Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Welcome to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion page! 

DEI resides within the Human Resources department since it is our belief that efforts toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion are equally important for adults as they are for students. In order to support the district's vision and mission, it is imperative that every adult feels supported and valued, equipped with an equitable mindset so that students we are entrusted with do not encounter inequitable barriers as part of their educational experience. It has been a gratifying first year working in Hippo Nation with kind, open-minded, open-hearted leadership, board members, staff, teachers, students, families, and community members. I cannot wait to see what we can accomplish in the coming years! Love and gratitude to all. Together, we are united in excellence and in diversity. Let's continue to find ways to CONNECT, RELATE, ENGAGE with, and EMPOWER one another! 

DEI District Citizens Committee

As we proceed with this very collaborative and humanizing work of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the district, the DEI District Citizens Committee is tasked with meeting on a regular basis to provide feedback around progress on Goal 8 of the District Improvement Plan, which seeks to create a culture of equity and safety (belonging) in every district building and in every district classroom. We are grateful to the members of the DEI Committee and are excited about the potential for our students when adults come together in much-needed courageous conversations around belonging - not in spite of difference but because of difference. 

We welcome opportunities to engage with our Hippo Nation community. Please see what events are happening soon and join us!


Join us at our upcoming community events! Everyone is welcome! 


For more info on Stories at the Cottage, check out this flyer. You can use the links provided to sign up to be a storyteller or to RSVP for one of the four events. 

Our DEI Public Forums

The DEI District Citizens Committee hosts periodic public forums open to all of Hutto ISD and Hutto, Texas community members. The purpose of these public forums is to maintain open communication with our community at large so that we offer transparency in our work and provide avenues for feedback. We highly value these opportunities to come together and be in community with one another as we collaborate around diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. For the school year 23-24, we will host a fall and spring forum.

Fall Public Forum, November 8, 2023

Spring Public Fourm, April 10, 2023


Summer Public Forum, June 8, 2022: Agenda & Presentation

Fall Public Forum, September 28, 2022: Agenda & Presentation

Winter Public Forum, Feb 15, 2023: Agenda & Presentation

Spring Public Forum, April 19, 2023: Agenda & Presentation


Campus-Based Equity Committees

We are so proud of the following six schools who launched a Campus-Based Equity Committee (CBEC) during the spring of 2023.

Each committee is comprised of school leaders, school staff ranging from teachers to counselors to librarians, parents/guardians, and community members who care deeply about equity and belonging on their respective campus. It is an honor and a joy to spend time with the CBECs each month as we engage in courageous conversations to advance educational equity throughout the district. Thank you for your service, passion, and commitment to all children! 

As we move into the 23-24 school year, the six campuses will transition into CBEC 2.0 and will meet all together in the virtual space every other month. We believe this will maintain the momentum of the CBECs and support sustained learning and capacity-building among the rest of each school community. 

Moreover, we look forward to bringing the remaining campuses on board next spring 2024. 


“I hope we can reclaim conversation as our route back to each other, and as the path forward to a hopeful future. It only requires imagination and courage and faith. These are qualities possessed by everyone. Now is the time to exercise them to their fullest.”

― Margaret J. Wheatley, Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future

Not a Podcast, but a HODcast - Are you tuning in to our Spotify or FM Anchor channel?

First of all, what is a podcast? Basically it is an audio discussion about any topic that people can listen to over the Internet at any time of their choosing. Here in Hutto ISD, we launched Hodcasts to bring a unique and memorable name to our audio stories which will cover a variety of topics. The Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has created, in conjunction with our Communications department, what she calls HODcasts, which feature the perspectives of Hippos on Diversity. Given that the Director of DEI is a new role this year, it brings with it a lot of questions about what this means for anyone working in the district as a staff member or attending schools in the district as students and families. The HODcasts provide an opportunity for the larger community to hear conversations between Dr. Dong and various staff, students, and families about what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to them. Our hopes are that in uplifting the voices of our beautifully diverse staff, students, and families, we are able to engage with them in meaningful dialogue that inspires excellence in academics, character, and community. 


Please tune in to the 12 episodes of our first Perspective Series. Listeners will be able to learn more about the DEI vision for the district, but our ultimate goal is to foster connection, to increase understanding, and to build community throughout Hippo Nation so that we stay united in excellence and in diversity. More HODcasts to come in 23-24 in the Connect, Relate, Engage, Empower Series! Stay tuned! 

Link to Spotify channel

Thank you for your interest and support of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Hippo Nation. 

For questions, feel free to email Dr. Dong at thymai.dong@huttoisd.net

Plan the work, and work the plan: 

To access the SY23-24 District Improvement Plan, Goal 8, please click here

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is not a program, it is a way for us to learn, to reflect, and to grow in our journey of being equity-committed individuals so that every student and every adult is able to thrive and reach their full potential regardless of race, ethnicity, class, gender, ability, religion, language, or other social or cultural factor. In Hutto ISD, as we advance this collaborative and humanizing work together and united, it is important to have a logic model in place to help us understand how all the components of the work converge to create the impact we hope to see while also fostering alignment and accountability. That ultimate impact is our DEI vision and mission. 

DEI Vision:

Collaboration - Staying united in the diversity that surrounds us 

Commitment - Ensuring there is equity of access, learning, and success 

Interaction - Communicating in strength-based ways that promote inclusion, like one collective family 

DEI Mission:

To inspire and support excellence for every Hutto ISD student and adult by enabling equitable mindsets and disabling inequitable barriers. 

DEI Beliefs:  

DEI Equity Strides:

The current DEI strides are Academics, Student Belonging, Inclusive Workplace, Empowering Voice, Profound Learning. For more details comprising our logic model, please click here


The DEI District Equity Framework is being developed 

and will be posted to this webpage soon! 

Great news!

On July 27, 2023, our school board adopted AEA(LOCAL) which outlines the district commitment to educational equity as part of our educational philosophy. This is a huge milestone and we are grateful for leadership supportive of intentional DEI efforts. You may find AEA(LOCAL) in our online board policy manual.