Department of Equity and Multicultural Education Mission
Promote an inclusive academic and culturally accepting environment for students, families, and staff through programs and services within Lincoln Public Schools. The Equity team supports the district’s Board of Education policy through practice; “to create opportunities for all students to achieve academically and socially in an educational environment in which all students and staff understand and respect the racial and cultural diversity and interdependence of members of our society.”
Lincoln Board of Education Policy 2135
Brittney Hodges-Bolkovac
Executive Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Peter Ferguson
Coordinator of Culture, Inclusion, and Scholar Development
Barb Miller
Emerging Educators Empowerment Specialist
Equity Efforts and Initiatives
- Graduation Rate
- Positive Behavior
- Honors Course Enrollment
- Diversity of Certificated Staff
Purpose
The purpose of this team is to craft meaningful, substantive change, and measurable results. The team has been instructed to be critical evaluators of the district’s current work as well as the new options developed.
Membership
Members of the team include LPS administrators and staff along with community members.
District Person Responsible
Brittney Hodges-Bolkovac, Executive Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Purpose
The Lincoln Public Schools Scholar Equity Cadre is a diverse body of scholars from around the district who advise district leadership on policies and strategies which impact diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging while profiling the successes among scholars of color.
This group meets monthly during the school calendar year with a focus on action toward current events systemic and educational practices focused on and impacting social identity, diversity, equity, and justice.
The Scholar Equity Cadre is a brave place where scholars come together to communicate and better understand and address equity, diversity, and inclusion. The Scholar Equity Cadre provides insight and voice to vastly marginalized and underrepresented scholars on matters that directly and indirectly impact their peers, families, and individual educational journeys.
The intent is to provide an opportunity for scholars and faculty to engage honestly in discussions about their experiences while having a meaningful voice at the decision-making table, including but not limited to:
- Regular opportunities to connect with district leadership and the school board
- Connection with classified and certificated staff
- Engagement with community members
Membership
Cadre membership includes representation from LPS high schools, focus programs, TCA, Bryan, and Yankee Hill. A limited number of middle school scholar participants continue to be piloted.
District Person Responsible
Peter Ferguson, Coordinator, Youth Development
Purpose
To engage community members/leaders in rich and productive dialogue related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and multicultural education within Lincoln Public Schools, resulting in increased community awareness and the opportunity to provide recommendations to the district
Membership
Community members, district staff, administration and scholar representation.
District Person Responsible
Brittney Hodges-Bolkovac
Executive Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Purpose
This role collaborates with school staff, building leadership, and other personnel focused on implementing and promoting equitable opportunities and outcomes through strengthening diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. This happens through planning and supporting activities for students and staff.
Membership
Multicultural Liaisons are selected by their principal based on interest, knowledge, and building leadership.
District Person Responsible
Brittney Hodges-Bolkovac, Executive Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Barb Miller, Emerging Educators Empowerment Specialist
Peter Ferguson, Coordinator of Culture, Inclusion and Scholar Development
Purpose
Honors Cadre is a three-year middle school program that fosters an academically focused peer group for underrepresented students who were not necessarily identified as gifted in elementary school. The program also strives to build a sense of community for Cadre families. Incoming 5th graders with academic potential are identified by test scores as well as recommendations from elementary school teachers and principals. Selected students are enrolled in differentiated classes and take part in a variety of activities that support their studies as well as offer enrichment experiences. Cadre partners with Community Learning Centers and draws from local universities and high schools to provide mentors, tutors, field trips, and other opportunities.
Honors Cadre Themes
6th grade: KNOW THEMSELVES
As 6th graders, students get to know who they are as learners; they explore interests, and they identify their strengths and weaknesses.
7th grade: KNOW THEIR OPTIONS
As 7th graders, students have opportunities to learn more about the LPS high schools and the focus programs.
8th grade: KNOW THEIR PLANS
As eighth graders, students make informed decisions about selecting a high school and a program of study.
District Person Responsible
Barb Miller, Emerging Educators Empowerment Specialist
(African American/NAACP; Asian American/MENA/ Asian Community Center; Native American/Indian Center & Federal Programs; Hispanic/Latino/Latina/LatinX/Las Voces)
Purpose
LPS provides assistance with planning, invitations, ceremony programs and other materials. Community Centers host the events where students are recognized for academic accomplishments and scholarships are awarded.
District Person Responsible
Sapphire Munford, Executive Assistant for Civic Engagement and Multicultural Office
Purpose
Jointly hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Lincoln Public Schools, this state-wide event is open to middle and high school students of diversity, pre-service education students, in-service educators, (certificated and uncertificated) staff, administrators, and university faculty of diversity and their allies. It represents our strong partnership intended to build on current racial justice movements and to create an authentic space to build community and solidarity. Specifically, this partnership seeks to:
- Grow our professional network of dedicated educators of Color from across Nebraska
- Share ideas for collaboration, activism, and self-care
- Envisioning innovative and liberatory practices to meet the needs of Nebraska’s diverse students
This event brings together professionals and aspiring future educators from across the state through interactive presentations, workshops, and roundtables
District Person Responsible
Barb Miller, Emerging Educators Empowerment Specialist
Peter Ferguson, Coordinator of Culture, Inclusion and Scholar Development
Vann Price, Associate Superintendent for Human Resources
Ryan Escamilla, Supervisor of Secondary Education / Director of Recruitment
