smac pta

diversity, equity & inclusion

School of instruction dei 
Workshop video 5.19.21

"Diversity with a Side of Inclusion"

Panel discussion on intertwining inclusion and leadership growth.

Brian Brown Chair - Kansas PTA Diversity Committee

Tiffany Foster Member - NPTA Membership Committee

Frank Kwan Member - NPTA Leadership Committee

Sylvia Reyna Chair - NPTA Diversity, Inclusion, and Outreach

Etta Taylor Member - NPTA Nominating and Leadership Recruitment
Denise Sultz - NPTA Nominating and Leadership Recruitment

SMAC PTA would like to thank the community, including business partners, contributing to the success of the first DEI Book Drive.   

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All books have been distributed to each library throughout the district.

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Because of your generosity our students have the resources to see themselves and their families represented in literature, and have the opportunity to learn about, recognize, value, and embrace the uniqueness of their classmates and community through reading.

Thank you for supporting our students, through literature!

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Questions:  smacdei@smac-pta.org

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May 14, 2021

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Thank you for this opportunity. I am the coordinator of the SMAC PTA Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee.  On behalf of Dee, Dawn, Kathy, Melissa, Sarah, and Tash, I would like to update you.  As you may have heard, we had a book drive to bring more titles of books on diversity into our school libraries. Sponsorship support from Lathrop and Gage, Titan Environmental, American Eagle Financial Services, and SMAC PTA supplemented the donations of all of you resulting in 580 new books into our system.  We started out a committee of 7, received approval from SMAC PTA Board of Managers, talked with Dr Dennis and Krista Carson, then surveyed our librarians for title suggestions for their schools. We had student input and volunteer hours and one student created our flyer. Our team created Amazon gift lists grouped by age levels. We pushed it out to all of you and you responded.

Thank you to the district.  Not only administration and our librarians, but also building and custodial staff.  For every book that came in, many hands got it to its new home.  From first receipt, being boxed up by volunteers, interoffice transportation, receipt on the destination end, and then input by librarians, the books are making it to shelves. The customer service of district employees who are getting books to their final destinations is and has been extraordinary.

The titles that arrived in the boxes are amazing: “Eyes that Wink in the Corners”,  “Esperanza Rising”, “Song for a Whale”, “The Invisible Boy”, “Big Hair, Don’t Care” with authors like Chelsea Clinton, Sonia Sotomayor, Taye Diggs, and Holly Robinson Peete. These books will send messages to our students about their worth and their value.

And, the message senders:  On gift tags I saw names of superintendents, school board members, SMEF leaders, teachers, parents, students.  I recognized families who I’m sure had to squeeze pennies to make that donation but there they were.  

Every time one of these books are touched, a child’s heart will be touched as well.  As they get to know more about themselves or others these thought ripples will expand each year multiplied by the students who read them and the years the books grace our shelves. We all did this together. The words “Thank You” seem inadequate but they are all I have. 

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~ Denise Sultz

SMAC PTA DEI Coordiantor