Policy of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

FEF respects and values diverse life experiences and heritages and is committed to ensuring that all voices are valued and heard. All board members, volunteers and staff, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, class, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, are welcome, valued and respected.

FEF’s commitment to DEI is aligned with the district’s policy and is embedded in our application and assessment materials. It is front and center during faculty meeting visits and in our annual proposal-writing workshop for Falmouth Public Schools staff. An indicator of progress is that we have seen an increase in projects emphasizing DEI from 40% last year to 51% in the current year.

FEF is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in our community and to building an inclusive organization. We strive to:

• Advocate for and support board-level thinking about how systemic inequities might impact our work.

• See diversity, inclusion and equity as connected to our mission.

• Help to challenge assumptions about what it takes to be a strong FEF leader.

• Practice and encourage transparent communication in all interactions.

• Commit time to expand more diverse leadership within our board, staff, and committee, and advisory bodies.

• Expect members to embrace respect and tolerance.

FEF abides by the following actions:

• Pursue cultural competency throughout FEF by creating learning opportunities.

• Strengthen the board member nomination pipeline by networking and supporting organizations to better reflect the diversity of the Falmouth community.

• Expand offerings for underrepresented constituents by connecting with the leaders and teachers in the school district and other organizations committed to diversity and inclusion.

• Develop a system for being more intentional and conscious of bias during the recruiting, onboarding, hiring or evaluating process.