“We’re using classroom strategies that integrate cultural backgrounds and honor the rich tapestry of American history and include all races and creeds that have played a part in that history.” —Amie Carter, superintendent of schools, Sonoma County
Carter says Sonoma County schools don’t really experience a lot of pressure from the community around its efforts to have welcoming and inclusive schools, but notes that “there are scopes of work that are relevant to our work with schools that have sort of ended up in this anti-DEI bucket.” Among them, she says, are migrant education, work for English language learners and targeted support of students who have unique needs. “And that is difficult to navigate.”
places that they could spend their careers,” she says. “And they want to see inclusive work environments.” According to Persike, more than 50% of the workforce in California’s public water agencies will be retiring by 2030—in just five short years. “We’ve got to get ready for the next generation because they’re here, not just in the water industry but really in every industry,” she concludes.
Play, or no pay As part of its effort to end DEI programs, the federal government is holding back and/or rescinding funding for a plethora of programs that impact not only companies, but state and local governments and educational institutions at all levels. In February, the Department of Education, which the Trump Administration is trying to eliminate, issued a letter instructing schools and colleges to end race-specific programs by March 1 or risk losing federal funding. Local school officials in both Napa and Sonoma counties said the directive lacked legal weight and stuck to their guns in reaffirming DEI in their schools. More recently, the Trump Administration temporarily held back other education funds that were approved under a continuing
The Sonoma County Office of Education is mandated to provide safe and welcoming schools to all students and families.
Carter describes “a cultural mismatch of how we’re experiencing some of this anti-DEI effort that seems off book from our purpose and what we’re constituted to do—which is to provide a rich learning experience for every child that walks in our door.” For example, the Sonoma County Office of Education must make sure its schools are safe and welcoming to all students and families, “and that we address things that drive bullying or marginalization on our campuses,” Carter says. “So we partner with the Human Rights Campaign to engage in a welcoming schools initiative, and this really focuses on the bullying that takes place, particularly for LGBTQ+ students.” She says research shows that when the district focuses on that, all bullying goes down. “The lessons we’ve learned there, in turn, apply to other bullying instances and it offers strategies to interrupt bias-based speech and behaviors, including racism and misogyny. So that’s been a valuable initiative we’ve been engaged in.
resolution in March, finally releasing them in July. That said, most of the money that funds the California education system comes from the state, not the feds. “DEI is a term that’s really become too loaded,” says Amie Carter, Sonoma County superintendent of schools. “It really loses sight of what diversity, equity and inclusion means for our schools. When it comes to education, our focus is creating classrooms and campuses where everyone feels like they’re welcome, everyone feels included and no one feels marginalized. In a nutshell, that’s what DEI means in education. When it’s presented that way, even people of different political views are supportive of that effort.” Carter says Sonoma County will never back away from “welcoming schools and integrative and inclusive environments.” “There’s just too much research and support that shows that those are the kind of environments that you want to create for children,” she says.
November 2025
NorthBaybiz 25
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