot
adequatelybeconsideredirrespectiveofstudentandteacher
demographics
.Thereisreasontobelievethat,throughouttheirschool
careers,everystudentinthenationwouldbenefitfromaccessto
teachersandrolemodelswhonotonlylooklikethembutreflectthediversesocietyinwhich
theymustlearntolive,workandprosper.

INADDITION:
Thevastmajorityofresearchoneducationaldiversityfocusesonrace/ethnicity
ItisoneofthemostobviousdisparitiesindiversityatLLESDandshouldnotbeignored
Itistheonlyteacherdemographic(exceptgender)trackedbyCADeptofEducation
Actionsjustifiedthrough
statedgoalsofdiversity
without
acknowledgementofthelongstandingeffectsofprivilege,power,and
oppressionequatetoan
inabilitytofacilitatemeaningfulchange
towardinclusion....
2015,
WhoBenefits?:ACriticalRaceAnalysisoftheEvolvingLanguageOfInclusioninHigherEducation
,accessedApril11,2016.

IfLLESDiscommittedtodiversityasafundamentalelementofanequitable,inclusive
education,itwouldbenefitfromfollowingthefourbestpracticesoutlinedbelow,drawnfrom
thestudy,FromIntentiontoAction:BuildingDiverseandInclusiveTeamsinEducationto
DeepenImpact:

1. Acustomizedvisionandstrategyfordiversityandinclusion
2. Leadershipofandaccountabilityfordiversitygoals
3. Talentrecruitmentandstaffdevelopmentpracticesthatincreasethe
diversityofthecandidatepool
4. Intentionalandstrategicdialogueaboutdiversity.

*GraphicsandstrategiesonthisandthefollowingpagesbasedonKoyaLeadershipPartnersandEducation
Pioneers,
FromIntentiontoAction:BuildingDiverseandInclusiveTeamsinEducationtoDeepenImpact
,2014.
AccessedonApril6,2015.

1.ACUSTOMIZEDVISIONANDSTRATEGY
LLESDhasanopportunitytofollowtheleadofotherlocalschooldistrictsandidentify
diversityinstaffingasaclearlyarticulatedstrategicpriorityembeddedintheDistricts
messagingandcorevalues.

Localschooldistrictswhoidentifydiversityinstaffingasastrategicgoalhavemuchhigher
ratesofdiversityintheirteachingteamsthanLLESD(currentlyat9%teachersofcolor):


2.LEADERSHIPANDACCOUNTABILITY
Toeffectivelypursueandcommunicatetheimportanceofethnic/racialandothertypes
ofdiversityintheteachingteam,Districtleadershipmustmakestaffingdiversitya
strategicpriorityandcloselymonitorprogresstowardthisgoal.

Onlydistrictleadershipcan:
Definespecificdiversitygoalsforthedistrict(notquotas,butbroadgoalssuchas
recruitingandretainingateachingteamthatreflectstheculturalbackgroundsofits
students)
Dedicateresourcestoreachthesegoals
Determinewhoisaccountabletopursuethesegoals
Regularlymonitorprogresstowardthesegoals

3.TALENTRECRUITMENT
LLESDcanadoptadditionalstrategiesforrecruitingdiverseteachercandidates,
beginningwithupdatingourrecruitingmaterials.

LanguagethatemphasizesLLESDscommitmenttodiversitycanattractmorecandidatesto
applyforteacherpositions.TheSanFranciscoUnifiedSchoolDistrictsrecruitingmaterials
provideagreatexample(seeattached).

ProvideaschoolstatementthatgoesbeyondEEOrequirements,suchas:
LasLomitasElementarySchoolDistrictiscommittedtobuildingaculturallydiverseand
inclusivefacultyandstadedicatedtoworkinginamulticulturalenvironment.The
Districtisespeciallyinterestedincandidateswhocancontributetothediversityand
inclusiveexcellenceoftheLLESDcommunityandwelcomesapplicationsfrommembers
ofminoritygroupsandindividualswithdisabilities,aswellasfromotherswhowould
bringadditionaldimensionstotheDistrictsteam.


Embeddiversityintojobqualifications.Forexample:
Thecandidatemusthaveademonstratedabilityto:
Workeffectivelywithindividualsfromdiversecommunitiesandcultures
Workwithcolleagueswhorepresentadiversityofworkandconflictresolutionstyles
Facilitateaworkenvironmentthatencouragesknowledgeof,respectfor,and
developmentofskillstoengagewiththoseofotherculturesorbackgrounds
Commitmenttoworkingwithdiversestudentandcommunitypopulations

Weavediversityintotheapplicationguidelines.Forinstance:
IncludeinyourcoverletterastatementabouthowyouwillfurthertheDistrictsgoalof
buildingaculturallydiverseeducationalenvironment,orhowyourbackground
contributestoacultureofdiversityandinclusion.

