In April of 2021, the Auburn Adventist Academy Equity, Diversity and Accountability coalition created sub-committees for each of the categories of recommended improvements that were presented to and accepted in the fall of 2020.
Gesele Thomas, EDA chair said, "The role of the subcommittees is to compliment the EDA coalition, in assisting AAA with a strategy and a plan to implement the recommendations in each category of concern with the overall goal of improving equity, diversity, inclusion and accountability. Each sub-committee consists of a staff member from AAA, a community member and experts in their fields who can provide guidance on implementation. The background and experience of each member make them good candidates for the sub-committees they've agreed to serve on."
In June, AAA Board voted to approve the four subcommittees under the auspices of the EDA coalition. In addition, the coalition is in the final stage of being added to the school constitution as a standing committee that will give progress reports in relation to equity, diversity and accountability for the foreseeable future.
The subcommittees have already met a couple of times and are hard at work. Here are the teams:
Curriculum Goals:
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Dr. Columbus Candies, EDA member and subcommittee facilitator, Mt. Tahoma Church member in Tacoma, Washington
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Samuel Marcus Williams, AAA alumnus and Puget Sound Community School social studies, digital music and music production teacher in Seattle, Washington
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Dr. Uchenna Baker, Fairleigh Dickinson University vice president of student affairs and dean of students in Teaneck, New Jersey
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Lori Kissinger, AAA vice principal for academics and registrar in Auburn, Washington
Staffing Goals:
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Mimi Weithers-Bruce, EDA member and subcommittee facilitator, AAA parent, and Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists outreach ministries administrative assistant in Federal Way, Washington
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Dr. Pedrito Maynard-Reid, Walla Walla University assistant to the president for diversity and inclusion, Ombudsman, and biblical studies and missiology professor in College Place, Washington
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Joe Underhill, AAA vice principal for student life and history teacher in Auburn, Washington
Education and Training Goals:
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Melia Williams, EDA member and subcommittee facilitator, AAA vocal music and consumer science teacher in Auburn, Washington
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Sharon Hughes, Enumclaw School District speech-language pathologist in Enumclaw, Washington
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Tamala Newsome, retired school principal of Rosa Parks Elementary in Portland, Oregon
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Amanda Ramoutar, Walla Walla University assistant professor of education in College Place, Washington
Policy and Accountability Goals:
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Krystalynn Martin, EDA member and subcommittee facilitator, AAA vice principal for spiritual life, senior Bible teacher, and liaison for EDA coalition in Auburn, Washington
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Andre Wang, North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists general counsel and Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director in Ridgefield, Washington
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Gillian Russell, AAA parent and United States Department of Health and Human Services attorney advisor
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Karl Newsome, Portland Public Schools office of community engagement and assistant principal on special assignment in Portland, Oregon
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Cassandre Beccai, Walla Walla University equity, diversity and inclusion specialist and Title IX coordinator in College Place, Washington
The coalition and community is excited to see what God is going to continue to do at Auburn as we move forward in living out Micah 6:8. Stay tuned for upcoming details on the results of the EDA subcommittees.
