BSD’s Office of Equity provides leadership around all issues of equity, including the implementation of Restorative Practices, Anti-Racist and Culturally Responsive Education, HHB prevention and compliance, and safety.
Meet the Office of Equity:
Autumn Bangoura (she/her), Equity Instructional Leader
![Photo of Autumn](https://www.bsdvt.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Autumn-Headshot.jpg)
Autumn started her career at BSD as a Spanish teacher in 2009, and is still affectionately known as Señora Bangoura by the community. She transitioned into classroom teaching at the Integrated Arts Academy and became dedicated to weaving Social Justice themes into every part of the curriculum. After serving on BSD’s District Equity Council for many years she moved into this District role in the fall of 2019 in order to influence more systemic change. Equity instructional leadership involves student facing classroom-based coaching, curriculum writing and development, leading professional development, and consulting with District teams. In 2021, Autumn started the Summer Racial Justice Academy to empower middle and high school youth to take on leadership and create positive change at BSD. Email Autumn
Teresa Giallorenzo (she/her), Hazing, Harassment and Bullying (HHB) Coordinator
![Photo of Teresa](https://www.bsdvt.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Teresa-Headshot-768x1024.jpeg)
Teresa Giallorenzo has worked in various roles in the Burlington School District starting in 2009 and as a resident and parent in Burlington she is proud to be a part of the Burlington School District and a member of the Office of Equity Team. Teresa has worked as a paraeducator, Administrative Assistant, lead Administrative Assistant, data team member, and registrar, and has now moved into the role of District Coordinator of Hazing, Harassment, and Bullying reporting, Title IX reporting, and the District Safety Lead. This role aligns to her beliefs that we need to ensure every student’s safety and feeling of belonging so they can come to school and engage in learning. Email Teresa
Mika Moore (she/her), Restorative Practices District Coordinator
![Photo of Mika](https://www.bsdvt.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mika-headshot-768x1024.jpg)
Dr. Mika Moore is the Restorative Practices Coordinator in Burlington School District. Prior to this role, Mika was a lecturer at UVM where her teaching and research focused on issues of educational equity and access for underserved groups. She was formerly a middle school special educator in San Francisco Unified School District and also served there as a department head and MTSS (Multi-tiered Systems of Support)coordinator. Mika is passionate about bringing a restorative approach to all aspects of our work in BSD. Her role is focused on the implementation and use of restorative practices District-wide, which encompasses teacher training and support, facilitation of District-level RP teams, RP systems and strategy planning, and ensuring RP is used as one way to dismantle white supremacy culture and furthering our anti-racism work in the District. Email Mika
Sparks, (he/him) Director of Equity and Safe & Inclusive Schools
![Photo of Sparks](https://www.bsdvt.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/henri-sparks.jpg)
Sparks oversees all of BSD’s anti-bullying and harassment work and supervises the Office of Equity. He offers a wealth of institutional knowledge and was instrumental in the co-leadership and facilitation of the BSD Equity Council and DEALT (District Equity Access and Leadership Team). He facilitated the roll-out and implementation of Restorative Practices for the entire District and guided professional development in the form of Equity Conversations for all BSD staff. Sparks serves on the District Leadership Team. Email Sparks
Timothy Verstandig (he/him), Administrative Coordinator
![Photo of Tim](https://www.bsdvt.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tim-Headshot.png)
Tim, originally from the Albany, New York area, has spent the last eight years in Plattsburgh, New York working as paralegal / legal assistant while also studying Political Science and History at SUNY Plattsburgh. Tim was the Secretary of the Plattsburgh City Democratic Committee from 2021 to 2024, helping to grow the committee to what it is today. He is new to the Burlington School District family and is eager to make a difference by helping the Office of Equity make an indelible impact on the community. Email Tim
TEAMS:
Restorative Practices Collaborative The RP Collaborative is a group of BSD professionals dedicated to narrowing the achievement gap for students and improving the culture within the District for students, teachers, and faculty through the use of intentional community and relationship-building restorative practices. The RP Collaborative provides the training, tools, support, and learning community required to produce meaningful outcomes related to improving students’ sense of belonging and success is school life, reducing out-of-school suspensions, and reducing absenteeism.
Restorative Practices Evaluation Team In partnership with the University of Vermont, the Evaluation Team guides process and outcome evaluation of the District’s RP work and assesses the fidelity of RP implementation. The Evaluation Team assists to implement an annual, District-wide survey, analyzes data at District and school levels, executes a timely return of data in accessible formats to school and community partners to inform RP training and implementation.
Youth and Family Engagement Team With support from Up for Learning who has partnered with BSD to build youth-adult partnership capacity, this team was founded as a team of action supported by a DCF grant that aims to reduce ethnic and racial disparities in suspensions and disciplinary practices at BSD. Made up of middle and high school youth, parents, school board commissioners and BSD staff, the team empowers all members of the community, especially the most vulnerable, and builds the capacity of students to participate as equal members of teams and committees with adults.
TASKFORCES:
School Safety Taskforce formed in fall of 2020 to examine the role of School Resource Officers (SROs) and to develop recommendations to further the District’s policy goals in implementing all elements of restorative practices. Read more about the specific tasks and recommendations in the Safety Task Force Final Report.
LGBTQ+ Taskforce formed in January 2022 a group of community members, BSD staff, students and parents met to investigate how BSD is gender and sexuality affirming and made recommendations for improvement. Read more about the recommendations in the final LGBTQ+ Task Force report.
‘Just be yourself:’ Burlington School District names LGBTQ+ Task Force | Local 22/44 News
New task force hopes to make Burlington schools more equitable for LGBTQ+ students
Burlington School District launches community-led LGBTQ+ task force – VTDigger