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Diversity makes all of us stronger.
 

The Woodside Elementary School District recognizes and celebrates diversity in the academic environment to foster cultural awareness, promote mutual understanding and respect, and provide role models for all students. We value the many cultures, ethnicities, national origins, socio-economic backgrounds, family structure, genders, sexual orientations, ages, religions, abilities, political views, and other perspectives that are represented in our staff and student body. Learning and work environments are enriched and improved by the contributions, perspectives and presence of diverse participants and views.

In the classroom, the District supports the use of curriculum and practical experiences that reflect the diversity both within and beyond your school community in order to prepare its students to succeed in a multicultural world.

We strive to reflect this diversity in our faculty and staff by hiring the best employees of all backgrounds who bring their unique talents and skills into our District. We are proud to have a diverse group of educators and staff who provide students with the highest quality education. This commitment to diversity is reflected in District practices and activities that promote diversity and mutual respect within the District workforce and student body.

As part of our educational mission, we will continue to develop and support culturally competent transformational educational leaders who exhibit the cultural awareness, attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary to create a welcoming and inclusive learning environment.

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The Woodside Elementary School District Board of Trustees believes it is necessary and prudent to regularly evaluate the District’s guiding principles that dictate our behavior and actions to ensure they are relevant and reflective of the aspirations and needs of our students, faculty and staff as well as the diverse educational community we serve. We believe that social justice is practiced when we openly challenge injustice and value diversity. It exists because all people share a common humanity and therefore have a right to equitable treatment and support for their human rights. When the tenets of social justice are fairly applied, people do not experience discrimination or prejudice nor is their welfare/well-being constrained in any manner.

As such, the Woodside Elementary School District commits to a fundamental duty to create a socially just environment with the following core values and principles:

  • Dignity and Respect. The Board has an unwavering belief that universally all humans have inherent value and every person should be treated with dignity and respect.
  • Access and Affordability. Ensuring that all students, regardless of citizenship or status, have access to all aspects of the WESD educational program.
  • Removing Barriers. The Board is committed to removing barriers to student success and reinforces the importance of routine examination of curriculum, policies, procedures, and practices to ensure that limitations are not applied which unfairly impeded student growth, expression or learning.
  • Participation and Freedom of Expression. The Board expects the District to be an institution where students, teachers, staff, parents and the general public participate without fear or concern for retaliation or intimidation.
  • Safe and Inviting. The safety and security of the District’s students and employees is a top priority for the Board. All students and employees must feel that their learning and work environments are free from fear, intimidation, violence, aggression, harassment, bullying, discrimination and intolerance.