Equity, Diversity, Inclusion

EDI Committee at Shen

Our EDI efforts are all centered around and tied to our Profile of a Shen student and Shen employee.

Purpose:

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee at Shenendehowa Central School District is grounded in core principles that reflect the district’s mission, values, and commitment to fostering an inclusive learning and working environment. These principles are closely aligned with the district’s vision for both students and employees, emphasizing respect, belonging, and cultural responsiveness.

The committee’s work supports the development of a school community where diversity is celebrated, equity is prioritized, and inclusion is embedded in every aspect of the educational experience. By aligning with the District’s Profile of a Shenendehowa student and Shenendehowa employee, the EDI Committee strives to cultivate an environment where all individuals feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.

EDI Related Policies

4410 — Code of Conduct and Maintenance of Order

4420 — Anti-Harassment in the School District

7460 — Constitutionally-Protected Prayer in the Public Schools

7555 — Dignity for All (DASA)

8130 — Equal Educational Opportunities

8241 — Patriotism, Citizenship and Human Rights Education

8280 — Instruction for English Language Learners

8360 — Religious Observances and Instructional – Related Activities

6194 — Employee Religious Observance

7131 — Education of Homeless Children and Youth

8242 — Social Emotional Learning and Character Development

Monthly EDI Messages

Timeline of EDI Initiatives

2009-10

Shenendehowa Diversity Committee, made up of parents, staff, board members and community residents created to provide the community with knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of our richly diverse population

2010-11

"SHENSATIONAL! Global Expo 2011" is hosted by the district’s Cultural Diversity Committee to acknowledge and celebrate the array of backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints reflected in our community

2013-14

Organizational Culture: Improve student achievement by cultivating an organizational culture that nurtures and sustains collaboration, trust, respect, learning and high expectations.
"SHENSATIONAL! Global Expo" is hosted by the district’s Cultural Diversity Committee to acknowledge and celebrate the array of backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints reflected in our community

2015-16

District-wide focus on cultural responsiveness begins.
Cultural Competence and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy- March Superintendent’s Conference Day was dedicated to Culturally Responsive Education training for staff.
"SHENSATIONAL! Global Expo" is hosted by the district’s Cultural Diversity Committee to acknowledge and celebrate the array of backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints reflected in our community

2016-17

Day of Dialogue program
Human Resources Essential Objective: –Cultivate a diverse and expansive pool of highly-qualified and skilled candidates.
Formulation of a presentation and training material on anti-bias for hiring teams.
"SHENSATIONAL! Global Expo" is hosted by the district’s Cultural Diversity Committee to acknowledge and celebrate the array of backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints reflected in our community

2017-18

Anti-Bias Checklist for adoption of Instructional Materials
"SHENSATIONAL! Global Expo" is hosted by the district’s Cultural Diversity Committee to acknowledge and celebrate the array of backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints reflected in our community
Day of Dialogue - conducted

2018-19

Goal Statement: Organizational Culture and Environment is culturally-responsive and inclusive, with students and employees alike actively engaged in approaches to be more accepting and compassionate of others and their differences, while actively facilitating safety and positive mental health and wellness.
Essential Objective #1 - Cultural competency is systematically an area of focus in a variety of venues and ways.
"SHENSATIONAL! Global Expo" is hosted by the district’s Cultural Diversity Committee to acknowledge and celebrate the array of backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints reflected in our community

2019-20

Piloting of the Name Project, enabling students or their parent/guardian to record the pronunciation of their name in Infinite Campus (the district’s student data system). Staff members will then be able to hear the proper pronunciation.
"SHENSATIONAL! Virtual Global Expo" is hosted by the district’s Cultural Diversity Committee to acknowledge and celebrate the array of backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints reflected in our community

2021-22

Essential Objectives #1 - Promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Acknowledge diversity, preserve equity, and foster inclusive environments in which the culture, life experiences and circumstances, desires and aspirations of students are prioritized, lending to an authentic sense of belonging.
Unified Physical Education at Shen High School implemented which allows juniors and seniors in general Physical Education courses to enroll in the Unified P.E.
Essential Objectives #3 - Equitable Measures of Student Learning-Ensure student grading practices or measures of growth promote and value student learning, foster a growth mindset by making failure recoverable, and lend to intrinsic motivation as
learners.

2023-24

Cultural Calendar created and published on website

Inclusive Curriculum

Curriculum identifies what we teach and how we plan for the instructional process. At Shenendehowa, our curriculum promotes equity in opportunities and outcomes for all students. We work to develop curriculum that:

is culturally responsive, inclusive of cultural references for all students,
is free of bias,
recognizes the complexity and intersectionality of student identities,
provides meaningful learning experiences for all learners (e.g. extended learning for high ability) and opportunities to make real life connections,
is proactively designed to be fully inclusive by eliminating/reducing barriers to learning and ensuring differentiation to meet the needs of all learners.

Shen Resources:

General Resources

General Resources

NYS Hate Crimes & Bias Hotline: 800-771-7755
NYS Hotline for Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence: Call 800-942-6906 or Text 844-997-2121
Pride Center of Capital Region Resources LGBTQ+ Youth: 518-462-6138
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 988
Trevor Project Counseling Support/Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ+ Youth: Call 1-866-488-7386 or Text "START" to 678-678
Shen Family Resources & Community Supports

Anti-bias Checklist

NYS Culturally Responsive Education Framework

EDI Subcommittees at Shen

Organizational Culture

The Organizational Culture subcommittee focuses on cultivating an environment rooted in shared values and beliefs that reflect the District’s diverse cultural ethos. By promoting cultural congruence, the committee supports initiatives that enhance understanding, inclusion, and equity within the school community.

Objectives:

Provide forums for students and staff to address unique cultural and community needs.
Define and discuss diversity—what it looks like, what it means, and identifying areas for growth at Shen.
Serve as an advisory group, offering feedback on District activities related to cultural diversity and multicultural awareness.
Organize events that promote cross-cultural understanding, such as film nights, book drives, speaker series, and cultural festivals.
Enhance the District’s physical and digital spaces with inclusive, multicultural visuals and translated materials to create a welcoming environment for all.

Personnel & Professionalism

The Personnel and Professionalism subcommittee works to create hiring practices that ensure we have faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. A culturally diverse learning community adds depth to the teaching and learning experience and is a vital part of a quality education.

The Committee assesses how the District’s staff profile can be broadened to reflect the cultural profile of society. The diversity, experience, and training of our teachers and staff are critical to fulfilling our responsibility of effectively teaching ALL children.

Objectives:

Review and revise the Profile of a Shenendehowa Employee.
Develop a recruitment and retention agenda that prioritizes equality and diversity.
Advise and support efforts to recruit and retain the racial and cultural diversity of the District's staff.
Curate and provide access to training and resources that promote equity, diversity, and inclusivity.

Curriculum & Instruction

The Curriculum and Instruction subcommittee facilitates and fosters “culturally relevant” teachers and teaching. Curriculum materials are examined for bias and opportunities for the integration of social and emotional learning. Class instructional activities and extracurricular are designed to foster respect for diversity.

Objectives:

Implement a multicultural curriculum with educational events/activities that highlight the contributions of all peoples.
Encourage the development of educational activities that acknowledge and respect individual differences, such as inter-cultural awareness and sensitivity training.