What is Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) at Lafayette?
Diversity means welcoming and valuing families from all backgrounds, cultures, identities, and life experiences. It recognizes that families can look different from the images we often see in media, and that representation of many cultures, languages, family structures, and experiences strengthens our school community.
Equity means ensuring that all students have fair access to the same high-quality education and the support they need to thrive. Equity goes beyond treating everyone the same. It means actively working to remove barriers that may affect a child’s opportunity to succeed, such as housing instability, hunger, clothing needs, childcare challenges, or language access.
Inclusion means that decisions made by Lafayette PTA for the benefit of our students are shaped by actively inviting and valuing the perspectives of families from different backgrounds, especially those whose voices have historically been underrepresented. Our goal is to create a community where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and empowered to participate.
Lafayette PTA does not exist in isolation. We are part of the broader West Seattle community, and our school is more than a place for learning — it is also a community center where families connect, support one another, and help every child feel seen and valued.
Community Resources
Below are local resources that support families in our community:
Immediate Needs & Family Support
Parenting, Education & Counseling
Legal Support
Food & Grocery Resources
Looking to contribute to your child’s class?
Click here to find a teacher or staff member’s Wishlist to directly fill the needs of the class.
Anti-bias Resolution
Unconscious bias exists within each and every one of us. In 2020-21 Lafayette voted to adopt an Anti-bias Resolution. We hope to help recognize our unconscious bias, bring awareness to it and utilize that awareness to foster an inclusive environment for all our students, teachers, staff, volunteers, and community members at Lafayette Elementary.
We recognize that each community member may have different needs in order to find success at Lafayette. We welcome all races, religions, ethnicities, countries of origin, gender identities, orientations, abilities, disabilities, and spoken languages. We welcome EVERYONE. We strive to:
Build community through fun, informative, inclusive, welcoming events and meet-ups.
Bridge gaps between the school, the PTA, and families around issues pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Listen to families.
Invite inclusion.
Work with staff to evaluate practices and review materials.
Create a community board to share resources and events.
Connect with similar programs in other buildings to share ideas and build a larger community.
Provide opportunities for discussion and learning.
Share educational materials.
Help achieve equitable access to our services, programs, information and community events.
West Seattle Public School Equity Fund
The Lafayette PTA has committed to shifting a portion of our donations to the nonprofit, West Seattle Public School Equity Fund. The amount shifted is voted on by the members each year at the PTA General Budget Meeting in Spring.
“The West Seattle Public School Equity Fund operates simply: a portion of the PTA budgets from well resourced public elementary (and K8) West Seattle schools is contributed to a shared fund, which is managed by parent and/or staff advisors from each of the participating schools. The funds are then distributed annually to historically under resourced public elementary (and K8) West Seattle schools.”
Special Education Family Support Network
The Special Education Family Support Network is a volunteer school-based family support program made up of parents within our school with children in our Special Education program. Our Special Education PTA Parent Liaison will provide a 'parent-oriented' point of connection between schools, district, and PTA. Within the Lafayette community their overall role is to help support families, students, and staff within the special education program at Lafayette Elementary to create best outcomes for students. Email the SpEd Parent Liaison to find out more!
This year we hope to:
Build community by organizing gatherings for SPED families to connect with others
Create awareness around special education and the benefits of inclusion
Establish a line of communication where families can share resources
Help families connect with resources or personnel to address the needs of their students
SpEd Resources
Snow Route Request for SPS Door-to-Door Service
Contact the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Chair
Our PTA DEI Chair works to build awareness, share resources, listen to families, and strengthen inclusion across our school community.
We deeply value your ideas, concerns, and input. Email the DEI Chair anytime - dei@lafayettepta.com
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