Systemic Equity and Inclusion

May 2022
February 2022
December 2021
October 2021
May 2021
February 2021
October 2020
May 2020
February 2020
November 2019
May 2019
March 2019
December 2018
October 2018
April 2018
February 2018
November 2017
September 2017

Pacific Educational Group

Equal Opportunity School

School Based Black Student Unions

BEAM Awards
In 2021, over 469 students received Black Excellence Achievement Makers (BEAM) awards and were recognized in a parade-style ceremony. The community held signs of encouragement along the parade route and celebrated

Read Your Heart Out Events 
Westside and Northside Elementary Schools hosted virtual Read Your Heart Out events in honor of National African American Parent Involvement Day. This year guests included Gov. Tony Evers, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, former UW-–Madison basketball player Nigel Hayes, and members of the Sun Prairie Fire Department. It was a great day for our community to come together. Over 600 students and community members participated in celebrating our Black and African American students’ culture through the love of reading.

100 Black Men of Madison
The DSEI partners with the 100 Black Men of Madison to bring distinct opportunities to our scholars. In the 2021-22 school year, the partnership brought the African American History Challenge Bowl to our schools, in which schools were given the opportunity to create teams. Cardinal Heights' team went on to compete in the regional competiton. 

Equity Teams

Central to achieving educational equity is the development of and strong support for school leaders who serve as the guiding coalition to ensure successful systemic equity transformation in their schools. Each site’s Equity Team (E-Team), consisting of 8-10 equity focused, anti racist leaders (principal, teachers, and other school staff), participates in significant professional learning focused on deepening their understanding of race and equity, and how to develop and then guide the implementation of the school’s Equity Transformation Plan. E-Teams examine their school’s policies, practices, programs, structures, climate and culture, and data to identify problems of practice as barriers to equity and excellence, and use strategies supported by Courageous Conversations About Race to lead systemic change efforts that result in high levels of achievement for all students. E-Teams are responsible for aligning their school’s Equity Transformation Plan with existing school and district strategic priorities, ensuring all efforts are streamlined for optimal and equitable student achievement results. Led by the principal, E-Teams design and deliver professional development activities that shift the culture of the school toward embracing school-wide equity transformation.  E-Teams receive coaching support from the DSEI. 

DSEICC - Department of Systemic Equity and Inclusion Community Cabinet

The DSEI Community Cabinet is a diverse caregiver group charged with helping to improve communication, transparency, and relational trust between the district and community.  The community cabinet meets monthly to Learn, Share, Grow and Connect on important topics that they have requested more in-depth information on. Community Cabinet members identified 5 focus priorities for the 2021-2022 school year.  District leaders who serve as process leads present and provide deeper understanding on the respected topics, answer questions, and listen to feedback.