Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Mesa
Mesa Elementary’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is a group of volunteer parents, teachers, and administrators working together to make the Mesa community a more welcoming and equitable place for diverse populations. We aim to create a space for shared learning and collective growth. Projects have included setting up the Little Free Diversity Library and the Buddy Bench at school, co-sponsoring the Mesa Multicultural Festival, bringing the YWCA’s Reading to End Racism program to Mesa students, hosting guest speakers for the parents on topics like how to talk to your kids about race, BVSD Youth Equity Council, ADHD and executive functioning, and how to talk to your kids about neurodiversity, and engaging experts for staff professional development.
We welcome participation from anyone in the Mesa community who is committed to the principles of DEI and our committee norms. We meet at Mesa on Thursdays about once a month, with childcare provided for after-school meetings.
Our meetings of the 2024-25 year are on the following dates. We aim to provide childcare for after-school meetings:
Thursday, September 5 - 3:00 pm
Thursday, October 10 - 8:15 am
Thursday, November 7 - Time TBD (tentatively 5pm)
Thursday, January 9 - 3:00 pm
Thursday, February 6 - 8:15 am
Thursday, March 6 - 3:00 pm
Thursday, April 10 - 3:00 pm
Thursday, May 8 - 8:15 am
We also want families to know they can reach out to us and report concerns. In general, and as noted in the Mesa FAQ, families can always contact their student’s teacher or reach out to the principal. And if families have something of concern for which they don’t feel comfortable, for some reason, reporting to teacher or principal, they can reach out to Mesa’s counselor, Naomi Moddel.
As BVSD has updated and refined its policies and practices for bullying prevention (found among other helpful links on the Parent Resources page), we have developed a protocol for Reporting and Responding to Bias-Based Incidents. A bias-based event is invalidating, degrading, oppressive, or threatening words or behavior that targets an individual or groups based on race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected category.
Additional links and resources:
Contact: Josh Baldner, principal, j[email protected]
2023-2024 Mesa DEI Committee Co-Chairs: Christine Chen, Sarah Thomas
2024-2025 Mesa DEI Committee Calendar
2024-2025 Mesa DEI Committee Meeting Agendas and Notes
We welcome participation from anyone in the Mesa community who is committed to the principles of DEI and our committee norms. We meet at Mesa on Thursdays about once a month, with childcare provided for after-school meetings.
Our meetings of the 2024-25 year are on the following dates. We aim to provide childcare for after-school meetings:
Thursday, September 5 - 3:00 pm
Thursday, October 10 - 8:15 am
Thursday, November 7 - Time TBD (tentatively 5pm)
Thursday, January 9 - 3:00 pm
Thursday, February 6 - 8:15 am
Thursday, March 6 - 3:00 pm
Thursday, April 10 - 3:00 pm
Thursday, May 8 - 8:15 am
We also want families to know they can reach out to us and report concerns. In general, and as noted in the Mesa FAQ, families can always contact their student’s teacher or reach out to the principal. And if families have something of concern for which they don’t feel comfortable, for some reason, reporting to teacher or principal, they can reach out to Mesa’s counselor, Naomi Moddel.
As BVSD has updated and refined its policies and practices for bullying prevention (found among other helpful links on the Parent Resources page), we have developed a protocol for Reporting and Responding to Bias-Based Incidents. A bias-based event is invalidating, degrading, oppressive, or threatening words or behavior that targets an individual or groups based on race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected category.
Additional links and resources:
Contact: Josh Baldner, principal, j[email protected]
2023-2024 Mesa DEI Committee Co-Chairs: Christine Chen, Sarah Thomas
2024-2025 Mesa DEI Committee Calendar
2024-2025 Mesa DEI Committee Meeting Agendas and Notes