HSI NEWSLETTER SPRING 2021
DEI Year in Review Woodside Inclusion and Diversity Council (WIDC) was
Additionally, last summer we launched a Professional
created 4 years ago with the goal to recognize the
Learning Community (PLC)- Pathways to Racial Equity
importance of diversity within our curriculum and the
and Social Justice. This PLC was created with the
community. WIDC strives to foster an inclusive school
intention of offering a space for Woodside School staff
community that promotes the values of equality, cultural responsiveness, social justice, and empathy. WIDC strives to guarantee that every child feels included, safe, and has a sense of belonging no matter what their race, gender, sexual orientation, SES, primary language, and ability is. WIDC Council believes that diversity is an asset and a strength, and we are committed to continue developing a school environment that is physically, emotionally,
members to process thoughts and engage in discussions around equity and social justice, on a global level, a community level, and a personal level. The intention is to share literature, ideas, and feelings together as a group, and to engage in collective processing of events and reflection. More specifically, this PLC uses the lens of white supremacy culture to evaluate our own school
mentally, and psychologically safe for all students.
community and to try to affect change on a small scale
In an ongoing effort to engage students in becoming
community.
active, involved citizens, our teachers use the curriculum to promote conversations about race, social justice, and the
before bringing ideas to our staff and the larger
In the continued efforts to make
opportunity to address the need for systemic change. We
diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
value the partnership of all community members in the
work a priority, Woodside School
effort to teach our students about equality, fairness, and
District hired a consultant, Clarke
the value of all human lives. Over the years, Woodside has
Weatherspoon. Clarke has 20 years
worked to make sure that people of color are well-
of experience as an independent
represented in resources found around school, in materials
school educator, DEI practitioner, educator, and
from textbooks to library books; etc. Yet, there is more to
consultant. Clarke previously served as the Dean of Equity
do.
and Inclusion at the Urban School of San Francisco.
Our staff has engaged in professional development
Clarke’s consultancy services focused on analyzing and
around culturally responsive teaching methods and recognizing implicit bias. This year, our staff has gone through a second year of professional development series with CircleUp Education, a non-profit focused on educating groups about diversity, equity, inclusion, and
addressing the formal and informal structures that limit the participation and development of all community members and the ongoing strategic and operational support to the Woodside School District to ensure quality diversity, equity, and inclusion programming for all
restorative practices. This school year PD goal was to
community members.
uncover the barriers that prevent conversations about
Woodside School plans to continue this work of guiding
racism, explore implicit and explicit racism through the
our students’ staff, parents, and community stakeholders
axis of discrimination, learn key language and definitions
in discussions that are often difficult but vital to
on how to talk to youth and adults about racism, and
understand the complexity and layers of the tragic
learn how unintentional racism seeps into workplaces
events, learn from the lessons of history, and help
and schools using code words, descriptions, and labels.
educate our students to become global citizens.
This DEI update is brought to you by Student Services Director Dr. Marta Batlle. For more information, visit: www.woodsideschool.us/District/Diversity-Inclusion--Equity/
