Community and staff press Evergreen board after equity director departs; district to reconfigure role

Dr. Jamila Singleton, Evergreen Public Schools’ director of student equity and family engagement, is leaving the district and community members told the board on Sept. 23 they are worried equity work will be deprioritized.

Parents, teachers and nonprofit leaders urged the board to publicly acknowledge Singleton’s departure and to explain how the district will maintain the equity initiatives she led, saying her exit and recent staffing reductions have weakened supports for students of color and other historically marginalized groups.

Speakers said the equity office had built systems that raised student voice, supported teachers and produced targeted interventions; they described a pattern of equity staff departures and cuts to equity-specific roles since 2021. “I have never seen the level of dehumanization rise to such a community as it has over the past year,” Clarissa Hightower told the board. She asked whether equity remains a district focus and how the district will restore the decision-making power she says was removed from Singleton’s role.

Several speakers added…