Forest Hills director outlines DEIB, MTSS and belonging work for schools

Tamasha James, Forest Hills Public Schools' director of educational equity and inclusion, presented the district's plan on Sept. 18 to use a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) and district-wide professional learning to close academic and experiential gaps.

James said the work focuses on both academic outcomes and students’ experiences, describing equity as a thread through the district’s mission of “all learners achieving individual potential.” She highlighted PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) to create consistent behavioral responses districtwide and PLC+ (Professional Learning Communities plus) to build teacher efficacy. “This is hard work and it’s not instant, but it is the work that we’re engaged in,” James said.

The director described plans to continue the Global Learners Initiative (GLI) and the Institute for Healing Racism, expand restorative practices beginning in October, and offer cultural-intelligence training through the Cultural Intelligence Center. James also outlined an equity community council and an internal district equity leadership team to provide input and decision-making, and a Shared Voices student group to collect student feedback during lunch visits around belonging questions.

Board members asked how outside partners and schedules will fit into the district plan; James said the district is coordinating with Kent ISD and other local partners and will offer a calendar of professional learning for staff and community stakeholders. The district framed the DEIB work as ongoing system capacity building rather than a single program, and said it will continue integrating training and supports across grade levels.