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Hartford School District

Equity and Inclusion Home

A group of students lining up for a PRIDE parade, some wearing PRIDE flags around their shoulders and a rainbow flag waving in the background.

Pride Parade

With students and staff from all grade levels, the annual pride parade celebrates the LGBTQ+ community by fostering visibility and community, honoring the history of the movement, and advocating for continued equality and rights.

A group of students sitting around a large table, eating lunch.

BIPOC Affinity Group

Affinity groups play a vital role in ensuring an inclusive environment where all are valued, included, and empowered to succeed.

A group of students sitting around a large table, eating lunch.

BIPOC Affinity Group

Sharing meals fosters social bonds, increases happiness, and provides a sense of belonging. Food introduces people to other cultures and traditions, acting as a bridge between different communities and promoting understanding and representation.

Twelve people in a row, posing for a photo, with trees in the background.

2026/27 District Equity Committee

Members of the 2026/27 District Equity Committee!

A large group of people in front of a building.

Hartford Pride 2026

Members of the Elementary Schools' Rainbow Clubs celebrated PRIDE at the HACTC with members of the HMMS Pride and HHS SAGA and QAG clubs!

A group of students posing in front of a yellow building with a sign in the background saying "You are the sun"

HHS/HMMS Free to Be Youth Day

Members of the HMMS/HHS BIPOC affinity groups participated in VT Educator of Color Association's Free to Be Youth Day - a statewide event creating a BIPOC-centered space providing opportunities for connection, healing and joy.

A group of students lining up for a PRIDE parade, some wearing PRIDE flags around their shoulders and a rainbow flag waving in the background.

Pride Parade

With students and staff from all grade levels, the annual pride parade celebrates the LGBTQ+ community by fostering visibility and community, honoring the history of the movement, and advocating for continued equality and rights.

A group of students sitting around a large table, eating lunch.

BIPOC Affinity Group

Affinity groups play a vital role in ensuring an inclusive environment where all are valued, included, and empowered to succeed.

A group of students sitting around a large table, eating lunch.

BIPOC Affinity Group

Sharing meals fosters social bonds, increases happiness, and provides a sense of belonging. Food introduces people to other cultures and traditions, acting as a bridge between different communities and promoting understanding and representation.

Twelve people in a row, posing for a photo, with trees in the background.

2026/27 District Equity Committee

Members of the 2026/27 District Equity Committee!

A large group of people in front of a building.

Hartford Pride 2026

Members of the Elementary Schools' Rainbow Clubs celebrated PRIDE at the HACTC with members of the HMMS Pride and HHS SAGA and QAG clubs!

A group of students posing in front of a yellow building with a sign in the background saying "You are the sun"

HHS/HMMS Free to Be Youth Day

Members of the HMMS/HHS BIPOC affinity groups participated in VT Educator of Color Association's Free to Be Youth Day - a statewide event creating a BIPOC-centered space providing opportunities for connection, healing and joy.

Statements & Policies

  • The Hartford School District values neurodiversity as a natural and vital part of human diversity and that honoring neurological differences is essential to building an inclusive community. We affirm the inherent value and dignity of neurodivergent individuals and are committed to creating learning environments where we uphold each person’s authenticity, cultivate belonging, and promote agency by confronting ableism and ensuring neurodivergent students, staff, and community members are recognized, included, and supported.

  • ​​​​​​​“The School District of the Town of Hartford rejects all forms of racism. Racism in any form will not be tolerated in this school. Hartford Schools are committed to the mission of increasing cultural respect by cultivating greater understanding of concepts of diversity, inclusion, equity, implicit bias, white privilege, white supremacy, and systemic racism.” 

  • "The Hartford School District is committed to providing a safe, orderly, civil, and positive learning environment for all students and staff, regardless of perceived or actual gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, and/or sexual orientation. It is the position of the Hartford School District that transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals deserve the same inclusion and acknowledgement that cisgender individuals receive."

  • In an effort to build community and belonging, the HSD has multiple affinity groups in each of its school buildings. An affinity group is a group of people linked by a common purpose, identity, or interest. Affinity Groups play a vital role in ensuring an inclusive environment where all are valued, included, and empowered to succeed. They are never used to promote hate speech, discriminatory behavior, exclusion, or hostility. We offer and/or are creating affinity groups for students of the BIPOC/global majority/multicultural community, LGBTQ+ and their allies, boys/men, and neurodiverse learners.

