As the superintendent of public school districts for nearly 20 years, I’ve dedicated my career to ensuring all children can learn and grow in open, caring and supportive environments with equitable opportunities for all races, all genders, all religions, all learning styles and in all the ways a family can look. This is why public education exists, after all, and this is why so many of us have committed our careers to serving the community of Lorain.
One of the things I’ve always found most remarkable about the City of Lorain is the welcoming nature of those who have chosen to make this city home. Lorain was recognized for its peaceful protests amid the race riots in 2020; is renowned for its annual International Festival honoring the cultural differences that make us so diverse and unique; is respected by many for raising a Gay Pride flag at City Hall — actions which tell a story about who we are, and what we’re about.
It should come as no surprise, then, that equity is one of our primary commitments within our strategic plan — a plan which was developed by our students, families, staff and community. You can learn more about our beliefs and progress surrounding Equity here.
Here’s what EQUITY looks and feels like in our schools:
When families move to Lorain as a safe haven from other countries, we work with local organizations and agencies to connect them with immediate supports, all while personally welcoming them into our school family and communicating with them in their home language;
When we hold district-wide events in the month of December, we make sure we are honoring the many religions, cultures and traditions our “International City” holds dear;
When a child learns differently than his or her peers, we remind our students we all have something to learn from one another by fostering inclusive learning environments; and
When our students identify within the LGBTQ+ community, we ensure they have personalized supports and safe spaces within our schools.
I mention all of the above as our nation and its legislators field heated conversations regarding Critical Race Theory, LGBTQ+ rights and similar topics which threaten to distract us from our mission to serve ALL students by leading with love and kindness.
Why? In my mind, it comes down to this:
Recent mental health data warns us that nearly half of young LGBTQ+ people have considered ending their lives in the past 12 months, according to a survey of 34,000 young people by the Trevor Project.
Among those young people with suicidal ideas, more than half are transgender and nonbinary youth and nearly half are Black. (Nonbinary is a term for people who do not identify as male or female.)
The legal statutes for public school districts surrounding equity and the rights of students who identify as LGBTQ+ in our classrooms are clearly outlined, and summarized here.
Most importantly, we want our students and families to know this: All are welcome here, and there are no exceptions.
My greatest hope is that when our students return to school they feel respected, loved, supported, and excited to be here. This is behind everything that we do — all the decisions we make, all the actions we take — and we’re extremely proud and humbled to be the ones who get to spend our days helping you prepare for your future.
Check out all there is to look forward to this year, below.
Thanks,
Jeff
