Riker Hill School Equity Team

How can I get involved?

If you are interested in learning more about and/or joining the Riker Hill Equity Team, please reach out to our Equity Coach, Christy Caruso (ccaruso@livingston.org), and Principal, Brooke Benavides (bbenavides@livingston.org).

What are the goals of the Riker Hill Equity Team this year?

The Equity teams continue to work with teachers to make instruction more responsive to diversity, and inclusive of various cultures. The teams also work to strategically implement professional development and school-based programming focused on diversity, anti-racism, and cultural inclusivity in teaching and learning in order to create a common language and set of expectations for the school community.

DISTRICT GOAL: Community and Culture - Engaging all stakeholders, especially students and their families and guardians, in educational programs is essential to creating a community of equity in our school district. Ensure just outcomes for each student, raise marginalized voices, and challenge imbalances of power and privilege. 

• Review School and District-Wide Equity Data

• District-Wide Equity Audit

• Community Survey from 10/26

• HIB Data from 2025-26 School Year

• Provide Educational Opportunities for Students, Staff, and Community Members to Increase Positive Student-Student and Student-Teacher Interactions around Culture and Equity

• Continue Curriculum, Assessment, and Instructional Audit beyond the Social Studies discipline

• Continue to use Talents of Faculty/Staff to facilitate our Equity Work

The Riker Hill Elementary School's Equity team supports the district goals and has individualized our work towards the achievement of these goals as indicated below:

1. Infuse elements of social justice in age appropriate ways, while providing continued PD for staff.

2. Support staff by helping them reflect as individuals to empower them to lead equity conversations and make connections in lessons. 

3. Engage the school community ensuring every voice is heard.

What is the Riker Hill Equity Team?

Livingston Public Schools’ Equity Goal seeks to improve the culture and community with LPS by enhancing inclusiveness, cultural awareness, anti-racism, and acceptance of individual differences through mandated curricular programming, extracurricular programming, and district operations. We are in the very early stages of our work and with each day we realize how much more we need to do in ensuring each of our students know they belong and are sure they are valued in our schools. 

In response to this goal, LPS created District and Building Equity Teams to put “equity into action” at every level across the school community through:

• Data analysis and planning
• Coaching educators on equity, anti-racism and inclusion in the classroom.
• Planning and facilitating community conversations

The Equity Teams continue to work with teachers to make instruction more responsive to diversity, and inclusive of various cultures. The teams also work to strategically implement professional development and school-based programming focused on diversity, anti-racism, and cultural inclusivity in teaching and learning in order to create a common language and set of expectations for the school community.