Commitment of Cabot's Teachers & Staff

The principal, teachers, and staff of Cabot Elementary School formed a Anti-Racism Committee with active membership across departments and grade levels. It is their mission to build awareness, actively lead, support students, and engage voices in order to create an anti-racist, culturally responsive, and socially just and inclusive community. This work will be accomplished through education, partnerships with families and students, and actively advancing the rights of black and brown staff, students, and families.

A few highlights include:

• Active committee: The formation of the anti-racist committee which meets monthly to discuss ways to support the entire staff in being anti-racist educators.

• Staff meetings: Anti-racism committee updates are a part of each staff meeting. Throughout the year we have presentations, activities and discussions during meetings around topics that impact our teaching.

• Professional growth: Book groups have been held to provide opportunities for staff to learn together. This past summer staff members read, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum.

• Student growth: Teachers selected and ordered diverse and inclusive books for their classroom libraries. Question guides and lesson ideas will be created to use with the books.

• Reflections: Identifying what we are doing in the building that supports students and staff of color and makes clear that we are an anti-racist school. Continued reflection on what more we can be doing

• Space: Making a time and space for staff to process current events and checking on staff emotional well being

• Resources: Identifying and highlighting resources and materials used by staff that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Environment: Creating visual hallway displays of students, famous black heroes, and supportive messages that celebrates our diverse student population.

• Partnership: Partnering with FORJ parent group to identify HR strategies to attract, hire, and retain candidates of color

For more information, contact Principal Eric Sprung at sprunge@newton.k12.ma.us