LYNN — The School Committee voted to hire the school district’s first-ever executive director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at a meeting Thursday night.
The director, who will be hired pending budget approval, would be responsible for developing and implementing policy goals to promote inclusion, and working to eliminate racial gaps in students’ academic achievement. They would report to the superintendent.
The budgeted position would in some ways mirror that of the city’s diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, Faustina Cuevas. According to the city’s job posting, the executive director would implement strategies to foster and maintain an inclusive environment for all members of Lynn Public Schools.
“We see this position working in collaboration with that [city] position,” Interim Superintendent of Schools Debra Ruggiero said. “It’s checks and balances — it’s holding us all accountable in the systems that we create, and that we’re sure that we’re looking at equity in making those decisions. It’s the procedures that we put in place, and that we’re sure that this person is checking in and asking us the right questions.”
The right candidate must have at least three years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion issues; demonstrated understanding of culturally responsive teaching and educational diversity; and the ability to effectively consult, lead, and train school personnel.
Preferred qualifications for the role include five to 10 years of professional experience in educational administration, a doctoral degree in education or a relevant field, the ability to speak Spanish, and experience working with or on a school administrative team.
School Committee Member Brian Castellanos first advocated for the creation of the role two years ago. He said that previous meetings to discuss the proposed role showed a deep need for inclusive learning practices.
Castellanos’ presentation to the committee was preceded by that of district student inclusivity panels. Groups of students from Lynn Classical High School and Breed Middle School said that the use of racial slurs often goes unreported at their schools, and that many minority students feel ashamed to ask for help.
“It was a very honest, transparent reality that there’s a need for this in our city,” Castellanos said. “There’s been so many systemic breaks and barriers in our system when we talk about the school-to-prison pipeline. When we talk about district equity improvement and planning, we don’t have that person. We don’t have that position to address these issues and hold ourselves accountable.”
Ruggiero said the position posting would likely be up for at least 30 days, with a series of interviews following later on. The committee nodded in agreement when member Lorraine Gately suggested that the position be filled around the same time that Designated Superintendent of Schools Dr. Evonne Alvarez assumes her role in July.
Alvarez said that she hoped to work closely alongside the executive director in all forms of curriculum-based, managerial, or financial decision making.
“I like the idea of making it sort of an advisory position for the role of the superintendent,” Alvarez said. “We can actually take it apart and look at equity cycles of improvement with all of the work that we’re doing, to just evaluate ourselves right and be able to reflect on our practices.”
Before the committee voted unanimously to approve the position pending budget approval, Mayor Jared Nicholson thanked Castellanos for his role in planning the position, and the committee for their support.
“I strongly agree with all the sentiment around the value this is bringing to the City of Lynn,” Nicholson said. “I think we’re all really excited to collaborate on these issues going forward and I’m grateful to the committee for the broad support that was expressed tonight.”
