Culture of Dignity and Responsive Action Plan

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

In response to issues of social unrest in the spring of 2020, the Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) Department of Equity, Diversity and Opportunity developed a Culture of Dignity and Responsive Action Plan that addressed the well-being and needs of staff. This plan includes affinity groups (collectives), book study and discussions, and an “Ensuring Equity” series of online learning courses in alignment with our Culturally Responsive Education Model (CREM) framework. These all center on anti-racism, belonging, culturally responsive principles and dignity. The design and content were based on conversations we had with staff members during the healing circles our department facilitated following the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota. As a result of the action plan, more than 1,000 educators, staff members and school leaders participated in at least one of the opportunities, with exit survey results indicating overwhelmingly positive feedback about educators’ growth and understanding of themselves and others.