In the realm of reaching out to students from traditionally underserved groups, ACSA’s Valuing Diversity Award recipient Nia Rashidchi, assistant superintendent with West Contra Costa USD, stands out for her complete devotion to finding ways to help these children.

As one nominator put it, “Nia possesses an unrelenting commitment to educational equity and high achievement, particularly for historically underserved students, families and communities.”

Rashidchi has ensured that an awareness and focus on equity exists in all district schools and in the central office. She’s created a framework and support system that allows teachers and administrators to think creatively and take risks in the implementation of programs designed to foster high achievement from all students.

She’s achieved this in part by the development of Equity Teams at each school site and the use of an equity rubric to monitor progress toward becoming fully culturally responsive. Results are clear in a significant drop in suspensions and five of the district’s Title 1 schools jumping above 750 on the API, and continuing to climb.

Rashidchi felt compelled to devote her efforts toward working in diversity when she saw a local, state and national trend of students who were being underserved. In examining the data, WCCUSD saw stark evidence of an achievement gap between African American and Latino students and their Caucasian and Asian peers.

“After reviewing data of other districts both inside and outside of California, I also found that across the nation there were similar patterns,” Rashidchi said. “During the same time period I asked myself, ‘Would it be okay for my daughter to be one of the students who fell within this failing trend?’ The answer, of course, was a resounding ‘No!’

“As a district, we decided to work on changing the conversation, actions and behaviors so we could positively impact the academic achievement of our students. It is a constant work in progress, and I am dedicated to moving all WCCUSD students to high levels of achievement so they have academic and lifelong success.”

Rashidchi said her main goal is to always maintain the central focus on finding ways to meet the needs of students. That frames the district responses to such challenges as limited resources and time, new legislation with multiple purse strings, declining enrollment and more.

“Decisions are made at national and state levels that impact local districts,” Rashidchi said. “Sometimes the impact is positive, and sometimes the impact is negative.  Many times, districts must independently determine how to implement a variety of programs, laws and mandates with limited resources that continue to dwindle. Oftentimes districts must try to figure out how to make rules really work to the advantage of kids. 

“We must keep our students in mind at all times. I try to do this by constantly asking myself and others: ‘Is this good for students and how do we know?’; ‘How do we make it work for students?’; ‘How do we get students more involved and engaged?’ and ‘How do we ensure that students feel validated and affirmed?’ Answering these questions honestly helps to keep us all very student-centered.”

Rashidchi said the payoff for all her hard work comes when she sees students engaged in their own learning and success; certificated and classified staff and principals loving what they do because they are effective, persistent and passionate about ensuring student success, and empowered parents being true partners and advocates in the educational system.

“If this is all happening at highly effective levels, then perhaps I am doing my job well, and that makes me feel good,” she said. “But the work is never done, and we continue to strive for excellence.”

Rashidchi said she believes under-represented students can reach their potential as long as educators believe that all students can achieve at high levels; hold high expectations for students and the adults who serve them; explicitly and frequently communicate those expectations; demand rigor in every classroom, and then take continuous action to ensure success.