Highline Public Schools Superintendent Susan Enfield addresses divisive election

Highline Public Schools Superintendent Susan Enfield on Wednesday (Nov. 9) sent a letter to parents and families of students regarding the ‘divisive and angry campaign season’ we just went through.

“Over the past few months, many of our students and teachers have shared that the words and tone used in this campaign have impacted the climate in our schools and the community, like in other communities across our nation,” Enfield wrote. “We can all be thankful the hateful language spoken on the campaign trail will no longer dominate the news.”

This topic of student safety was also brought up at Wednesday night’s School Board meeting.

“For my part as superintendent, I renew my commitment to ensuring that students feel safe and nurtured in our schools,” she added.

Here’s the text of her full letter:

Dear Highline Families,

Now that we are at the end of a divisive and angry campaign season, I think all of us are breathing a collective sigh of relief.

Over the past few months, many of our students and teachers have shared that the words and tone used in this campaign have impacted the climate in our schools and the community, like in other communities across our nation. We can all be thankful the hateful language spoken on the campaign trail will no longer dominate the news.

Although the election itself is behind us, we are now at the beginning of a long journey toward healing and uniting as a people. That healing process must start in each one of us.

For my part as superintendent, I renew my commitment to ensuring that students feel safe and nurtured in our schools. Our promise of knowing every student by name, strength, and need means that every student feels respected and supported.

We want to partner with you, the families of our students, to help our students make sense of our current political climate. I am sharing some resources that may be helpful as you talk with your student.

I have confidence that our teachers and staff, along with our families, can help our students learn a valuable lesson from current events – that we are a stronger community and a stronger country when we are united by mutual respect and compassion.

– Susan

Susan Enfield
Superintendent

Resources:

• Teaching about Race, Racism & Police Violence: Resources for Educators and Parents  
• Teaching Tolerance  
• The Race Is On!  A parent’s guide to talking about the election