Introduction
The Ontario School Boards Human Rights & Equity Leaders Network Committee (“HREL Network”) was established in January 2018 with an inaugural Roundtable Meeting hosted at the York Region District School Board (YRDSB).
Our Mandate
Human Rights, equity, diversity and inclusion describes an approach to interactions and relationships that value difference where individuals are treated fairly, with dignity and respect within a teaching and learning culture that is free from discrimination and harassment. As human rights and diversity practitioners within Ontario school boards, we are committed to diverse and inclusive organizational culture. We believe that this is critical to advancing educational equity and making human rights principles central to a strong public education system. The HREL Network believes that though collaboration and partnership, we can be effective leaders within our respective Boards in embedding a strong human rights culture that is student-centred and driven by principles of equity.
Our Commitment
We are committed to accept the weight of responsibility that our roles entail in ensuring that education provides the critical social vehicle for transforming lives. We are equally committed to recognizing the myriad of ways is which education allows us to explore new ways of seeing the world, build new horizons and networks, and to significantly enhanced job opportunities. However, not everyone benefits in the same way. Discrimination and harassment issues, marginalization, accessibility concerns and systemic barriers demand that we work collaboratively to tackle issues of common concern to call School Boards in Ontario. Therefore, we are committed to working together on common concerns by exploring innovative research, conducting systems reviews and sharing best practices that are vital toward advancing education equity.
Terms of Reference
Our membership is open to anyone involved in human rights and equity work within School Boards in Ontario. Our Term of Reference sets our current composition.
Members
The following four (4) school boards currently comprise theOntario School Boards Human Rights & Equity Leaders Network Committee(“HREL Network”):
- YorkRegion District School Board (YRDSB)
- Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
- Peel District School Board (PDSB)
- Durham District School Board (DDSB)
Meeting Dates
- January 31, 2018
- February 23, 2018
- April 6, 2018
- May 25, 2018
- June 22, 2018