(
Sources:
StanfordUniversity
:DiversityandAccessOffice,HiringaDiverseWorkforce
MissouriStateUniversity
:
RecruitingaDiverseWorkforce:GuidelinesforHiringFaculty,AcademicAdministratorsandExecutive,
AdministrativeandProfessionalStaff
UniversityofUtah
:StaffDiversityRecruitment)

Otherrecruitmentstrategiestodiversifytheteachercandidatepool:
Adoptagrowourownprogramthatrecruitspromisingparaeducatorsand
encouragesthemtoearnteachingcredentials
Minimizethepracticeofrecruitingthroughinternalreferences,whichtendstomirror
thebackgroundsofcurrentteachers
Ensurediversityinthecandidatepoolbeforemovingtointerviews
Ensurethehiringcommitteeincludesatleastonenonwhitemember,oramemberof
acommunitypartnerthatrepresentsdiversegroups(asPAUSDhasdone)
Broadoutreachtowebsites,jobfairsandpublicationsthattargetdiverseaudiences
Continuedevelopingrelationshipswithteacherprepprogramsandparticipatingin
intern/studentteacherprograms

4.INTENTIONALSTRATEGICDIALOGUEABOUTDIVERSITY
LLESDwouldbenefitfromongoingcommunitydialogueaboutdiversity:whatitmeans
toourdistrictwhyitmatterstoourstudents,faculty,staff,parentsanddistrictvoters
andwhatLLESDcandotoweavediversityintoitsDNA.


Oneoptionistoformacommitteetofocusonissuesrelatedtoequityanddiversity
A
longtermbody
thatleadsthedistrictinintentionalandstrategicdialogueabout
diversity
Madeupof
LLESDstakeholders
:faculty,staff,parentsandcommunitymembers
Meetingsopentoall
(subjectsrequiringconfidentialitydesignatedtoasmallersubset
ofthegroup)
Activitiesmayinclude:
"
ListeningCampaigns
"orcommunitystudiesaboutthecurrentstateof
diversityinthedistrictandwhatitwouldtaketofostermorediversity(as
MPCSDdid2009andPAUSDdidin2015)
Hosting
facilitatedcommunitydiscussions
Developa
districtdefinitionofdiversity
includingwhetherdistrictfollowsthe
nationaltrendofusingracial/ethnicstatisticsasakeyindicatorofprogress
Pursuefundingfordiversityinitiativesfromlocalcompaniesandfoundations
(
MPCSDsourced$95Kingrants
fortheir
workwiththeNationalEquityProject
in2011)
Research
bestpractices
,participateindiversityconferencesandevents
Actasa
soundingboard
forteachers,parentsandstaffondiversityissues
Participatein
advocacy
forstateandnationalresourcestocultivatediversity
andexpandtheteacherpipeline

Weareproudofourblueribbonschoolsandlookforwardtobeingpartofa
collaborativeefforttoembeddiversityintoourdistrictstrategiesandpractices.

Menlo School strives to empower students to, in the words of our Mission
Statement, become ethical, responsible and engaged members of ever
wider communities. We care deeply about equity, inclusivity and diversity,
andwerecommittedtogettingitright.

HowdoesMenlodefinediversity?
Menlo School is committed to being a heterogeneous andinclusive community.Webelieve
studentsarebettereducatedandpreparedtosucceedwhentheSchoolcommunity
students, families, faculty, administration and staffis diverse and inclusive. Diversity
benefits the entire community by providing a wide range of perspectives and experiences.
We embrace a broad definition of diversity:aninclusivecommunitycomprisedofpeoplewith
different racial, cultural, economic and religious backgrounds, as well as different gender
identities and sexual orientations. In addition, we support students with a wide variety of
interests,talents,physicalabilities,personalitiesandpolitics.

Equity,InclusivityandDiversityCommittee(EIDC):ChargetotheCommittee
The Equity, Inclusivity and Diversity Committees goal is to create a more inclusive
community in all realms of the School, grounded in respect and appreciation for individual
differences. The Committee seeks to provide programs and resources that enhance
knowledge and encourage understanding of inclusivity. The Committee strives to provide
leadership, dialogue and resources for faculty, students and families. The impetus for this
workhascomefromeverypartofourcommunity.

Weaimtoaddressthefollowingquestions:
Howdowemeasuregrowth?Inwhatwaysdoweliveourstatedcommitmentto
equity,inclusionanddiversity?
HowdoesMenlodemonstratethatdiversity=excellence?
Howdowemoveourschooltowarddiversityworkasbothaninstitutionalmoral
imperativeandanintegralacademicskillset?

Wedefine:
EquityandJusticeisafocusonempowermentofandcoownershipbythecommittee
inbuildingandsustainingdiversityandinclusivity.
Diversityisthefabricofourcommunity.Itisdefinedbyotherness.Mostobviously,it
isdeterminedbyrace,genderand/orculture.Onamoresubtlelevelitincludesclass,
sexualorientation,religion,abilityandappearance.
Inclusivityisachievedbybuildingandsustainingourcommunitythroughpolicies,
programsandpractices.

Accessedfrom
https://www.menloschool.org/about/diversityequityandinclusion.php
onApril13,2016