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Commitment to Diversity

Island Park's Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Island Park values diversity, equity and inclusion. It is committed to building and sustaining a school community where staff, parents, and learners acquire and build upon the knowledge, skills and attitudes that value and embrace inclusiveness, equity and awareness as a way to unleash creativity and innovation in pursuit of the District’s Values, Vision, and Mission.

Valuing diversity embodies inclusion, mutual respect, and multiple perspectives. In this context, we are mindful of all aspects of human identities, such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religious/spiritual beliefs and values, geography, mental and physical disability, and age.

Inclusion is a core requirement for successfully embracing diversity. Inclusion is achieved by intentionally creating opportunities for involvement, participation, and growth from each of us - nurturing the climate and culture of the school through professional development, education, policy, and practice. Equity also requires mutual respect as we strive for fairness and justice in the way people are treated within our school. Our objective is to create a school climate that fosters respect, belonging, and value for all, while encouraging participation and connection throughout the organization. Island Park supports diversity through various initiatives, including:

  • Rich Curriculum and classroom activities that reflect our diverse student population
  • School events that celebrate and honor our diverse student body and community
  • Staff development that enhances skill sets to meet the diverse needs of our learning community
  • Staff, student and parent involvement in committees and activities that study, suggest, and support diversity initiatives

The District, in affiliation with its Diversity Advisory Committee, will provide training, tools, and resources for staff development, improvement of the organization’s climate, inclusive curricula, cultural proficiency training, leadership development, and community engagement. Building on the rich cultural history, traditions, and diversity of the Puget Sound region, the District, including its students, staff and school board, are dedicated to educational opportunities and school environments that are inclusive, empathic, celebratory and respectful of our individual and collective differences.

Download IP Diversity Initiatives and Equity and Civil Rights documents.

Diversity Web Links

  • Teaching Tolerance - news, suggestions, and resources to promote diversity and equity education
  • PBS Diversity Resources - articles providing suggestions on how to promote racial and cultural awareness at school and at home
  • School Library Journal #1  - culturally diverse books selected by the School Library Journal review editors
  • School Library Journal #2 - an expanded list from the above choices based on suggestions from readers and favorite new titles
  • A Class Divided - short video and lesson - The day after Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed, a teacher in a small town in Iowa tried a daring classroom experiment. She decided to treat children with blue eyes as superior to children with brown eyes. This site contains 2 ten-minute videos of that experiment as well as support material for lessons. 
  • A Class Divided - teachers' guide -  teachers' guide designed to help utilize the 50 minute Frontline film (find "A Class Divided" on this site) to engage students in reflection and dialogue about the historical role of racism in the United States, as well as the role of prejudice and stereotyping in students' lives today. The full 50 minute Frontline film explores what the children learned about discrimination and how it still affects them today.