Waltham High School Works To Up Game On Race, Diversity & Equity

WALTHAM, MA — As Waltham’s student population has grown more diverse over the past decade, and students have said they want the school staff to grow more diverse as well, school officials have worked to understand the changes needed. Now the district is holding a series of meetings and conversations to better understand causes of inequity within Waltham High.

On Wednesday, Sept 26, the district is inviting members of the school community to talk about results of a community survey.

"We want to hear from all of our stakeholders to shape the future of the high and fulfill our mission to provide an excellent and equitable education to ALL students," according to an invitation.

In 2017 the district, rated as one of the top 50 most diverse in the state by Niche.com, a website that reviews school districts, started more aggressive hiring of candidates with diverse linguistic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Only 7 percent of district staff members were non-white in the 2015-2016 school year.

The district also created a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, and in January, with the help of a Nellie Mae Education Foundation grant, partnered with Teaching Excellence Network to better understand inequities within the school and invited students, families, educators and administrators to take a survey.

More than 90 percent of students, 160 educators, and some 200 parents participated in the survey, which included listing their top seven priorities. Now with the results in hand, officials have focused on three main educational "domains" or umbrellas, according to Grants Administrator & MKV Liaison Shelly Chin.

"We have chosen as a high school to focus on three equity priorities - one from each domain that we will discuss and further unpack at this conversation and throughout the school year such that by the end of the school year, we as a community of stakeholders, have understood the root causes of current inequities in relation to these priorities and, also come up with solutions and strategies to better address those barriers and challenges and meet the needs of each and every student," she said.

Last year the Teaching Excellence Network conducted small discussions groups with students, families and educators to find the root causes of inequity at the high school. The discussion groups were presented with the top 12 priorities from the survey (four from each category) to explore the deeper meaning of each priority.

The priorities the district has chosen to discuss Wednesday are relationships, relevance and responsibility.

A closer look:

Relationships: In other words, exploring relationships between students and the teacher so that students can feel like they can communicate their opinions and needs. One goal is making sure all students are connected to a trusted adult.

Relevance: Developing critical thinking skills (Teacher prepares students to question analyze and solve problems in their schoolwork, personal lives, and community).

Responsibility: Creates supportive academic culture (Teacher appropriately accommodates, modifies and adapts lessons so every student is supported in their learning. Ensuring every student has access to complex texts and challenging tasks).

Take a look at the three topics and the four focuses under each:

Public Meeting info:

When: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26.

Where: The Waltham Boys and Girls Club

RSVP

Previously:

Waltham Wins $300K Grant For New High School Program

Waltham Student's Racially Charged Instagram Post Sparks

Subscribe to Waltham Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff