Scarsdale Public Schools Superintendent’s Day 2023

I returned to Scarsdale Public Schools yesterday to lead efforts during Year 3 of our partnership to drive belonging in the district. Building on content from Superintendent’s Day 2022 and subsequent work earlier this year, yesterday's objectives focused on three primary areas:

1. Belonging Survey

The district will conduct a comprehensive Belonging Survey this year to provide an opportunity for all constituents- students, employees, and parents- to share their perspectives and experiences as it relates to belonging in the district. The findings from the survey will inform ongoing district DEIB strategy and goals.

During Superintendent’s Day, I facilitated a workshop with staff to frame the belonging survey- highlighting goals, process, methodology, and alignment with the district’s mission to foster an inclusive learning and work environment for all.

2. Unconscious Bias in Hiring

I also facilitated an unconscious bias workshop for district leaders who manage hiring. During the session, we reviewed the latest research on unconscious bias, aligned on common language, learned the most salient forms of unconscious bias that undermine inclusive hiring, and reviewed best practices and strategies to mitigate unconscious bias to foster an inclusive hiring process.

3. Courageous Conversations

Finally, I led a conversation with a group of thoughtful teachers and administrators cultivating strategies to navigate courageous conversations about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Middle East.

During the session, I highlighted the critical need to foster classroom deliberations instead of debates, ensuring that facilitated conversations scaffold empathy and compassion; to acknowledge and respect the very emotional nature of any conversation where some understandably perceive the stakes as intertwined with their humanity; and the importance of acknowledging one’s own positionality and how who we are informs how we enter these conversations.

Many thanks to all the incredible adults in the district for their ongoing efforts to support all students. I am deeply grateful for my ongoing partnership with Scarsdale Public Schools to foster a more inclusive and compassionate district.

And a special thanks to Dr. Drew Patrick, superintendent, and Dr. Edgar McIntosh, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction & assessment, for their ongoing leadership and authentic commitment to this critical work.