Platteville School District educators, Mrs. Jessica Brogley and Mrs. Emily Zachary, along with the Platteville High School Diverse Student Alliance (DSA) have recently been selected as the recipients of a Grants In Place Fellow Award from the Rural Schools Collaborative from their project titled “Celebrating Rural Diversity: Place Based Learning in the Driftless Region”.
Jessica Brogley, Emily Zachary and the Platteville DSA group challenged the misconception that rural schools lack diversity and actively promote inclusivity and cultural awareness among all students. Since the DSA’s creation in 2021, the group has drastically grown in numbers to its current roster of 98 students which is roughly 20% of Platteville High School’s current student population.
“The Diverse Student Alliance is so excited to be chosen by the Rural Schools Collaborative for this project,” says Platteville School District Inclusion Advocate and High School DSA Advisor, Emily Zachary. “We believe this grant will allow us to show our commitment to celebrating the rich tapestry of our rural community. We want to continue to empower students to champion diversity through education and fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for our unique region.”
The Platteville High School DSA members are active in the school district and Platteville community alike. They create and host events such as book talks, activities and celebrations for all local cultures and empower younger generations to bask in the diversity that is around them.
The group also recently partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s office of Multicultural Student Affairs and actively participate in student panel discussions and outreach events at the collegiate level. The Grants In Place Award will assist in funding additional opportunities for professional development, expand their initiatives to better connect students to their local communities and recognize the important role that diversity and inclusion has in education.