History of Current Equity Work in WDMCS

West Des Moines Community Schools' current equity work began in 2016, after racially motivated fights at Valley High School in 2014. Here is a summary timeline of our work from 2016-2021.

Starting Our Equity Journey: 2016 and Beyond

• We commissioned an equity audit of our high school, established district and Valley High School equity teams, and selected a framework to focus our work. We also scheduled community listening sessions, which became the Community Equity Conversations now managed through our Community Education Department and community allies.
• Sept. 2016: WDMCS Making Positive Changes for Education Equity
• Oct.  2016: WDMCS Taking Action to Address Education Equity
• April 2017: District to Implement “Deep Equity” Framework
  
  

Learning for Students and Staff: 2017 and Beyond

• A major reason Deep Equity was selected was that it had a student component. For the next 3-4 years, we worked with Corwin and Deep Equity to provide training to staff and students separately and together. 
  • Oct. 2017: WDMCS Students Explore Equity in Arts-Based Program
  • Nov. 2017: District Staff Focuses On Culturally Responsive Teaching
  • May 2019: WDMCS Students, Staff Collaborate on Equity Training
    
    

Communicating About Equity: 2017 and Beyond

• Beyond coverage/updates about the district's equity work, WDMCS worked to be more purposeful about using feature stories to highlight our district’s diversity as a reality and a strength instead of a goal.
• Feb. 2017: Kapur “Turbanates” the Single Story
• Oct. 2018: Expanding ESOL Services Prioritize Personal Connections with Families
• Nov. 2019: Putting Relationships First Earns Southwoods’ Penning Iowa Safe Schools Educator of the Year Award
  
  

• We also worked with our superintendent on statements related to equity issues: 
• April 2021: "Seeking Healing Following Derek Chauvin Verdict"
• March 2021: "WDMCS Statement in Response to Atlanta Shooting"
• June 2020: "‘We Are Better Together’ amid George Floyd Protests, Racial Inequality"
• Dec. 2019: "WDMCS Response to Racially Motivated Hit and Run"
• Sept. 2017: "WDMCS Superintendent Response to DACA Repeal
  
  

Implementing Actions for Equity: June 2020 and Beyond

• Our Board discussed equity at its June 8, 2020, Board meeting and at the June 22 meeting, district leadership and the Board committed to six new actions for equity. 
  • This was in response to Board discussion and community feedback about the pace and results of the equity work we'd been engaged in, as well as the broader discussion about racial equity and social justice at the time.
    
    

• Since approving the actions for equity, we have:

  • Hired an executive director of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, Anthony Ferguson, Jr., Ed.D.
  • Met with Board members, district leadership, teachers, students, parents, and various stakeholders to assess the culture and climate of the district to inform future direction.
  • Co-hosted student-led equity town halls and an open forum session for parents of WDMCS students of color.
  • Established paid equity leads to lead equity teams at each school building.
  • Continued to work through our six actions for equity, further detailed in Dr. Ferguson's time-task plan.
  • Signed on as an official supporter of the United Way of Central Iowa’s 21-Day Equity Challenge
  • Celebrated Black History Month by highlighting students, staff, and historic figures.
  • Used various communication methods and strategies to display support for marginalized and underrepresented groups.
  • Collaborated with the City of West Des Moines and the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and provide scholarships for students within and around the district.
  • Reviewed district-level policies to ensure that language and practices are equitable and in alignment with the direction of the district.
  • Established a culture of collaboration and learning for building equity leaders and assisted them in building equity teams with tangible goals.
  • Provided professional learning opportunities for the School Board, School Improvement Advisory Committee, students, staff, and community members.
  • Began looking at equitable practices within athletics, academics, and activities throughout the district.
  • Critically examined the relationship between our school resource officers and the district, and developed five (5) recommended action steps to continue to strengthen our partnership.
    
    

Narrowing Our Focus: 2021 and Beyond

• Executive Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, Anthony Ferguson, Jr., Ed.D., presented his plan for "Narrowing Our Focus" in 2021 to the Board of Education on June 14, 2021.
  • Presentation: Narrowing Our Focus