Equity & Inclusion in Farmington Public Schools
This website is designed to help you find information and resources that relate to our ongoing efforts to create an inclusive culture of respect, belonging and high expectations in every school.
- Equity Matters!
- Examples of Current K–12 Equity Focused Efforts
- Safe School Climate
- Equity Framework
- Family-School Liaisons
- Student Voice and Leadership
- Community Council for Equity & Inclusion (CCEI)
- Community Resources
- Equity and Inclusion Coordinator
Equity Matters!
We recognize that students come to us with diverse experiences, interests, and needs. It is therefore essential that all students have access to challenging and personally meaningful curriculum and instruction. Teachers, administrators and staff are committed to the pursuit of excellence for all students, meeting them where they are, and providing resources, flexible pathways, and targeted support to remove barriers to opportunity. We believe that equity is a fundamental value of a high quality education and that diversity is an asset to our school community.
In Farmington, we want every child to feel cared for as an individual and as a member of our school and classroom communities. In partnership with families, students, faculty, and staff, we seek to uphold equity as a fundamental value of public education – a value that embraces diversity as an asset to our school community.
Examples of Current K–12 Equity Focused Efforts
- Hiring of K-12 Equity and Inclusion Coordinator
- School-based Equity Leadership Teams in every school
- Community Council for Equity and Inclusion
- Co-develop cultural competence among faculty and families through school-based events and curriculum projects
- Build faculty capacity to recognize and respond to bias-related incidents
- Recruit for and support diversity in the faculty hiring process
- Audit and add to text collections to reflect diversity and multiple perspectives
- Amplify and support student voice and leadership to promote social justice thinking
- Integrate restorative circles as a response to “intent vs. impact” situations
- Provide support through Family-School Liaisons in every school
- Support opportunities for rigorous coursework
Safe School Climate
As a school district we stand in unity against any form of racism, discrimination, or hurtful treatment of individuals based on race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, ability status, family structure, or any other protected class.
If you feel your child has been treated with disrespect, harmed, harassed, or otherwise denied an opportunity because of a bias-related situation or incident, please promptly communicate with your child's teacher, counselor, or administrator to report the situation or visit Safe School Climate Reporting Form for more information.
Equity Framework
Family-School Liaisons
OPEN CHOICE PARTNERSHIP
For more than 50 years, the Hartford Region Open Choice Program (formally Project Concern) has been offering Hartford students the opportunity to attend public schools in suburban towns, and suburban students the opportunity to attend public schools in Hartford, at no cost to the student's family. To learn more about the program visit Open Choice.
Family School Liaisons partner with families in the following ways:
- Support their children's education;
- Monitor their academic, social, and emotional progress and;
- Advocate for their children when necessary.
Family Engagement Facilitator
Kristen Wilder, Ed.D, Phone: 860-284-1230 Ext: 4102 Email: wilderk@fpsct.org
Family School Liaison |
Location |
Email Address |
Taylor Kiveliyk |
East Farms School |
mcallistert@fpsct.org |
Chris Loomis |
Farmington High School |
loomisc@fpsct.org |
Nancy Nelson |
Noah Wallace School |
nelsonn@fpsct.org |
Hillary McMullen |
Noah Wallace School | mcmullenh@fpsct.org |
Melissa Robinson |
Irving A. Robbins Middle School |
robinsonm@fpsct.org |
Kirsten Morris |
Union School |
morrisk@fpsct.org |
Maureen Wondoloski |
West Woods Upper Elementary |
wondoloskim@fpsct.org |
Nicole Collins |
West District Elementary |
collinsn@fpsct.org |
Bryan Giansanti |
West District Elementary |
giansantib@fpsct.org |
Student Voice and Leadership
- Farmington High School
- Irving A. Robbins Middle School
- West Woods Upper Elementary School
- East Farms Elementary School
- Noah Wallace Elementary School
- Union Elementary School
- West District Elementary School
Farmington High School
Irving A. Robbins Middle School
- Diversity Club
- Equity Leadership Club.
Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
The Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) is a student-run organization with the three goals of supporting students, forming a community, and making positive changes to prevent bullying and discrimination. This group is for both members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies who want to support them. The club is a place where students are respected for their identities and safe to express themselves.
West Woods Upper Elementary School
East Farms Elementary School
Mission statement and goals:
KID Club features multicultural and anti-racist programming meant to create a sense of belonging, identity, safety, equity and inclusion within our community.
KID Club is open to students in grades 2-4.
We will read books, make crafts, have community discussions, listen to music and more!
