Character, Equity & Inclusion

Better Together, presents a path for our school district to navigate the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on our staff, students, and community. The concept arose from the deep concern our community has for the emotional well-being of our staff and students in Birmingham Public Schools. Our resolute dedication to creating a secure and nurturing educational setting remains unwavering, as we strive to foster an atmosphere where every staff member and child feels a sense of belonging. BPS exemplifies Better Together!

Our work so far:

Over the past five years, the district has made a conscientious effort to tackle diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as prioritize character education and social-emotional learning. We have compiled a summary of the progress achieved thus far.

Contact Us:

April Imperio
Asst. Superintendent, SL&I
aimperio@birmingham@k12.mi.us

Lindsey Aldridge
Curriculum Coordinator
laldridge@birmingham.k12.mi.us

Birmingham Public Schools has recognized and collaborates with various community organizations and has established partnerships with several affinity groups that engage and provide support to families and students.

These groups are frequently called upon to participate in committees, assist in creating surveys, and coordinate focus groups on specific subjects.

Community Partnerships

Community Partnerships

African American Family Network

Latino Family Network (LAFAN)
bpslafan@gmail.com

BPS Family Pride
bpsfamilypride@gmail.com

Character.org

Minority Student Achievement Network

RULER Approach to Social Emotional Learning

National Assoc. of Multicultural Education

Friends of Different Learners

Teaching Tolerance

Anti-Defamation League

Muslim Unity Center

Oakland Schools: Social Justice-Diversity

Oakland Co. African American Male Task Force

Oakland Co. African American Administrators Network

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education

— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bullying, Hate & Bias Reporting Plan

A Responding to Hate and Bias at School Incident Response Plan Guide and framework from Teaching Tolerance has driven the individual response plans in all schools throughout the district. Each building has dedicated school support staff prepared to assist school administrators with the implementation of the plan as well as to support all students involved. Further, the district has posted on its website an anonymous link for anyone to report hate and bias incidents directly to the Deputy Superintendent.

Character Education

Character Education has served as a cornerstone in Birmingham Public Schools. Our character education efforts have received national recognition in years past. In addition to being a National District of Character, eleven schools have earned National School of Character status. Our character education program is built upon the framework of The 11 Principles of Effective Character Education.

Community Engagement

Crisis Support

Responsive Services: School counselors also provide responsive services specifically tailored to address students' immediate needs and concerns. These services encompass individual or small-group counseling and crisis response.

Wellness & Crisis Counselors (High School Only): Birmingham Public Schools, we understand the significance of having dedicated, full-time crisis counselors who offer personal intervention for students dealing with various challenges, including issues like abuse, divorce, loss, drug use, peer difficulties, or any other social or emotional challenges that may affect a student's well-being.

Groves High School: Gregorio Cognetto

Email: gcognetto@birmingham.k12.mi.us

Phone: 248-203-3504

Seaholm High School: Sherree Wilson

Email: SWilson@birmingham.k12.mi.us

Phone: 248-203-3740

Crisis Intervention Team: Our Crisis Intervention Team, consisting of administrators, counselors, and other support staff, is readily available to provide guidance and support during major crises.

Daily Support For Students & Schools

School Counselors: Our dedicated team of school counselors provides essential services to students, parents, school staff, and the community. School counselors facilitate "lunch bunches" to support student friendships, implement a check-in and check-out system for students who require daily support, and offer zen dens and calm rooms to provide students with a dedicated space to decompress when experiencing heightened emotions.

Student Success Coaches: This year, we introduced an exciting new addition to our school community known as the Student Success Coach. Operating under the guidance of our school counselors and principal, the Student Success Coach offers specialized support to our students. Their primary role is to foster students' social and emotional development through planned activities that address vital skills such as social interaction, building friendships, improving executive functioning, and promoting kindness. With the support of the Student Success Coach, we assist students in navigating the challenges of their academic journey while nurturing essential life skills and emotional well-being.

