The D and I in DEI

In my February 8th blog post, I scratched the surface of equity. Now let’s talk about diversity and inclusion. Below is a graph of the demographics of Arlington ISD. As you can see, our district is a diverse group of students, the majority being from historically underserved populations (Hispanic/Latino, Black/African American, English Language Learners, and economically disadvantaged households). Based on my knowledge of the district and work within Arlington, I also know that our students and families also come from diverse religious and spiritual beliefs, gender identities, and sexual orientations. Inclusion, ensuring all stakeholders have a seat at the table, is critical for all children to receive a high-quality education in Arlington ISD. My career started in a district with demographics similar to Arlington ISD. Since then, I have worked in communities in DFW and across the country, which taught me to recognize the needs of students and families, the resources to help them achieve equitable outcomes, the desire to ensure that a student’s zip code doesn’t prohibit them from receiving a high-quality education, and the insight to know what resources teachers at campuses with the highest needs receive them. A vote for me is a vote for someone with not just a passion for serving the communities represented in Arlington ISD but the frontline experience and knowledge. A vote for me is a vote for getting our board one step closer to representing the families of this district.