The message below from Dr. Sheldahl was shared with our families, communities and partners via our agency website, social media and Administrator Connection. Please feel free to share a link to our website and message with those we serve.
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to work within an inclusive and inspiring organizational culture. Alongside our work to further equity and inclusion at Heartland AEA, we are actively committed to helping build a world where everyone can feel safe, have their humanity fully recognized and honored, and inclusively and equitably thrive.
The recent tragedy involving the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests across our country has not been lost on Heartland AEA. We are having lengthy and ongoing discussions regarding what these events mean to us both personally as people and professionally as educators, and how we can best engage the children, families, schools, and communities we serve.
We believe that Black lives matter and that we have to stand against the racial injustice and systemic racism that plagues our country. The very important question now is, “What do we need to do to look at ourselves and our organization and to respond to this tragedy in a meaningful way?”
We know that we still have much to learn and much to do and we are committed to doing that work. For now, please know that this tragic event is deeply resonating with us, and we intend to respond with action.
Jon
