Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In March 2023, the OASD Board of Education unanimously approved the creation of a Director of Diveristy, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) position to oversee the growth of the District’s equity efforts and its commitment to ensuring equitable opportunities, experiences, and outcomes for all students.

The District recognizes the need to actively support DEI in a strategic and comprehensive way. This dedicated leadership position was developed to have the power, reach, and resources to make broad and meaningful changes for the District’s increasingly diverse school communities. Key responsibilities of the position include:

• Developing and implementing creative strategies to foster the OASD’s diversity goals
• Collaborating with district leadership and staff to integrate DEI principles into all aspects of district operations, policies, and procedures
• Strategizing with Human Resources to develop and implement initiatives for the recruitment and retention of diverse staff.
• Developing and delivering training programs to promote awareness and understanding of DEI issues
• Providing guidance and support to students, families, staff, and community members on DEI-related matters

Applications for the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion position will be accepted until May 5, 2023. Interviews will take place in May, with an expected start date of July 1, 2023. To learn more about the position and apply, visit https://wecan.waspa.org/Vacancy/168135. Candidates must create and submit application material via WECAN

LEARN MORE

The OASD has been engaged in equity work since 2017, beginning the Integrated Comprehensive Systems (ICS) for Equity in 2018-2019. In this time, school principals and building leadership teams have learned the history of marginalization, deficit to asset-based thinking, identity development, applying equity research, creating equity non-negotiables, and completing an equity audit. This information is continually cycled to meet the needs of individual buildings. The District is also focused on identifying relevant teaching and learning for all learners, proactive behavioral supports, and co-planning to co-serve and leveraging policy and procedures to eliminate inequities. 

As a result of this work, all staff engaged in developing equity non-negotiables and feedback was gathered from all school sites to finalize the OASD Equity Non-Negotiables. The Policy and Governance Committee of the OASD Board of Education reviewed the OASD Equity Non-Negotiables at their meetings in December 2022 and in January, February, and March of 2023 to put it in policy to be approved by the OASD Board of Education on March 29, 2023. 

(Once approved the OASD Equity Non-Negotiables will be available on this page.)