New superintendent needs equity expertise

To the Editor,

As the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District begins the search for a new leader for our schools, members of the school district community are writing to share our expectation that our next superintendent will offer proven experience in equity and anti-racism education.

Recently, the school board announced its decision to reopen a search for an equity audit firm, after listening to community voices that called for the representation of diverse, non-white perspectives and explicit expertise in equity and inclusion. We argued these to be essential for any meaningful assessment of our schools. We commend the board for this decision, and call on them to recognize that these same concerns are in play – with even greater consequence – in selecting our new superintendent. 

Events of the past few years in our district demonstrate the urgency of choosing a leader who can transform our schools to emphasize equity and opportunity for all students. We see the pain of students of color, students in the LGBTQ+ community, and students of minority faith groups when they are marginalized both inside and outside the classroom. We see repeated hate crimes, hate speech, and bias perpetrated by district students. We see the need for a thoughtful crisis response plan that prioritizes the trauma of impacted students after these incidents. We see the disproportionate number of suspensions of students of color. We see the need for social justice to be elevated as a foundational principle of our children’s education, rather than being compressed into positive behavior programs.

While the pandemic has challenged us to respond to an acute health crisis, the new superintendent must be prepared to prioritize action on these no-less-critical, chronic issues that impact the health, safety, and well-being of our students. As families, teachers, and residents, we also know that the direction of our superintendent’s leadership will shape conversations about inequities in our broader community. We urge you to engage the school district’s new community Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to provide guidance in the search process and input into the selection of the next superintendent. 

Equity is not just a word. Our most vulnerable students are hurt when equity as a core value is not at the forefront. Our students who are part of the dominant culture must also be empowered to understand the need for equity, and guided in using their privilege to advocate and enact change. Our status quo requires systemic changes to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to thrive. In considering the next leader of our students, teachers, staff, administration, and community, choosing a superintendent with the experience and expertise to bring equity into focus will allow all of our students and families to come together as a stronger community.

A version of this letter was presented to the school board earlier this month. If you want to sign it too, you may do so here.

Sincerely,

Jayatri Das, on behalf of 103 WSSD residents from Nether Providence, Rose Valley, Rutledge, South Media, and Swarthmore