SCHOOL EQUITY
We Identify Needs For Change Within The School District To Promote Racial Equity And An Anti-Racist Perspective In All Curriculum.
We partner and collaborate with students and the school district to support their stated commitment to equity by identifying concrete action steps that can affect change across the school district. We recognize the need to heal and rebuild community trust to move this work forward.
2022 Goals
In addition to highlighting the efforts that the school has been taking, we will largely focus on the youth in our district in three ways:
Support Mental Health awareness/advocacy
Center student voice in school experiences & change
Grow Bay Bridge as a supportive space for youth
What you need to know...
There is strong interest and desire for increased discussion and action toward racial equity in our school district from students, parents, and teachers.
Students have been speaking up and calling out situations in which they experience racism and inequities. Let’s support our students.
- Bay Bridge Student Leaders
- Changing Seats WFB student panel recording (2021)
- Does Race Matter? WFB student voice project (2017)
- Black Student Union at WFBHS (co-sponsored by Mr. Drew and Mr. Gray)
- New Black History Course being offered in 2021-2022 academic year (taught by
Mr. Gray)
There is no overarching district-wide anti-racist curriculum and no clear support from the District Superintendent.
Building administrators (principals) have made efforts to address racial equity and related educational opportunities within their own school building, but there is no overarching district-wide anti-racist curriculum and no clear support from the district superintendent.
Opportunities for change include:
- District just hired a new Director of Teaching and Learning – Jaime Foeckler, PhD
- Mr. Randee Drew has been elevated to Student Equity and Engagement Coordinator
- Support building administrators
- Support individual teachers
The School Board has publicly committed to prioritizing pursuit of racial equity and will have equity as an agenda item on their monthly Committee as a Whole meetings
But there are NUMEROUS other agenda items and committee meetings for which the district MUST use a racial equity lens for review:
- Student behavior management (PBIS data)
- Student belongingness and self-reported mental health (YRBS data)
- District mental health plan (SEL is insufficient)
- Hiring and retention of increasingly diverse staff
- District wide policies (e.g., harassment)
- Ongoing support for 220 program students
- Board equity learning self-led rather than using outside expert
Get Involved
High School
Students
Bay Bridge Student Leaders are high school students who work together to organize and advocate for social justice. Meetings are monthly.
Learn more about becoming a Student Leader!
In addition to the Student Leader program, Bay Bridge partners with Whitefish Bay High School to provide an annual scholarship for seniors who have been exemplary leaders in social justice.
Whitefish Bay Teachers (Public & Private)
Bay Bridge appreciates teachers! We’ve compiled some great resources for teachers to use in their classrooms and support ongoing learning (We are all Human: Podcasts & Resources for Teachers). Contact us if we can help support you in any other way.
Parents, Guardians & Interested People
Promote equity in our schools using your platforms, social media, and social circles. Attend school board meetings and ask a neighbor/friend/family to attend with you. Educate yourself on what is going on in other schools in the Milwaukee region and throughout the country.
Want more info?
Contact Jennifer or Sarah for more information or ideas on how you can support equity in our schools or how you can support youth in our community.
