EVERYONE IS welcome here!

We are committed to:

• Diversity – the policies and practices of welcoming and valuing people with identities, characteristics, or experiences that are different from people in the majority.
• Equity – the policies and practice of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people with identities, characteristics, or experiences that are different from people in the majority.
• Inclusion – the policies and practice of meaningfully involving people who may otherwise be excluded or marginalized because of their diversity and/or the lack of equity.

Another way of looking at it:

And yet another:

The following, simple metaphor may help in better understanding these terms and the way in which they are inter-related. 

• Diversity – Everyone is invited to the dance.
• Equity – Everyone is asked to dance.
• Inclusion – Everyone has the opportunity to select music for the dance, or perhaps, provide input that a picnic would be preferred over a dance.

Mercer Island School District is becoming increasingly diverse by ethnicity. We also represent differences in gender, learning style, language(s) spoken, physical ability, socio-economic status, religion, and other life experiences. These characteristics contribute to the uniqueness of each of us as individuals, and together, the richness of our community.

Preparing our students to effectively interact with people who are different than them is an important, 21st-century skill that will serve them well throughout their lifetimes. We welcome your participation in this endeavor. We particularly seek to help people from under-represented groups serve in leadership roles throughout the district to lend your unique voices, important perspectives, and valuable contributions.