Who We Are

In the school year 2019-20, we began to see an increase in the creation of DEI positions in public schools in the Commonwealth. At the time, a small group of practitioners who held the title of DEI Director (or similar) found themselves often isolated in managing the complexities of an inaugural position with limited resources and historical guidance.

These peers, representing Cambridge, Lexington, Newton, Somerville, Wayland, and Wellesley formed a job-alike affinity group and began to coordinate monthly meetings to share resources, provide support, and be in community.

To date, communities in Greater Boston, MetroWest, the South Shore, North of the River, and more have created administrative positions dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In our roles, we have been witness to changes that have amounted as a result of an intentional focus on issues of racial equity in our schools. Most of us have led fellow educators and our communities in understanding topics such as antiracism, White Supremacy Culture, the history of Anti-Asian violence in America, and gender affirming practices, to name a few. Most importantly, we have bore witness to the impact of our work on our most important constituents--our students.

This space, now formally known as AMSEL, has become integral to sustainability in our roles, and has also expanded to provide a breadth of resources, diversity of thought, strategic planning expertise and allyship during some of our most difficult challenges. We believe our coordination better supports consistency of practice across Massachusetts and enhances the quality of work we deliver in our individual communities.

AMSEL is an organization that works collaboratively and thoughtfully to provide supports and ideas to school-based equity leaders and school districts to improve practice around teaching and learning by offering tools that create inclusive and equitable spaces of belonging, teaching, and learning.

Those who serve as equity leaders in schools with grades ranging from PK-12 or they work in/for an Office of Equity in a school system, including but not limited to public schools, vocational schools, independent schools and charter schools, are welcome to apply for individual AMSEL membership.

Regular attendance at monthly meetings and participation in at least one subcommittee is expected for current members. Monthly meetings include the following:

• Support around problems of practice
• Solution-based focus on problem solving
• Professional development
• Networking
• Sharing out of best practices
• Offering supports, and ideas around re-thinking Professional Development (PD) and assisting to develop PDs that will impart equitable practices in ways that are engaging and inclusive.

Individual members also receive free access to AMSEL networking events and professional development to improve practice. 

For members new to their roles, AMSEL provides one-on-one mentoring that includes thought-provoking discussions and guides administrators through professional challenges and opportunities with an equitable lens. More than the traditional executive coaching model designed to enhance the leadership skills of professionals in order for district level and school based administrators to excel in their current roles. AMSEL provides new equity leaders with a mentor that has expertise in equity focused leadership that will help leaders see themselves clearly and grow professionally. AMSEL mentoring can assist leaders in identifying and generating professional development plans to help them achieve equity goals. 

Please contact Caeli Gallitano at cgallitano@k12.somerville.ma.us for more information about individual or district membership.