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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ellen Rogers
Community Relations Coordinator, MSDWT
Email: errogers@msdwt.k12.in.us
Focus on Equity in Washington Township, Director of Equity and Inclusion Announced
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 10, 2020) – Washington Township is pleased to announce the Director of Equity & Inclusion.
The Director of Equity and Inclusion will provide expertise, leadership, and collaboration in all areas of the school district and will be integral to fulfilling our commitment to recruiting, retaining, and supporting a diverse staff, educating a diverse student body, and creating a safe and welcoming environment for all MSDWT stakeholders (students, parents, faculty, staff, and community partners). Among many other things, the Director of Equity and Inclusion will collaborate with district stakeholders in an effort to continually put equity and inclusion at the forefront of our Washington Township culture.
“On behalf of the MSD Washington Township School Board we are excited about adding this new position of Director of Equity and Inclusion to the Superintendent’s Cabinet,” said Mr. Bill Turner, President of the Washington Township Schools Board of Education. “We as a district pride ourselves in working to make education equitable for all of our students. This has been demonstrated through programs such as the Cultural Responsivity work that has been taking place in the district the past few years as well as in our new strategic plan. We have made the commitment to not just talk about how we can improve, but to start doing more to improve. This position is another big step in helping to close the achievement gap as it focuses on equity around the district from curriculum to hiring to community involvement. This is a first for Washington Township and we are excited that this day is here! We look forward to continuing on the path of improvement in the areas of equity and inclusion!”
Washington Township is pleased to announce Dr. Erica Buchanan-Rivera has been named the first Director of Equity and Inclusion in Washington Township.
Dr. Erica Buchanan-Rivera has vast and deep experience in education as well as in equity and inclusion, most recently serving as the first Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer for Hamilton Southeastern Schools since 2018. In Hamilton Southeastern, she has worked to collaboratively develop a District Equity Team, building Equity Coaches, and multiple Diversity Student Organizations that all work to support students in Hamilton Southeastern.
“All students deserve identity affirming environments, spaces rooted in care, authentic relationships, and equitable practices that help all children thrive,” said Dr. Buchanan-Rivera. “I am thrilled to join the Washington Township team and continue this important work.”
Dr. Buchanan-Rivera has experience as a classroom teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal in a large urban school district. She has also served as Director of Curriculum and taught Culturally Responsive Teaching as an adjunct professor at Butler University.
Her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Master’s in Educational Administration are both from Butler University, and her Ph.D. is in Educational Leadership from Indiana State University.
This position is made possible from public support of the operating referendum as well as from reallocated resources. Learn more about Washington Township School’s commitment to equity at this link: https://www.msdwt.k12.in.us/equity/
Board Resolution in support of equity & inclusion efforts in Washington Township
