Representative Dave Paul

JLOB 309

PO Box 40600

Olympia, WA

98504-0600

(360) 786-7914

 

June 20, 2022

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Dear Representative Paul,

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As your constituent, I write to ask for your support for ESSB 5044 section of 28.345 RCW that relates to equity, cultural competency, and dismantling of institutional racism in the public school system that helps school districts identify or develop and periodically update governance training programs that align with Cultural Competency, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion standards for school director governance.  I also ask for your continued support for HB 1426 - 2021-22 and enforcing school districts to provide continuing education requirements for both administrators and teachers that focus on equity-based school and classroom practices in order for certificate renewals. These transformational reforms and policy updates ensure educational quality, urgent investments, and culturally responsive training that ensures the development of Equity Committees and/or task forces within schools today.  I strongly urge Congress to speak out against bias and racial discrimination in education and support the importance of this bill and establish Equity Committees among all school districts by adopting this measure to help ensure reforms and improvements are provided to environments that serve students, families, educators and community members with equitable and quality education.

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As an Asian American educator, I am especially cognizant of the principles of the Code of Ethical Conduct for educators to uphold their commitment to not participating in practices that are emotionally damaging, disrespecting, degrading, or intimidating to children.  With vulnerability, I share a personal experience in hopes others will speak out against bias and racial discrimination in education and support the importance of an Equity Committee that will endorse training and resources that promote equitable and quality education.  I’ve been discriminated against countless times throughout my life, sometimes outrightly and other times in much more subtle ways.  Last year, a colleague assumed a district administrator's investigation was due to the riffing of two “non-white staff” members. I was one of the individuals that were rif’d, but never felt it was due to the color of my skin.  In a short moment, a coworker made the situation about race.   

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’ve had years of practice on how to cope and manage situations like this, but I’ve spent too many hours and days thinking about why this comment doesn’t bother anyone else? Why didn’t they use my name or “people” instead of “non-white.”  Could it be that privilege makes certain individuals blind to such biased behaviors?  These situations are reasons why an equity committee needs to be in place to teach students and staff how seemingly benign comments can have negative ramifications that are far deeper than anyone can know.

 

One comment took me down a road of disappointment and consumed my ability to effectively do my job and be present with my family.  Imagine if this was a student or family interaction and they don’t have strategies to handle situations of casual discrimination? No one deserves to be consumed with discrimination issues that leave them unable to be present in their everyday lives.

 

I share my incident because it’s time to take a stand on the rising tide of discrimination and move forward in our call to action to protect our community and understand the value of Equity Committees to properly identify areas to improve support for diverse students and increase awareness of unconscious biases.  

 

Sincerely,

 

Annalisa Hiroyasu

Coupeville School District

ahiroyasu@coupeville.k12.wa.us.