Springfield Public Schools has a new Chief Equity and Diversity Officer who will help the school district with its news goals surrounding equality.
Yvania Garcia-Pusateri will start in her new position with Springfield Public Schools on September 9th. She has most recently worked as executive director of multicultural programs at Missouri State University.
Stephen Hall, a spokesman for SPS, says the school board has placed extra resources on equity and diversity for this school year and the years to come—and that includes expanded training for staff, an equity advisory council, and this position.
“She will be leading strategic work across our district around equity and diversity and she will have full support from our entire system because this is a fundamental priority of ours,” said Hall.
Hall says while the district has tried several initiatives over the years to improve equity and diversity, SPS still knows there is more work to be done.
“It’s also why we know we need an executive leader that can help champion this work and also coordinate it as we move forward. And that’s what the Chief Equity and Diversity Officer will do,” Hall said.
Hall says Garcia-Pusateri will have the freedom and flexibility to develop the equity and diversity department at SPS. This will include talking to staff, students, parents, and community members.
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