5 minute read
FACE & DEI
Family and Community Engagement - FACE
BY Laura Ni & Melissa Valdez
Issaquah PTSA Council FACE Co-Chairs
face@issaquahptsa.org
Currently, the Issaquah School District contains 27 schools and serves almost 20,000 students. The population and demographics served by the ISD have been changing rapidly in the past 20 years. In 2001, the District was about 85% white students and 15% students of color. Now, the District’s minority enrollment is over 50%. Every year, there are about 500 new families joining our District. (*Note: There are families moving out of our District at the same time.) As our communities become more diverse, we should take extra care to ensure our schools and PTSA/PTAs are an open and welcoming place for all parents and families from different groups and cultures.
Today, both the National PTA and Washington State PTA state the importance of the family and community engagement and list four principles of how the school PTA/PTSA can be more family engaged:
Inclusive: Embracing and valuing diverse perspectives.
Individualized: Meeting the unique needs of every family and child.
Integrated: Connecting and aligning with the educational system.
Impactful: Empowering families to support their child’s success.
Therefore, the Issaquah PTSA Council encourages all the Issaquah schools’ PTA/PTSAs to have a Family and Community Engagement (F. A. C. E.) coordinator to create an inviting environment for your school community. The mission is to involve more parents and teachers in school activities, advocate for the needs of all children, and encourage more volunteers to advance this mission!
As the Issaquah PTSA Council Family and Community Engagement chairs, we understand that each school and PTA/ PTSA works differently. However, the suggested ideas below are for each PTA/PTSA’s Family and Community Engagement coordinator on how to help their families:
Coordinates Cultural Ambassadors to welcome families and help translate school information.
Works together with the school Registrar of the school office to welcome and assist families.
Supports school Librarian to help search for books in different languages.
Supports MLL (Multilingual Language Learners) staff.
Supports school cultural events and activities.
Liaison with the Issaquah PTSA Council FACE chairs.
Liaison with Cultural and Family Partnerships of the Issaquah School District.
Liaison with the Cultural Bridges Program of the Issaquah Schools Foundation.
We offer an array of resources to enhance the current outreach for new families and diversity initiatives. We believe that when families understand how to engage and connect with schools and help their kids, they feel less intimidated, isolated, detached, and then they feel empowered to help and to advocate for their own children.
If you are new to Issaquah School District or you want to know or understand school programs or activities, please reach out to your school’s PTA/PTSA Family and Community coordinator or your PTA/PTSA President or reach us via face@issaquahptsa.org if you are unsure who is the correct person to contact.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – DEI
BY Lovenia Hardin
Issaquah PTSA Council DEI Chair
dei@issaquahptsa.org
In August 2023, the Issaquah PTSA Council added a new role to their council board – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and recruited me to chair this position. I embraced this role with a deep commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, driven by the belief that every student deserves equal access to resources, opportunities, and support. This fundamental principle is at the heart of bridging achievement gaps and establishing an equitable playing field, regardless of students' backgrounds.
As the DEI position is an emerging addition to our council, I'm eager to explore how DEI can be effectively integrated into our council PTA/PTSAs. Recognize that DEI is a progressive philosophy that encompasses a wide spectrum of strategies and practices designed to encourage inclusivity and equity. Implementing this philosophy will require a step-by-step integration into various facets of our community's culture and operations. It's a journey, and it may take some time for everyone to embrace this philosophy fully.
With this in mind, I will continually share resources from the PTA National and State councils, bringing insights and knowledge to each monthly PTSA general council meeting. Additionally, I will collaborate with Family Engagement and Community (FACE) to provide comprehensive information during our scheduled meetings, the next of which is on January 19th and May 10th. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that DEI principles are not just words but actionable and impactful steps towards a more inclusive and equitable community.
Finally, DEI is not about singling out any specific group but about recognizing and celebrating diversity in all its forms. It's about promoting a school culture that values and respects all student’s unique experiences and backgrounds. By doing so, schools can provide a more enriching and equitable educational experience for all students, helping them become well-rounded individuals who are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly diverse world.
For those seeking valuable DEI resources, I recommend exploring the wealth of information available on the PTA National, state, and Issaquah Council websites. Among these resources, the Multicultural Reference Guide stands out, offering a comprehensive roadmap to initiate a DEI journey within the PTA/PTSA.
Diversity
National PTA states: Diversity is the representation of, and respect for, people from different backgrounds and identities—including but not limited to race, culture, religion, socioeconomic status, age, geographic area, sexual orientation, gender identification, language, learning style, and physical appearance. It also involves bringing different ideas, perspectives, lived experiences, talents, values, and worldviews to represent the variety of children, caregivers, educators, and communities within the PTA family.
Equity
National PTA states: Equity provides fairness in resources, opportunities, and outcomes so that all communities get what they need to be engaged and successful. This moves beyond an “equal across the board” approach to:
Recognize and address bias and privilege.
Understand and attend to specific individual and community needs, providing additional resources to those with greater needs.
Inclusion
National PTA states: Inclusion is actions, behaviors, and social norms ensuring everyone feels safe, welcomed, and belong. This means putting diversity into action with skill and intentionality to ensure everyone feels respected, supported, and valued—and can fully participate with equal voice and right to be heard. This includes actively seeking out voices that have been traditionally underrepresented and/or marginalized.
