2024-2025 DEI Bulletin Boards
In November 2024, Willard's DEI Committee launched its DEI Docent Program with parent volunteers leading age-appropriate presentations across classrooms. Students learned about inspiring figures such as scientist Eugenie Clark (kindergarten), playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda (1st & 4th grades), gymnast Simone Biles (2nd grade), and Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink (3rd & 5th grades). These individuals were introduced in the November "Month of Appreciation" display, with a "Guess Who?" section that allowed students to uncover their identities through clues. An interactive portion of the board also engaged students, who selected stickers to represent values they identified with, guided by instructions provided to teachers.
The December 2024 book-walk bulletin board featured excerpts from the book I Will Dance by Nancy Bo Flood, an inspiring story about Eva, a young girl with cerebral palsy who dreams of becoming a dancer. Despite the challenges she faces, Eva finds a dance class for students of all abilities and, with support, makes her dream come true. The display showcased excerpts from the book, photos of real kids from the DREAM Project, an inclusive dance program in New York, and an FAQ section covering cerebral palsy, what it feels like, and how to be a good friend.
In preparation for International Day (April 29, 2025), the Willard DEI Committee created an interactive bulletin board called “Celebrating Cultures: A Journey Around the World.” The display featured a world map where students could place stickers next to locations that represented their heritage, places they had traveled, or destinations they hoped to visit. It also included a multicultural calendar, highlighting various traditions, holidays, and celebrations observed in the community and around the world from February to June.