Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) At Springfield Prep

Our Commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (REDI)

At the root of our mission is a commitment to creating a school community that empowers students of diverse identities to become scholars and leaders. We strive to help our students, most of whom identify as Latinx and Black, develop an ambitious vision of what they can achieve and support them in achieving their goals. We must, then, proactively seek to understand and work against the inequities that have unfairly created barriers for students of color and other historically marginalized groups.

We are therefore committed to being a diverse organization at all levels where every member of our community is comfortable being their authentic self and feels that opportunity is equally accessible, regardless of background. We believe diverse perspectives help us to make better decisions alongside our students and families and also make our school a place where everyone feels heard, valued, and respected.

We understand that this is an ongoing process that will require constant work, dialogue, and reflection. We see it as a valuable opportunity and a responsibility that we take seriously.

A Diverse Team

Part of our commitment to addressing racial equity means ensuring that our students see themselves represented in their teachers, mentors, and overall community. Approximately 40% of classroom teachers, 25% of school leaders, and 40% of the Board of Trustees identify as BIPOC and further improving staff, leadership and board diversity is an organizational priority.

INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT THIS WORK

  • Associate Teacher Program: A one-year program designed to support individuals new to the teaching field through mentorship, coaching, and classroom experience. Learn more about the Associate Teacher Program here.

  • A supportive culture driven by weekly team meetings and 1-on-1 coaching to foster connection and collaboration.

  • Employee Affinity Group spaces that provide identity-based connection opportunities.

  • Staff Hiring Committee: A group of staff members that participates in the hiring process to provide additional perspective and works together to reduce bias.

  • Points of Intersection Bonus: A bonus provided to associate teacher candidates who share identities with our students. Learn more about the Points of Intersection Bonus here!

An Inclusive Culture

Creating a culture of inclusivity means welcoming, respecting, supporting, and valuing all of the unique identities that make up the Springfield Prep community. It also means authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and groups into processes, activities, and decision- and policy-making in a way that shares power. We foster an inclusive school culture in a variety of ways:

  • Cultural Heritage/Identity Affirming Months: Uplifting the cultures and heritages of our community through school-wide cultural celebrations, as well as in cross-curricular spaces.

  • A Multi-Lingual Library featuring more than 700 books in English, Spanish, Nepali, Arabic, and Mandarin.

  • Prioritizing Culturally Responsive Teaching during professional development.

  • Developing and constantly evolving our curriculum so it reflects and affirms the identities of our students.

  • Active family groups, including a Parent Action Committee, Special Education Parent Advisory Council, and English Learner Advisory Council.

Read more about these initiatives in our blog!

Our REDI Strategic Plan

Over the past four years, our school has been engaged in DEI/REDI work. In the 2021-22 school year, to establish a clear vision for this work along with benchmarks to help track our progress along the way, we developed a REDI Strategic Plan.

This plan was developed over the course of a year by a REDI Working Group, in consultation with the school’s leadership team, board members, staff members, families, and students, and guided by Chante’ Chambers of Chambers North Star Consulting.

It outlines clear goals and will help us to stay focused on achieving the outcomes that will make our school a more diverse, inclusive, equitable and anti-racist organization.

Read our REDI Strategic Plan by clicking here.

Read the Executive Summary by clicking here.