The
Puyallup School District and Brouillet Elementary are among the first
12 school districts or schools from across the country that will be
recognized May 2 for efforts to create welcoming and inclusive schools.
The
honored schools and districts will be recognized during the first-ever
Human Rights Campaign “Welcoming Schools Seal of Excellence” award
ceremony in Saint Paul, Minn.

Brouillet
Elementary Principal Nancy Strobel and Chief Academic Officer of
Regional Learning Community #1 Vince Pecchia will join educators from
the other honored districts and schools at the ceremony.
Puyallup
is the only school district honored in Washington state and one of only
two school districts nationwide to receive the award. The two school
districts and 10 schools honored also represent Minnesota, California,
Texas, and Florida.
“Schools
should be places where all students feel welcomed by their peers and
adults,” said Kim Westheimer, director of the Human Rights Campaign
Foundation’s Welcoming Schools Program. “But far too often students who
are perceived as being different face harassment and bullying. Teachers
want to create an environment where every student is safe and to know
how to intervene when conflict arises. Welcoming Schools helps them do
just that.”
Westheimer
continued, “The schools we’re honoring today have demonstrated a deep
commitment to all students and families and have worked with us over
time to create inclusive climates where all students can thrive.”
Welcoming
Schools provides resources, training, and technical assistance to help
elementary schools take a comprehensive approach to school climate and
bullying prevention. Welcoming Schools’ regional staff and consultants
work directly with schools, educators, and parents in 25 states and the
District of Columbia.
Tracy
Flynn, a parent and educator who is a Welcoming Schools educational
consultant in this region, has worked over the past two years with the
Puyallup School District Diversity Committee.
Flynn
has worked directly with both Brouillet and Edgerton elementary school
staff, as well as presented information on three separate occasions to
all K-12 principals in the district. Flynn’s work is funded through the
Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Gerald
Denman, chief equity and achievement officer in the Puyallup School
District, said the award “is a reflection of the district’s commitment
to having a welcoming environment for every student, staff, family, and
community member that enters our schools and support buildings.”
Denman
continued, “In visiting our 32 schools across the district, it is
evident they have all made great strides to create a welcoming
environment for all who come through their doors. When students feel
welcome, they become actively engaged in their learning environment.
When they are actively engaged, they succeed.”
Brouillet
Elementary Principal Nancy Strobel added, “It is so exciting that
Welcoming Schools has chosen our school and district for this honor! Our
staff at Brouillet has been genuinely engaged in working with Tracy
Flynn to incorporate Welcoming Schools practices into what we do for
each child and family every day.”
Strobel
continued, “Making people feel like Brouillet is their school is really
important to us, and it is such an honor to be recognized for this.”
Districts
and schools will receive a Welcoming Schools banner to display at their
buildings, a seal to place on their website, and national recognition
as one of the first schools to receive the national distinguished award.
This
marks the first year of Welcoming Schools Seal of Excellence, which
will be awarded to schools or districts that have demonstrated high
standards of implementation of the Welcoming Schools curriculum in the
following areas:
- Leadership Development, including an active leadership team working with individual schools.
- Professional Development, including full faculty workshops.
- Family Engagement, including community events.
- Classroom Strategies, including use of Welcoming Schools lesson plans.
The
event will also feature the showing of the new Welcoming Schools
professional development film, “What Can We Do? Bias, Bullying, and
Bystanders,” a 12-minute film featuring teachers and students from J.J.
Hill Montessori School in the Saint Paul Public School District and
Hiawatha Leadership Academy in the Minneapolis Public School District.