School Wellness Teams: This year, each school has formed a School Wellness Team, consisting of school administrators, counselors, Better Together coaches, and teachers. Their main role is to closely monitor and assess the Better Together program. They identify strengths and areas for improvement and make informed adjustments to better address the evolving needs of our students. Through continuous adaptation and refinement, the School Wellness Teams ensure the provision of effective and responsive support to enhance our students' emotional well-being and foster a culture of unity and well-being in our schools.

Wellness Clubs: As part of our dedication to fostering holistic student well-being, we've established Wellness Clubs in many of our school buildings. These clubs are designed to promote students' mental, emotional, social, and physical health. Comprised of students who are passionate about wellness and overseen by dedicated club sponsors, typically school counselors, Wellness Clubs play a vital role in creating positive school atmospheres and improving the mental well-being of both students and staff. These clubs actively cultivate emotionally safe environments for students through various activities and initiatives, providing a platform for them to seek support and encouragement from both staff and peers (Seaholm, Groves, West Maple & BCS).

Diversity Resolution

Easter Seals

Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

BPS Climate Survey: Evaluating our progress towards meeting the strategic plan goals, which focus on ensuring that students feel safe, valued, and prepared to learn, is crucial. The BPS Climate Survey is a comprehensive survey that collects feedback from students, parents, and staff, providing valuable insights on various initiatives that contribute to a positive school environment. The survey's insights guide us in our ongoing commitment to enhancing the well-being of our entire school community.

Equity Audit: In 2020-2021 the district partnered with Hanover Research to conduct and equity audit that included an equity and inclusion diagnostic survey and analysis, academic and behavior equity data analysis and a human resources research study.

Professional Learning

Comprehensive Professional Learning: Our goal is to instill trust in parents, knowing that every adult their child interacts with in our school system receives the necessary professional development to ensure emotional safety. To achieve this, we've introduced comprehensive learning initiatives with a focus on community and well-being within our district. These initiatives encompass Restorative Practices to strengthen community bonds, in-person sessions to deepen understanding of social-emotional learning and culturally responsive, trauma-informed teaching. We're also sending educators to the Character.org International Forum for character development. Furthermore, we acknowledge the pivotal role of our K-12 counseling department in supporting students' mental health and are committed to providing them with the latest resources and strategies.

Culturally Responsive Teaching Initiative: Using a train the trainer model with support from Oakland Schools consultants we trained two to three Coaches from each school to provide professional learning and support at their school. Each year there was a focus that expanded from knowing yourself (anti-bias training), knowing your students (building relationships), to focusing on instructional practices that promoted DEI.

Social-Emotional Learning

The district has adopted Social Emotional Learning Standards by grade level. As we work to provide students with skills and strategies that promote self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making, teachers are encouraged to consider ways to integrate opportunities throughout the day and across the curriculum that align with the standards.

Student-Led Initiatives

Better Together Coaches: Each school has selected two Better Together Coaches, who serve as initiative liaisons to support the Better Together initiatives. These coaches have been leading professional learning, assisting with district initiatives focusing on lifting student voice and choice and spearheading student-led campaigns that help our learning community understand our commitment to the core values outlined in our strategic plan.

Student-led Better Together Campaigns: Better Together Coaches collaborate with students and staff to initiate messaging campaigns that promote Character Education principles and the district's core values. The campaigns aim to inspire students to take pride in their character traits, such as empathy, and to celebrate acts of kindness within their school and the BPS community.

The BPS: Canine Comfort Crew

Our therapy dog program, initiated two years ago with the generous sponsorship of the Rotary Club, has now expanded to include 13 therapy dogs and includes community sponsorship from Premier Pets, the Birmingham Education Foundation, the Detroit Federal Credit Union, DePorre Veterinary Hospital, as well as other local grooming and veterinary care providers. Ten therapy dogs actively engage with our students in schools, while three additional dogs are in training and expected to join our canine crew over the next year. These remarkable dogs provide invaluable support to our students by promoting emotional well-being and enhancing the school experience. They create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, helping students reduce stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation. The presence of these therapy dogs also encourages improved social interactions and offers a source of comfort and companionship during challenging times. Their positive impact is felt throughout our school community.

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