Amid President Donald Trump’s executive orders to cut federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, Belmont Public Schools is continuing to develop its DEI efforts, hiring a new director to lead the charge.
“We will continue moving the work forward as we continue to do,” Superintendent Jill Geiser said.
According to Geiser, Belmont Public Schools is in the final stage of hiring a Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Well-Being (DEIW); candidates being considered for the role are Saadia Ahmad, Chima Ikonne, and Darnell Williams.
The new director will lead the district’s equity team in developing DEI programming and supporting social-emotional learning and mental health interventions in Belmont schools, emphasizing the role of equity and inclusion in cultivating students’ sense of belonging.
Additionally, they will lead efforts to support hiring and retaining a diverse staff.
The finalists will be interviewed by the Belmont Schools’ Director of Human Capital on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Chenery Upper Elementary School Large Community Room.
Educators, parents, and members of Belmont’s community advocacy groups are encouraged to attend. Attendees can propose questions for the candidates by emailing mmcallister@belmontschools.net by noon on Thursday. During the session, there will also be opportunities for attendees to provide written feedback on the candidates’ interview responses.
Improving Student Belonging
Belmont’s Human Rights Commission Chair Kim Haley-Jackson said the role has been needed in Belmont for a long time, as highlighted by the schools’ 2022 equity audit.
The audit showed large racial and gender disparities in students’ sense of belonging.
For middle school students, scores measuring the sense of belonging were lowest on average for Black students and students who self-describe their gender.
Similarly, at the high school, Black students, American Indian and Alaskan Native students, and intersex students were the groups reporting the lowest belonging scores.
“The school should be a safe place for all of our kids to feel welcome and supported, and recognizing that people have different needs is where the school really needs to put their best foot forward,” Haley-Jackson said.
In 2023, the Belmont Wellness Coalition also conducted a Youth Risk Behavior Survey that found approximately 50% of middle school respondents who identified as genderqueer engaged in some form of self-harm.
Similarly, 48% of high school respondents who identified as genderqueer reported engaging in some form of self-harm.
In both age groups, 50% of genderqueer respondents reported experiencing depression.
Furthermore, 24% of middle school students and 18% of high school students who identified as genderqueer reported having made a suicide plan.
Among Black middle school respondents, 26% reported experiencing depression, and 32% reported experiencing anxiety.
Furthermore, 16% of Black middle school respondents had made a suicide plan.
“When you looked at it by race, by gender, it was horrifying,” said Haley-Jackson.
She added that the community should keep these numbers in mind when thinking about students’ sense of belonging and their mental health.
“If we don’t have those numbers consistently to remind us, then that role just becomes like another line item to cut — and I don’t think we can afford to do that, especially now,” said Haley-Jackson.
Strengthening Communication
She said the district’s previous director of DEIW worked closely with Belmont’s Human Rights Commission.
Just as the Human Rights Commission has an online form where Belmont residents can report discrimination cases, the schools’ previous DEIW director, Chon’tel Washington, created a school-wide form and would inform the Human Rights Commission when a student reported an incident.
Haley-Jackson said the Human Rights Commission and Washington would discuss next steps for the students involved.
In May 2024, Washington notified the community that she would be leaving the role, and took a position in Human Resources at another school district. The gap has meant less communication with the Human Rights Commission.
“Right now, we don’t have a pathway to know what’s going on at the school — so we don’t know what’s happening as much,” Haley-Jackson added.
She said Belmont Educators of Color Alliance (BECA) advocated for the DIEW position with the support of the Human Rights Commission and Belmont Against Racism (BAR).
“Having a person who sits at the helm to be the voice of teachers and students is extremely important,” she said.
Townwide DEI Initiatives
Haley-Jackson said that the town’s diversity task force is also working towards implementing a series of DEI recommendations made by the Human Rights Commission.
Some of the recommendations include increasing transportation access for seniors and people with disabilities through shuttle and ride-sharing programs, maintaining sidewalks and crosswalks, and installing sidewalk ramps, as well as developing diversity training for all municipal employees, developing a town-wide anti-bullying policy providing consequences for discrimination, hiring a DEI director for the town, and carrying out a town-wide survey to help shape DEI efforts moving forward.
According to Haley-Jackson, the task force is primarily conducting research at this point; for example, at the end of last year, the task force put out a survey for Belmont business owners asking if they had experienced incidents of racial discrimination.
Training on Tap
The Human Rights Commission is planning a “Know Your Rights” training for Belmont residents, including a presentation by the Massachusetts Immigrants and Refugee Advocacy Coalition.
More information on the event will be made available soon by the Human Rights Commission, said Haley-Jackson.
She added that DEI efforts need to continue throughout the town, despite changes on the federal level.
“We are definitely looking forward — to step up in the community and be there as a support system,” said Haley-Jackson, adding, “Regardless of what happens, we will find a way to keep moving forward.”
