Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Chief Appointed For 6 SEEM Districts

WILMINGTON, MA — Six area school districts have jointly hired an equity, diversity and inclusion coordinator, Wilmington Superintendent Glenn Brand said Friday.

The SEEM Collaborative districts hired India Barrows as the joint coordinator, Brand said in a letter to the school community.

The following districts are paying for the new position: Woburn, Stoneham, Melrose, Wilmington, North Reading and Lynnfield.

Barrows has a master of education degree from Merrimack College and has worked since 2017 as New England College's assistant director and director of diversity and inclusion.

"The Coordinator of Equity and Diversity is a new position designed to serve as the connector between participating communities by leveraging both district-specific and community-wide culture, knowledge, relationships and practices to inform larger education, diversity and inclusion strategies and programs," Brand wrote. "Primary responsibilities of the coordinator include, but are not necessarily limited to: providing support and coaching for faculty and staff including professional development; providing instructional leadership and curriculum development through an equity lens; assisting in the development of strategic planning and data collection and; collaborating with stakeholders including parent/community groups."

The one-year position was approved by the Wilmington School Committee, Brand said, and reports directly to the SEEM Collaborative's executive director.

The SEEM Collaborative offers in-district services and dedicated programs for students with moderate to severe disabilities.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.

An earlier version of this story said erroneously that all SEEM districts are sharing the position. It has been corrected.