Topics will include:Identity, Empathy, Compassion, Inclusion, Equity, Social Construct, Intent vs. Impact and more...
We can learn and grow while having fun!
Noah Wallace Elementary School
Mission statement and goals:
KID Club features multicultural and anti-racist programming meant to create a sense of belonging, identity, safety, equity and inclusion within our community.
KID Club is open to students in grades 2-4.
We will read books, make crafts, have community discussions, listen to music and more!
Topics will include: Identity, Empathy, Compassion, Inclusion, Equity,Social Construct,Intent vs. Impact
We can learn and grow while having fun!
*Students designed and selected the LOGO
Union Elementary School
Mission statement and goals:
KID Club features multicultural and anti-racist programming meant to create a sense of belonging, identity, safety, equity and inclusion within our community.
KID Club is open to students in grades 2-4.
We will read books, make crafts, have community discussions, listen to music and more!
Topics will include:Identity, Empathy, Compassion, Inclusion, Equity, Social Construct, Intent vs. Impact and more...
We can learn and grow while having fun!
West District Elementary School
Mission statement and goals:
KID Club features multicultural and anti-racist programming meant to create a sense of belonging, identity, safety, equity and inclusion within our community.
KID Club is open to students in grades 2-4.
We will read books, make crafts, have community discussions, listen to music and more!
Topics will include:Identity, Empathy, Compassion, Inclusion, Equity, Social Construct, Intent vs. Impact and more...
We can learn and grow while having fun!
Community Council for Equity & Inclusion (CCEI)
For detailed information, please visit our CCEI webpage at: https://sites.google.com/fpsct.org/ccei/home
CCEI GOALS:
- Monitor and provide feedback on district priorities using the FPS Equity Framework
- Learn about and consider ways to address unconscious bias
- Model the norms of civil discourse and collaborative problem solving
- Engage with outside experts and partners
- Discuss ways to improve an inclusive climate and culture in our schools
- Support action at the school level to promote Equity Framework goals and representatives of this council
Community Resources
The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. ~Coretta Scott King
Our commitment: We, as educators, recognize that implicit and unconscious bias can shape our interactions with families. Therefore, we are committed to self-examine our bias in order to remove barriers for effective and meaningful family engagement. We are committed to a trusting and honest partnership with families. We will hear and validate family stories and experiences without judgement or discrimination.
Equity Framework: Community Engagement [ Develop a deeper understanding of biases and beliefs in an effort to dismantle racism and other forms of oppression or discrimination]
Building Awareness
farmington public schools professional learning
History
- PBS History
Implicit Bias & Stereotypes
To test yourself for hidden bias visit Project Implicit
Organizations to Follow
- Embrace Race
- Facing History and Ourselves
- Learning for Justice
- RE-Center
- National Equity Project
- Equity in the PTA-Harvard
- GLSEN
Local Museums
- The Institute for American Indian Studies
- Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
- Amistad Center for Art & Culture
- Charter Oak Cultural Center
- Farmington Historical Society
- Hill-Stead Museum
Community Resources for Caregivers
If you would like to contribute to this list please email Natalie Simpson, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator at simpsonn@fpsct.org.
- Helpful CT Resources for Families
- Talk it Out-Hotline
- African Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities [AFCAMP]
- Connecticut Parent Advisory Center [CPAC]
- 211 CT
- Shop Black CT
- A list of 100+ Black Owned Restaurants in CT
- Town of Farmington-Social Services
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
How we support English Learners (ELs)
English Learners (ELs) speak and/or understand another language besides English in their homes. ELs are supported and instructed on social and academic language needs.
English Learners in Farmington schools speak many different languages including Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Portuguese, Polish, and Telugu. English Learners make up approximately 4% of the student population in Farmington Schools.
Visit FPS Language Learners page to learn about the identification process and resources.
Community Affinity Groups
CONCERNED PARENTS OF COLOR-FARMINGTON
Mission Statement~The Concerned Parents of Color- Farmington, advocate and work collaboratively with Farmington Public Schools and the Farmington community to foster and create a diverse and equitable educational experience for Black and Brown students.
Contact: Jessica Harrison | Email: jessica.harrison860@gmail.com; Yahmina Penn | Email: yahminapenn@yahoo.com
FARMINGTON CARES
Mission Statement~Farmington Cares was created by a group of residents to support the LGBTQIA+ community members and youth.
Contact: Farmingtonctcares@gmail.com
Equity and Inclusion Coordinator
Partnerships
The Taylor Consulting Group