From Superintendent Locke - Commitment to Racial Equity [UPDATED]

All photos by Laraine Weschler

For the past several years, we have been collectively working to build capacity to address racial inequities and champion social justice in our district. During this past week countless members of our community have stepped forward to continue to lead this important work. While I believe we have made progress, the killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests prompt us to do more to actively fight against racism.

We, as educators, have such an important role to play to address the sad reality that health, safety, and prosperity are too often linked with the color of one's skin. We have the opportunity in our everyday interactions, in our curriculum, and in our policies to bring about change. To that end, we are curating resources, including many that have been already shared among colleagues, for our professional learning web pages. We will continue to develop a curriculum that is socioculturally-centric. The district is also committed to continuing our equity teams in each school and to further develop our professional learning plan with our equity consultant. I am also confident, that as you work together, you will find many more ways to make our district anti-racist.

Individually, we need to continue to examine and challenge our own biases, assumptions, and practices as well as hold one another accountable for creating a system that propels people of color. I know that I have much more learning and change to bring about in myself and I will continue that journey as I transition to the next chapter in my story... and I trust you will as well.

I will continue to cheer, champion, and pray for your success as you work together to ensure that each and every one of our children becomes the vision of our graduate!

Sincerely,

Sharon Locke

Naugatuck Superintendent of Schools

Board of Education member Ethel Grant replied with this message:

Thank you, Sharon for voicing our continued commitment to equity awareness in our district. Folks should know that our District is becoming recognized as a leader in the education and treatment of the marginalized through equity education. I was excited to see so many young Naugatuck people at the 'Black Lives Matter' peaceful protest on the Green. Some of those young people along with their siblings, will be (and are being) educated in Naugatuck schools ....they are our hope for the future. We must continue on course.... And, knowing the dedication of our teachers to equity education for our children, I am confident that our future world will be a much safer one, a more peaceful one and a more caring place for our children and for everyone.

Peace
Ethel G.