Newsletters

Juneteenth Celebration Video featuring Anabella Fiorelli, HHS student and member of the District Equity Committee.

Resources

Videos

Local News

Websites

Podcasts

Documents

Staff Resources

Get Involved!

Student Affinity Groups

Student affinity groups meet regularly at their schools.

  • BIPOC/Multicultural: for students who identify as a member of the Global Majority (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color, Latinx, Hispanic, biracial and multiracial students)
  • LGBTQ+/PRIDE: for students who identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.
  • NeuroDivergent: for students who self-identify as a member of the neurodivergent community.
  • Boys/Mens and Girls/Womens: for students who are looking to build community by breaking down gender stereotypes
     

Group & Meeting Details

Curiosity Corner

Curiosity Corner is a weekly opportunity for adults/caregivers to learn more about important policies, such as the gender inclusivity and anti-racism policies, that guide the district and its commitments. The goal of Curiosity Corner is to give you a chance to learn alongside your student(s), hear personal stories and lived experiences, stretch your comfort zone, and practice understanding and compassion. Together, we believe we can ensure a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all.

 

Curiosity Corner Newsletter

Community Events

A felt light pink, pale blue, and white butterfly with black edges balances on the back of a hand, with the logos for Lebanon Public Libraries, NH Outright, and the Cobra Lily Collective around it.  

 

Upper Valley Outright

A drop-in peer support group for trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming youth (ages 13-18) Every Third Tuesday of the month 6:00-7:30pm Kilton Library.

A digital calendar page for October 2026, decorated with falling autumn leaves. 

DACC

DACC is a group of Dartmouth College students who wish to make connections in the area, helping children of color through mentorship and community. To learn more about these events, sign up for the the DACC listserv.

A promotional poster for an event featuring legal scholar Kimberlundefined Crenshaw, author of 'BACKTALKER', at Dartmouth College.

Kimberlé Crenshaw discusses her New York Times bestselling memoir, Backtalker, with Dr. Bria Paige, Thurgood Marshall Fellow in African and African American Studies
Monday, October 5, 2026, 3:30 p.m.
Dartmouth College- Filene Auditorium, Moore Hall

A flyer for a Smores Making Playdate hosted by the Dartmouth Alliance for Children of Color, featuring illustrations of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate on a brown background.

S'mores Making Playdate
Friday, October 9, 5-6PM
Dartmouth College: Shabazz Mural Room/Collis Common Ground
Cozy fall playdate featuring s'mores making! It's a great opportunity to spend time together and enjoy a treat.

A promotional flyer for the Educator of Color Retreat, featuring a photo of people in a meeting room and event details for October 9-11, 2026.

Educators of Color Retreat
Hosted by the Vermont Educators of Color Association – A grassroots group working to build relationships and make change for educators of color in Vermont. While many of us are k-12 educators, we welcome educators in any setting from early education, to after school, to higher education, please join us to heal and connect! This retreat is only for self-identified educators of color! 

A promotional poster for the film "Forgotten Founder: The Untold Story of Samson Occom and Dartmouth," featuring a man in period attire writing.

Forgotten Founder: The Untold Story of Samson Occom and Dartmouth
Film Runtime: 28min. Discussion follows both screenings.
Friday, October 16 (7:00pm) or Saturday, October 17 (1:00pm)
Dartmouth's Loew Theater 
This half-hour documentary was made in full collaboration between the Mohegan Tribe and Dartmouth, and film team members from both Mohegan and Dartmouth will be at the screenings.
Watch the trailer here!
And here's a link to get FREE tickets to the show.

A promotional flyer for UP Learning's Monthly Racial Justice Dialogues, featuring five diverse participants on a video call and text details.

Racial Justice Dialogues
All are welcome. All voices matter. Join a powerful series of conversations led entirely by youth from across the U.S. — changemakers who are passionate about restorative justice, equitable education, and amplifying youth voices. Register Now

Equity Coordinator

Key Definitions

Julia Lau

Coach and Facilitator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 802-295-8600 x1099 [Email]