HATHORNE— Superintendent-Director Heidi Riccio Ed.D. is pleased to announce Essex Tech was recently awarded a $55,322 grant to help promote cultural awareness, equity and inclusion programs at the school.
The $55,322 Hate Crime Prevention grant was awarded to the district in December by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The district will be working in partnership with Dr. Adolph Brown, an educator, author and clinical psychologist who speaks to educators and students about topics including equity and diversity. He will work with Essex Tech students, staff and families, and assist with professional development trainings related to cultural awareness, equity and inclusion.
Brown has worked with Essex Tech in the past, and gave a presentation to 250 faculty and staff members in September.
Essex Tech has also hired an Equity Coach and created an Equity Team, who will work with staff to create curriculum on cultural awareness, equity and inclusion.
“We are committed to providing our students with a learning environment that allows them to feel safe, included, valued and recognized,” Superintendent Riccio said. “We are grateful to receive this funding to help further these efforts and are excited to continue working with Dr. Brown, whose presentation in the fall left a lasting impression on all of us.”
Essex Tech was one of nine schools to receive this grant and in all, $400,000 in funding was allocated for the program. Districts could apply for up to $50,000 worth of funding, but could be awarded more than that amount.
The Hate Crime Prevention grant helps districts establish or expand programs designed to prevent hate crimes and incidents of bias, such as through collaborations with local organizations including local human rights organizations that have ongoing local relationships and expertise in promoting equity, building positive school climate, preventing hate crimes and addressing bias-motivated incidents.
For more information about the grant, click here.
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