Diversity & Inclusion at BlueSky Online School
Any online school has a responsibility to prioritize diversity and inclusion in its coursework. Students of all backgrounds deserve to feel that they are being represented. Every student should be treated with kindness and respect and that their experience and cultures are equally valid.
BlueSky prioritizes diversity & inclusion through an ongoing effort of different actions. Read on to learn how we prioritize diversity & inclusion at BlueSky online school.
Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives for Online School Students
After over twenty years of working with students and families in education, we’ve learned that representation matters. It matters especially for young people who are just learning to navigate the world around them. Students want to feel seen and heard. Inclusivity and representation are an essential part of primary education, so we try to include them in our coursework and educational materials. We have a dedicated Inclusive Educational Program plan dedicated to maintaining an inclusive educational environment.
We offer book clubs that center around representation and inclusion for students to partake in beyond their everyday coursework. Our Diversity and Equity Committee here at BlueSky work to create opportunities for students to access more diverse educational materials. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee work with our leadership team and other committees. They ensure that our programming meets the DEI needs of our community.
We are keenly aware that online school can feel isolating for some. Our team prides itself on going above and beyond to create coursework that is infused with diverse and inclusive materials. All of our coursework is infused with Social-Emotional Learning practices and is created with inclusivity and compassion in mind.
Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives for BlueSky Staff
Our commitments at BlueSky start with our staff. The Diversity and Equity Committee helps center inclusion work across all BlueSky communities but starts with our staff. BlueSky welcomes families of all races, identities, and cultures. We realize, however, that we must take measurable action to educate ourselves in order to truly prioritize becoming more diverse. We can’t be as welcoming as we’d like to be without these important steps.
BlueSky staff participates in continuing education and training in what it means to be an online school and educators committed to diversity & education. Our priority is to be able to support every student equally and properly. We are continually auditing and reviewing our policies because we want to ensure equal representation across all BlueSky practices and teams.
We know that the commitment to diversity & inclusion is ongoing. As a result, we are always learning and appreciate feedback from our families. If you want to learn more about our commitment to diversity & inclusion at BlueSky, or if you have feedback for us, contact us here!
