Access and Inclusion Archive

In 2015, the Park Hill School District started its focused efforts on access and inclusion. Through this work, we formed our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Council to help inform our work along the way.

Access and Inclusion Timeline

Our current efforts started in 2015. Below is an archive of our work from day 1 through the upcoming Coalition of Councils in September.

Graphic representation of highlights on our Access and Inclusion journey. Corresponding text is in the panels below.

June 2015 - June 2021

District leadership team studies “Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Teaching, and Practice” by Geneva Gay
District leadership team studies “Cultural Competence for Culturally Responsive Teaching” with UMKC Institute for Human Development
District leadership team studies “AVID Culturally Relevant Teaching: A School-Wide Approach”
District leadership team studies “Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain” by Zaretta Hammond
District develops new Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP), including a new core value of equity and a goal focused on ensuring success for all students, regardless of background
Teachers study culturally responsive teaching
District leadership team studies
Connecting social and emotional learning with cultural responsiveness
Managing bias (facilitated by DMK Consults)
Microaggressions
Brave talks (facilitated by DMK Consults)
Culturally responsive education
Building relational capacity
District establishes the EMBRACE group for teachers and staff of color. EMBRACE stands for “educators moving toward better relationships and cultural empowerment.”
District establishes the Superintendent’s Advisory Council for Equity and Inclusion
Superintendent appoints the Special Advisor to the Superintendent for Equity and Culturally Responsive Education
District hires a Director of Access, Inclusion and Family Engagement to begin in the 2021-22 school year

July

August

September

October

District leadership team continues its study of “Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain” by Zaretta Hammond
Dr. Deayon finalizes the members of the 2021-22 Access, Inclusion, and Family Engagement Advisory Council
District shares details of access, inclusion and family engagement work with community and media (response to incident)
Dr. Deayon meets with the 2020-21 Superintendent’s Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion (response to incident)
Dr. Deayon provides an update on access, inclusion and family engagement to the Board of Education (response to incident)
Board of Education approves an MOU with Sophic Solutions (response to incident)
Board of Education approves an MOU with People of All Color Succeed (response to incident)
Dr. Deayon and Dr. Cowherd meet with faith-based leaders (response to incident)
Dr. Deayon and Dr. Cowherd meet with representatives of the Black Panthers (response to incident)
Dr. Deayon meets with the EMBRACE leadership team (response to incident)
District leaders meet with the Department of Justice Community Relations Services to learn about their programs (response to incident)

November

District leadership team continues its study of “Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain” by Zaretta Hammond
District establishes Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Council
Dr. Deayon and Dr. Cowherd meet with faith-based leaders
DEIB Council has its first meeting
Dr. Deayon presents to the Board of Education
Dr. Deayon meets with EMBRACE Leadership Team
Dr. Deayon and Dr. Dial update the KC branch of the NAACP on progress