Meet the BRIDGE-RI Equity Review Team 

The Equity Review is a series of opportunities to dig into a BRIDGE-RI courses on MTSS and reflect on: equity implications and potential improvements for a stronger equity lens. The Equity Review Team provides valuable collaboration and feedback around courses with an equity lens to inform continual improvement. 


  • Dena Núñez, Assistant Principal
  • Becky Coustan, Director of Learning & Teaching, K-12 
  • Oscar Perez, Assistant Principal
  • Heidi Batista, Assistant Principal
  • Nancy Ceseretti, Literacy Educator

Schools and districts are a microcosm of the greater society; therefore, they have a history of deeply rooted system of biases and structural inequities (reflective of our nation’s) in favor of the dominant culture and status quo.
We define culture as (and therefore look for equity regarding) “the multiple components of one’s identity, including but not limited to race, economic background, gender, language, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, and ability.
We want to shift from treating culture (race, economic background, gender, language, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, and ability) as an obstacle to overcome or a deficit, to a strengths-based approach, in which it is seen as an asset: 

  • Welcoming and affirming environment - safe spaces where students and educators can find themselves represented and where all cultural identities are treated with respect.

  • High expectations and rigorous instruction - opportunity to engage with rigorous and appropriately challenging instruction. Communities that foster high expectations empower its members to succeed.

  • Inclusive curriculum and assessment - include all students in learning about a variety of perspectives and how to be agents of change in today's world.

  • Ongoing professional learning - teaching is rooted in and reflective of students' lives and day-to-day realities.

Last modified: Tuesday, January 31, 2023, 10:10 AM