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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The universe is on a long arc of justice where the reconstruction of systems that shape our world rely on cultures of belonging, sustainability and authenticity in order to be fully anti-racist and anti-oppressive.

At DSST we aim to foster a shared ownership and capacity to build inclusive communities and experiences among DSST staff, students and families that eliminates educational inequity in fulfillment of our vision to center the Human Condition in every aspect of our work.

DEI AT DSST

Eliminating educational inequity and integrating schools remains core to our mission at DSST. Essential to meeting this mission is the internal work we do to sharpen our own equity lenses as we create more diverse, equitable and inclusive systems. In partnership with our staff, students and families, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team remains dedicated to cultivating a school community that welcomes open discussion and self-reflection around these issues. This has been done in many ways, including the continuation of Affinity Groups and campus DEI Liaisons, and the launch of our Trans and Non-Binary Youth Advocates. These partnerships have allowed us to reflect on where we have been, assess where we are as a network and revisit our goals for the future. What affects any individual or collection of groups, impacts us all.

MEET THE DEI TEAM

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Dr. Aaron Griffen

Aaron J. Griffen, PhD is a P-12 Practitioner-Scholar with over 20 years of experience as a middle school English teacher and school leader. Throughout his career, he has worked exclusively and purposefully in Urban-defined schools and districts, serving a culturally, linguistically, economically, educationally, emotionally, socially and diverse population of learners.

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Mercedes Blea-Davis

From an early age, Mercedes had a keen eye for recognizing the main components of DEI without fully comprehending the full scope of what she was unpacking. As she grew, this work became her passion and a part of her daily life. With each new experience Mercedes intentionally sought out the groups where she could make a positive impact and be an advocate for marginalized groups.

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Salvador Ramírez, M.A.

Salvador’s educational and professional career has been devoted to fighting for educational equity for students from marginalized communities within and outside of educational institutions. As a Latinx educator with anti-oppressive practices, Salvador is determined to help students with marginalized identities understand their power and skillset so they create transformation and change that will allow them to not only survive but thrive.

INITIATIVES

Racial Excellence, Belonging, and Inclusiveness Matters

Through the Black Excellence Resolution passed by the Denver Public Schools Board of Education in 2019, DSST is committed to utilizing the tools, systems, resources and talent that exist within our network and community; increasing the investment of students and their families in their own successes; and focusing on the following: 

  1. Prioritizing black student success 
  2. Be a district that is community driven and expertly supported
  3. Remain equitable by design

This means accessing every resource we have available to serve the most vulnerable and underserved students under the Consent Decree for second language students, under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA); promoting a curriculum, instructional  model, and student experience that is represents, acknowledges, values and appreciates the diverse student population and communities we serve; and providing the protections required by Under Title IX (1972):   

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. 

This deep commitment continues with the partnership of National Equity Project and other outside consultants to help us recognize where we continued to come up short on  the foundations our DEI work:

  1. Authentically embracing DEI work as a cornerstone for student success
  2. Understanding the importance of an equity mindset in our day to day work
  3. Building the opportunity to participate in spaces that allow for space and voice, particularly for non-dominant populations
  4. Ensuring that our commitment to integrated schools is more than just an enrollment policy - it is demonstrated in all of our core practices, processes and ultimate outcomes.

Through the work with the National Equity Project, we had our first Equity Working Group made up of staff from within schools, across roles and from the Home Office. The last iteration of this work included students. The Equity Working Group became a model for individual school planning and Home Office strategic partnerships. 

DSST's DEI Liaisons and Trans and Non-Binary Youth Advocates are part of a vital initiative within the network aimed at fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all students, with a focus on advocating for transgender youth. The DEI Liaison serves as a key point of contact for leading diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on campus, and the Trans Youth Advocates provides resource, guidance and a safe space for transgender and non-binary students. Together, these efforts work to ensure that all students, regardless of gender identity, feel valued, respected,= and empowered to thrive academically and personally within the school community.

We are excited to share that DSST is actively engaging with La Raza Report, a comprehensive report that outlines recommendations to improve educational outcomes for Latine students. This report, developed by the Multicultural Leadership Center, highlights the unique challenges faced by Latine students and offers strategies to support their academic and social-emotional growth.

DEI STORIES

RESOURCES

General

Supporting our Asian & Pacific Islander Communities

LGBTQ+ Resources

Throughout our network we have had a number of questions posed by families in regards to immigration policy changes at the federal level and how that impacts individuals in the community. We have created this guide as a response to these inquiries. As a reminder, this guide is NOT meant to provide legal advice or counsel, you should always seek the advice of an attorney on any legal issues you may be experiencing. It’s important to remember to always make sure that the sources you are using for updates and news are trusted and reliable sources, and protect yourself from fraud or phishing attempts.
If you have specific questions please feel free to reach out to DSST’s Senior Manager of Advocacy and External Affairs, Aisury Vasquez at aisury.vasquez@scienceandtech.org.