Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor, Board President Helen Hall, and parent leader and newly appointed Personnel Commissioner Cecilia Yeh led a panel discussion during a televised public forum held at the Cary Memorial Library on September 29.
The leaders also guided two days of sessions on innovative strategies that foster inclusion in WVUSD including dual immersion elementary programs, Diversity Think Tank, exchange program with China, multiple ethnic parent volunteer organizations, recruitment of Mandarin-speaking teachers, and training staff on cultural issues.
“It was great having the opportunity to share what has worked in our District as Lexington begins the journey to work with the community and the school district,” Hall said.
“The committee members were open to suggestions, especially to our Diversity Think Tank and the Magnificent 7 Parent Group and Wellness Center at Diamond Bar High,” Yeh said.
Lexington officials are looking to see what lessons they can learn from WVUSD as they experience a growth in enrollment of students of Asian ancestry.
WVUSD embraces and celebrates its diverse student population that boasts over 35 languages on the 15 Diamond Bar and Walnut campuses. The current student body demographic is 60 percent Asian and 17 percent Hispanic.
The event was sponsored by the Subcommittee on Asian Communities of the Lexington 20/20 Vision Committee. They will send an education group to visit WVUSD in the coming months.
“We are excited to offer the Lexington officials a first-hand glimpse of how we are addressing diversity in our schools,” said Dr. Taylor.
Hall said one of the highlights was getting to meet with a group of Lexington students.
“We played a game called Visual Explorer, it was so much fun!"
By Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources
Shown:
Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor, Board President Helen Hall and parent leader Cecilia Yeh during a public forum in Lexington. Shown with Dan Krupka, member of the 20/20 Vision Committee.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor fields audience questions during a public forum held at the Carl Memorial Library in Lexington. Shown with 20/20 Vision Committee Member Dan Krupka.
Board President Helen Hall and parent leader Cecilia Yeh (shown) during a public forum in Lexington, MA to discuss cultural inclusion.
WVUSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor at the site of the old Belfry that sounded the alarm of first skirmish of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775.