The final session of the 2023-2024 Equity & Inclusion Professional Learning Series was Language Access and Justice. With a district as rich in cultural and language diversity as ours, this topic is relevant to many of our students. For families with language barriers, the children often act as interpreters for the adults. Although a common practice, it does have the potential to cause undue stress on the child, and can impact school attendance when important appointments that require an interpreter fall during the school day. The session was held on April 24, and included discussion with R-H students, a parent, and employees on the effect this role has on the children and families, as well as community resources available to help.

Click here for the presentation deck, which includes links to the video shown and other important information.

For the third part of our 23-24 Equity and Inclusion Professional Learning Series, we were joined by Dr. Robert Chalwell, executive director of family and student services and inclusivity for the Webster Central School District. This virtual event focused on celebrating and understanding the diversity of the Rush-Henrietta Central School District, exploring identity and “who we are,” and capturing student voice to share their experiences and feelings of belonging. This collaborative learning experience celebrated the diversity of our school community, highlighted the work of our district, and shared ideas to continue fostering a sense of belonging and a culture of connectedness for all. This session was held March 14, 2024.

Session 2 of the 23-24 Equity & Inclusion Workshop Series was held November 29. The online event featured a discussion regarding the cultural values shared by our Hispanic and Latino population, and the strategies and community resources available to support them. Our panel discussed trends in data within the Rush-Henrietta Central School District and feedback from focus groups with our students in grades 6 - 12. Included in our panel were: 

• Sady Alvarado-Fischer - Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer - Excellus BCBS
• Stephanie Paredes - DEI Operations Manager - Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI)
• Joe Jackson, Director of Wellness and Equity, Rush-Henrietta Central School District

Our facilitator for this first session of the 23-24 workshop series was Dr. Melissa Heatly, clinical child psychologist and director of Expanded School Mental Health Initiatives at University of Rochester Pediatric Behavioral Health and Wellness. As part of our theme of “You Belong Here,” Dr. Heatly will be discussing research and practical strategies to support our ongoing efforts with the district priorities: Student Learning, Safety and Wellness, and Equity and Inclusion. Below is a recording of the event, which was held on October 25, 2023.

Rush-Henrietta is excited to partner with author Jeffrey Benson for a discussion on the connections between social-emotional learning and equity. His book, “Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL,” has been instrumental in the work our SEL coaches are doing, and he has provided professional learning during many of our faculty meetings this school year. He discusses how incorporating SEL into regular lesson-planning allows for a better experience for all students. Below is a recording of this event which was recorded on April 26, 2023.