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| Team DPS celebrated during Denver PrideFest June 16-17. |
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| Building Stronger Allies for DPS' LGBTQ+ Community |
Equity is at the heart of DPS, and we are committed to supporting all of our team members, including those in the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) community. The death of Jamel Myles, a fourth-grade student at Joe Shoemaker Elementary, is a tragic reminder of how crucial it is to provide inclusive environments for our LGBTQ+ students and educators. Read
a message
from Superintendent Tom Boasberg about our supports for all of our students.
At DPS, we are fortunate to have a community that is committed to improving the inclusion of our LGBTQ+ students and team members. A testament to that commitment was clear in June, when over 100 educators and family members came together to participate in Denver's PrideFest. It's never been more important that we carry on that spirit by launching multiple initiatives to improve the inclusion of our LGBTQ+ team members and students.
Visit the
LGBTQ Resources page
on The Commons for
resources for students and educators, as well as
guidance on how all of
us
can support our LGBTQ+ community and information on how you can get involved. The site features a resource bank with lesson plans and toolkits, and shares details about how we are ramping up support for our LGBTQ+ students, such as bully prevention programming and partnerships with One Colorado's Gay-Straight Alliances Network.
More to come:
To ensure equity and make sure everyone in DPS has a positive experience, we're also working to find ways for all team members to voluntarily and confidentially self-identify their gender and orientation, with the CollaboRATE survey as one of the avenues being considered. And stay tuned for upcoming professional development offerings that will empower educators to create inclusive office and classroom environments.
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Top 5: Favorite Back-to-School Memory
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Last week, we asked you to share your favorite back-to-school memory. We received one response that will evoke nostalgia for many DPS team members!
Rhonda Urbach at East High School
shared,
"Every year in elementary school I was greeted by a new box of crayons waiting for me on my desk. Ahh, the smell of new Crayolas!" Congratulations to Rhonda for winning this week's giveaway!
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Top 5 Callout: How Do You Support Your Well-Being?
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In the hustle and bustle of the new school year, tell us what you're doing to support your well-being. Whether it's biking to work, cooking your favorite healthy dish or starting your morning with meditation, we want to hear from you! Send your tips for nurturing your well-being to [email protected]. We'll select the Top 5 and one person will win a giveaway!
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Join Teammates at the DPS Belong Kickoff
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Members of Team DPS participate in the Belong spring event. |
Don't miss the DPS Belong fall kickoff event on
Oct. 3
from
5:30-7 p.m.
at
Bruce Randolph School.
Open to all employees,
DPS Belong
is a network of employee-built groups fostering diversity and inclusion.
Meet others throughout Team DPS who share similar backgrounds and experiences as you, and learn about current groups, including African-American/Black, Asian, Citizens of the World, Confronting White Privilege, Latinx/Hispanic, LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans and Women of Color. You will also receive information on how to start a new Belong group!
RSVP below
.
Dinner and childcare are provided.
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Share Your Voice at the Superintendent Search Community Meetings
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As the district continues the search for our next superintendent, the Board of Education is looking for community input on the experiences, qualities and qualifications desired in the next superintendent. As members of Team DPS, your input during this process is invaluable to informing the selection of semi-finalists!
As we go through this process together, the board is committed to offering a variety of opportunities for all Team DPS members to share their voices. We invite you to attend a community meeting; dates and RSVP links are listed at
supersearch.dpsk12.org, including multiple regional events throughout DPS. More dates are being announced, so check back frequently.
Keep an eye on supersearch.dpsk12.org and DPS social media accounts for more opportunities. If you cannot attend one of the community engagement meetings or would like to provide feedback through a more private channel, email [email protected].
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Perks at Work: Free Counseling and More through Employee Assistance Program
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All of Team DPS and members of their household can receive five free and confidential counseling sessions through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) -- and that's just the start! Use this free service for event planning, elder care support, legal guidance, financial planning advice and more. Just call
855-327-1377
or visit our
EAP page
on The Commons to learn more.
Stay tuned for more "Perks at Work" next week!
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Teacher, Ashley Elementary
Fun
"Zach Bess-Lima is full of energy and life! His classroom theme is 'Lima Beans' and everything in his room supports the love of learning while incorporating his theme. His students have a classroom chant with movements and all students are always having Fun in his room! Zach spreads his joy beyond the classroom with his coworkers and promotes our Shared Core Value of Fun and joy every day! We are lucky to have him here at Ashley!"
-- Catrina Pazo, Ashley Elementary
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