.jpeg)
In 2017, the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) began to organize educators of color in several Affiliates. Educators of color across the Springfield Educator Association developed a core team by utilizing one-on-one conversations. This core group of educators became ALANA (African, Latinx, Asian, and Native American).
In January 2019, almost two-years after its first public action, ALANA educators met with the Superintendent and members of his cabinet to discuss the mission and goals of the committee, with a push for cultural competency training. ALANA did not get a commitment from the Superintendent at that time. However, in October 2019, during a PVP hosted community townhall, the same demand of cultural competency was a topic of interest and concern by student activists, and Superintendent Warwick agreed to work with SEA and PVP to roll out district-wide training for SPS staff.
From its inception and through many volunteer hours of its core team, the SEA ALANA inspired the development of the Diversity, Inclusion, and Racial Equity (DIRE) Initiative, a joint effort between Springfield Education Association (SEA), Springfield Public Schools (SPS), Springfield Federation of Paraprofessionals (SFoP) and our community partner, Pioneer Valley Project (PVP) to address the barriers institutional racism imposes on students' academic success. ALANA was determined to develop a DIRE team with a strong mission and goals to dismantle white privilege and develop a school system based on a strong commitment to anti-racist practices.
In 2020, a collaboration between the Springfield Education Association/SEA ALANA, the Pioneer Valley Project, SPS Administration, and Springfield Federation of Paraprofessionals was created to form DIRE.
DIRE labored to make a collective impact in transforming school climate, confronting institutional racism, and promoting academic excellence.
This team works to enhance five areas with Springfield Public Schools:
Policies and Procedures
Professional Development
Curriculum
Recruitment, Hiring and Retention of Educators of Color
Portrait of A Graduate (2022)
DIRE Mission (updated 10/3/2024)
DIRE is an anti-racist community committed to inclusivity, equity, and belonging in the Springfield Public Schools’ system. We will dismantle systems of oppression and radically transform conditions historically designed to exclude BIPOC voices, lives, and experiences. We believe all lives cannot matter until black and brown lives matter.
DIRE Vision (updated 10/3/2024)
To create and sustain an anti-racist school system where all members of the school community:
-
experience belonging where they are respected and valued
-
empower the voices of students and families to develop a just city, nation, and world
-
identify and address issues of racism and hate that continue to plague Springfield Public Schools’ system
-
believe in the promise and potential of our students as global citizens
In the 2022-2023 a contest was held asking the students, at the 9 schools participating in the school based DIRE teams, to submit their logo ideas to DIRE:
Brunton
Glickman
Talmadge
STEM
Dorman
Conservatory of the Arts
Boland
Gerena
Central
Putnam
The entry below won :)
.jpeg)
DIRE LOGO CONTEST WINNERS
1st Place: Alyssa Rodriguez -Putnam HS
2nd Place: Carielys Sanchez-Torres – Conservatory of the Arts
3rd Place: Kayshaleen Nicholson- Putnam HS
Honorable Mention: Justin Kisanda- Glickman Elementary
Honorable Mention: Alexandre Sanchez- Conservatory of the Arts