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Wellesley schools Director of Diversity: the search continues

July 11, 2019 by Deborah Brown 2 Comments

Wellesley Public Schools officesThe Wellesley Public Schools has re-opened its search for a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In May 2019, the field had been narrowed to three finalists, but none of those candidates has been hired for the position. Funding for the new job was approved by Town Meeting in March, and Superintendent Dr. David Lussier informed the Wellesley School Committee that he hoped to appoint a director by the end of the recently completed school year.

According to the job listing for the Director of Diversity, some of the responsibilities will include formulating a strategic plan to support district diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; deepen community awareness, understanding, and respect for diversity, equity and inclusion; oversee the METCO program; and work collaboratively with the A Better Chance program. You can see the complete listing here (and please let WPS know that you heard about it on Swellesley if you apply).

The initial search yielded three candidates:

  • Dr. Roland Davis, a consultant with college and high school administrative experience. He served at Harvard as Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, but stepped down after one year for personal reasons, according to the Harvard Crimson.
  • Kimberlee Henry, an administrator whose most recently listed job on her resume was that of school principal in Oxford, Massachusetts. According to Worcester news source telegram.com, Henry was in October 2018 put on paid leave from that position.
  • Wellesley High School Social Studies teacher Jackie Katz, who was one of the speakers at May’s WHS graduation ceremonies.

You can see their cover letters and resumes here.

Davis in an email said, “I was offered the position with WPS but declined it because I was also offered a position with an educational non-profit in the area and elected to accept this position instead.”

Katz in an email said that she was not offered the position.

It is unknown at this time whether Katz or Henry was offered the job.

Superintendent Lussier said in an email, “Our search is still ongoing for a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” He had nothing further to add regarding whether the job had been offered to any of the candidates.

The Wellesley community had opportunities to meet and comment on each of the candidates during afternoon and evening meetings in late May.

Filed Under: Education, METCO, Town Meeting, Wellesley High School

Linden Square, Wellesley
Riverbend, Natick

Wellesley community dialogue to take place in wake of student walk-out

April 29, 2019 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

Wellesley High School walk outWellesley High School student group Young Ethnic Scholars (YES) and World of Wellesley (WOW) invites everyone to participate in a Community Dialogue on Monday, May 6, 7pm – 9pm at the Wellesley Free Library.

Earlier this month during a walk-out organized by YES and attended by members of the group and their allies, student speakers said the whole town of Wellesley must take responsibility for racist incidents that have occurred in the school. WOW President Michelle Chalmers said, “YES has asked for the community to engage and we invite you to answer that call. Everyone is invited to peacefully engage with our students together.”

YES is an approximately 60-member group of students of color and their allies with a stated goal to “take action against the racial injustice rampant in YOUR community.” Earlier this month, members of the group and other WHS students, approximately 300 in all, walked out of Wellesley High School and onto the athletic field in protest of racist incidents that have happened in the school, including an anonymous racist email sent to a WHS African American teacher.

In an online update to the school community regarding that email, Jamie Chisum said, “Despite the efforts of all three assistant principals, the school resource officer, other members of the WPD, and our tech department, we have no solid evidence to connect any individual to the email sent to one of our teachers early last month. There was not sufficient evidence found to get a subpoena. There have been interviews with students, guidance counselors (in case they heard something), and I’ve personally spoken to all the teacher’s classes. We’ve done psychologist profiles, and of course met with the teacher for insights. My hope has been that eventually a student would step forward and tell us who did it – perhaps this week’s events will help someone come to this conclusion. We are keeping our eyes and ears open.”

RSVP here to the May 6 Community Dialogue event. 

More about the walkout:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Clubs, Education, METCO, Wellesley High School

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London Harness, Wellesley
Wellesley Lacrosse

World of Wellesley’s Michelle Chalmers is Rotary Club’s January speaker

December 28, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Michelle Chalmers, World of WellesleyMichelle Chalmers, President of World of Wellesley will speak at the January 8th, 7pm – 8pm meeting of the Rotary Club of Wellesley, at the Wellesley College Club. There is a $30 light buffet available at 6:15pm before the meeting. See the Rotary Club web site for details.

From the Rotary Club speaker:

Welcome everyone to World of Wellesley’s 29th year of dedication to making Wellesley a welcoming place for everyone. Since 1990, the organization has been a collaborative effort of passionate volunteers and supporters, who are engaged and committed to celebrating and appreciating our glorious human diversity. It is my hope that World of Wellesley will be a part of you and your family’s lives, this year, through our planned programs, conversations and events. Most importantly, the success of the mission can only be reached by listening and learning from all Wellesley residents and support what is possible for making this community a welcoming and inclusive place for all. Thank you to the Rotary Club for your support and inviting me to a meeting.

● January 21: The Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast, with a keynote speaker and music and dance presentations, followed by a family MLK event in the afternoon.
● February 27; March 6, March 13: Join us in collaboration with the Wellesley Public Library for the community viewing of the three-part documentary, Race: The Power of an Illusion.

About Michelle Chalmers, MSW

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Entertainment, METCO, Volunteering

Wellesley Friendly Aid

Dine, dance, and celebrate at Friends of Wellesley METCO social event

October 4, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley METCOCome join the Friends of Wellesley METCO on Saturday, October 20 at the William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park for a fun-filled night, reconnecting with old friends and making new friends. Great food, great music, great friends at this adult social event.

WHEN: Saturday, October 20th – 6:30-10:00pm

WHERE: William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park, 1 Circuit Drive, Dorchester

TICKETS: $10 per person in advance; $15 at the door
Tickets can be purchased at http://www.friendsofwellesleymetco.org.
Click on “Donate” and put “Adult Social” in special instructions.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Food, METCO, Neighbors

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