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Recipients

Equity in Action’s Community Recognition Recipients

April 22, 2024 Recipients (alphabetical order)

Emily Bardot, WGSD Staff Member
Recognized by: WGSD staff/family member

"Ms. Bardot is a counselor at Hixson Middle School and has been an incredible, inclusive leader for the 7th grade as she has nurtured this class through the last two years of middle school. Her ability to not only support individual students, but encourage them to reframe their thinking about one another is one of the strongest ways that we can build equity and a culture of equity at WGSD and she does this so naturally that she likely wouldn't even think she is doing it at all. She has a gift for working with middle school students and we are incredible fortunate to have her in WGSD.

She continually focuses on equity-minded practices and incorporates those into her individual and small-group sessions, as well as her conversations with parents, which encourages all of us to raise our level of respect for each other. She sets and excellent example for equity and excellence and is very deserving of this recognition." 

Claire Diemler, WGSD Staff Member
Recognized by: WGSD staff/family member

"Ms. Diemler is the counselor at Hudson elementary and she is a tremendous advocate for our students. Additionally, she works hard to create a culture of student-centeredness at Hudson and encourages our entire community to embrace students of all types and abilities. She led the committee who planned the Got Culture! event at Hudson which brought many new ideas and artifacts and thoughts into our school culture and highlighted the unique ways that culture and equity can be discussed throughout the day. We are very fortunate to have her at Hudson Elementary. She conducts herself with the utmost in professionalism and respect for others, and in so doing, she encourages that from others in our community. "

Dr. Hannah Peterson, WGSD Staff Member
Recognized by: WGSD staff/family member

"Dr. Peterson has been our Avery principal for only a couple of years, but her impact has already been profound. Dr. Peterson is constantly considering how school activities, infrastructure, and culture impacts Avery students, families, and staff. She has had to create and implement changes that, while not always popular at first, are always done for the purpose of creating a more equitable and inclusive environment. For example, Dr. Peterson has found a way to make school events that happen in the evenings fun even for students who may not be able to attend by incorporating a portion of the event into the regular school day. She has researched ways to make the building itself more accessible for a variety of needs. Dr. Peterson has found ways to make small changes to school traditions, like class parties, that allow them to continue while also making them inclusive for all. The Avery community is lucky to have her!"

Past Recipients: 

Susan Berger, WGSD staff member
Recognized by: WGSD staff member 

“Susan embodies a passion rooted in equitable changes.  She readily seeks opportunities to challenge systems that hinder growth and/or oppressive policies.  She wants to 'expose' hidden biases in a way that calls people in versus further isolating them.  Susan is very much an inclusive leader in both her classroom and amongst her colleagues.  This is evident in her teaching practices, classroom library, leadership of One Book, One School at Edgar Road, and her willingness to support adults who struggle in their approaches to equity.”

CDF Freedom School (hosted by Peace United Church of Christ)
Recognized by: Community member

“Peace hosted its first CDF Freedom School in summer, 2017, with 25 scholars.  In 2018 and 2019, they hosted again, this time doubling to 50 scholars each summer.  While COVID resulted in pausing CDF Freedom School at Peace in 2020 and 2021, they are actively preparing for 50 scholars again in 2022, and the WGSD Board just approved an MOU in support of CDF Freedom School at Peace….The Peace CDF Freedom School is fostering summer learning in a culturally conscious way AND engaging the broader community in efforts to support a strong anti-bias anti-racism culture in support of WGSD.   The power of this work at the student, parent, young adult, and community level is a truly transformative way to work from a foundation of equity-minded practices, and prepare young people and the adults around them to be advocates for systemic change.”

Isaac Moore, WGSD staff member
Recognized by: Community member

"For months I’ve been wanting to find some way to share the wonderful things I hear at home about Mr. Moore.  From my daughter’s stories it is clear he has built an inclusive classroom community where students are known by him and each other and valued for their individual perspectives. He creates space for acknowledging current events and the St. Louis context while making ties to the history he is teaching. He also somehow makes time for joy and laughter.  Thank you Mr. Moore for cultivating the whole student!."

Deidre Townsend, WGSD staff member
Recognized by: Community member

"Mrs Townsend as a staff member and a parent to two children in our district works diligently to promote equitable practices and support our children. She serves our parents and children directly as a social worker at Bristol Elementary and  Edgar Road Elementary. She also serves our community on the PTO at Givens Elementary as an Equity Officer where she ensures funding is allocated equitably and programs are inclusive for those not in the majority.  Her lens is valuable and her actions even more so! "