Nate Rouse, the first director of equity, race and culture diversity initiatives for Barrington Area Unit District 220, recently discussed the district’s efforts to close “achievement gaps.” (John Starks | Staff Photographer, January 2021)
Barrington Area Unit School District 220 encourages all students to be successful, but the achievements haven’t always been equal among its diverse student body, the district’s new director of equity, race and cultural diversity initiatives told school board members this month.
“We have well-documented history of (success) and should be extremely proud of our accomplishments,” said Nate Rouse, who began in the newly created administrative post last fall. “At the same time, we have also been aware of the fact that we have not been as successful over the years with our students of color.”
The district has been working on methods to deal with those disparities, or “achievement gaps,” he said.
As he took up the initiative during the pandemic, Rouse was focused on equal relationships and more equitable outcomes for the students.
The work involves creating a more inclusive environment, Rouse said, with teachers using “culturally responsive teaching” to focus on individual students and what makes each unique.
In one class, the teacher chooses books from diverse authors that lead to discussions about cultures and historical topics that include immigration, Native Americans, the civil rights movement and Japanese internment camps.
Lessons focus on kindness and acceptance, while students learn ways to deal with situations in which something negative has been said or done, Rouse said.
Read more here.
Related: “District 220 expands equity initiatives”
On Saturday, Oct. 2 join us from 8am-Noon at Barrington High School for the Annual Andy Anderson Pancake Breakfast! Carry on the tradition of eating pancakes at Homecoming! Encourage your family and friends to join you. Sponsored by the Barrington Football Quarterback Club. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and children.
The BHS Homecoming Parade gets underway at 10am on Saturday, Oct. 2. All participants will leave from the METRA Station and march down Main Street to BHS. Alumni floats line up behind all the high school student entries, with the exception of the 50th Reunion Class which will take their place in the front of the parade. Alumni Floats must register with BHS. Call BHS at: 847-381-1400. The theme for the parade is ‘Around the World’.
From 11am to 4pm on Saturday, Oct. 2 join us at the annual BHSAA Tailgate Party for ALL alumni and friends. The tailgate will take place in the Chessie’s parking lot at 200 Applebee Street. A shuttle bus will be running from noon to 2pm from Chessie’s to Barrington Community Stadium.
The Homecoming football game will take place on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 1pm at Barrington Community Stadium. Come cheer on the Broncos as they take on Conant High School!
On Saturday, Oct. 2 alumni can stop by the Clair E. Smith Gallery at BHS to view the 9/11 exhibit, created by BHS alumnus Gary Suson. Suson served as the official FDNY Ground Zero photographer in the aftermath of the World Trade Center Attacks. In honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, he worked with the school district to bring his rare images and artifacts to BHS. The exhibit features 100 Images and artifacts along with BOSE audio stories narrating the history behind each display. It is a recreation of Suson’s 
