Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion statement

The vision of the Waynesville R-VI School District is to excel as a student-centered community of learners that embraces diversity, collaboration, and innovation. To support this vision and embrace the unique diversity of our student body, our schools promote respect, understanding, and appreciation of diversity through programming that emphasizes inclusion and equitable classrooms for all students.

The Waynesville School District values that children are increasingly diverse, with differences that may include race, ethnicity, language spoken at home, religion, disability and special health care need, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other attributes.

Belonging: Belonging is a sense of fitting in or feeling that you are an important member of a group. A feeling of belonging describes this sense of truly fitting or meshing, especially with friends, family members, or other community members.

Equitable Classrooms: Equity is not to be confused with equality. Equality means you treat all students the same. However, a good teacher understands that different students have different needs and learning styles. Instead of treating all students equally, an equitable classroom offers each student what they need to succeed and excel.

Waynesville School District trains all teachers on how to set up equitable classrooms across the district. Waynesville School District also teaches diversity, equity, and inclusion through the 7 Habits of Leader in Me to help build inclusive and equitable classrooms.

2024-25 Diversity Events 

Fall Tiger Festival of Nations - Open to the public:

  • Friday, September 13, 2024

  • 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

  • Waynesville High School (9th Grade Center door)

  • Free admission

Spring Tiger Festival of Nations - Open to the public:

  • Friday, April 15, 2025

  • 5 p.m. -6 p.m.

  • Waynesville High School (9th Grade Center door)

  • Free admission

CSIP Goals for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion through 2025

The Waynesville R-VI School District's Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) was developed with input from students, parents, community members, teachers, staff, and administrators. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals through 2025 are as follows:

•Maintain district diversity teams to create and inform district diversity activities

•Student diversity teams will be established in each building to create and inform  building activities

•Equitable classroom training will be implemented in each school

•Continue ongoing diversity training of district personnel and develop a set of  foundational statements to explain diversity training initiative based on district core values, vision, and mission