Celebrating Inclusive Schools Week: Q&A with Benjamin Banneker Middle School

December 8–12 is Inclusive Schools Week. During this week, we celebrate the schools, educators, students and families who work every day to ensure that all students feel welcomed, supported and valued. Inclusive Schools Week highlights the importance of creating learning environments where every student has the opportunities and access needed to thrive.

To mark the week, several schools participated in a short Q&A about what inclusion looks like on their campuses. Each school responded to the same set of questions, offering a glimpse into the practices, partnerships and commitments that help foster belonging and strengthen their school communities.

What does an inclusive school community look or feel like at your building?

At Banneker Middle School, inclusion feels like family. When you walk into our building, you feel the warmth in the way students greet each other, the way teachers check in with kids and how everyone knows they belong here. It is a place where students’ identities are honored, where differences are embraced and where each person is valued for who they truly are. You can feel it in the classrooms, the hallways, and even the cafeteria: every student deserves a seat at the table.

What makes Banneker special is that inclusion isn’t an initiative for us. It’s part of our identity. We’re always learning and evolving, but the heart of our work remains the same: every student deserves to feel loved, supported and affirmed. And every day, we move closer to that vision.

What inclusive practices or programs are you most proud of?

We are most proud of the intentional work our staff puts into co-teaching and collaboration. Watching teachers support each other so that every student gets what they need is powerful. We’re also proud of the restorative circles that allow students to share their stories, rebuild relationships and feel heard. Our mentoring and student support programs continue to grow, and they truly reflect our commitment to the whole child. 

What is one thing your school does consistently to make all students feel welcome?

Every day, we make sure students know they matter. Whether it’s greeting them at the door, taking a moment to ask how they're feeling or celebrating their successes big and small via honor roll and straight-A breakfasts, we work to ensure students feel seen. That human connection is the foundation of everything we do, and students know that the adults here genuinely care about them.

How do you involve families, staff or students in your inclusion efforts?

Families are partners in this work, so we make sure they have a voice. We reach out in multiple languages, we invite them into the building, and we listen to their perspectives. Staff engage in continuous learning about equity and culturally responsive practices because inclusion requires all of us to grow. Our students are at the center of it all. They lead, they share, they advocate, and they help shape the environment we’re building together. We hosted Donuts for Dads and Muffins for Moms during the first quarter and plan to host it again in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter.