Portland School Board Chair Sarah Lentz delivered the district’s annual “State of the Schools” address to the Portland City Council on Monday, notably focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and placing “equity” above academic achievement.
“First Equity: it is not one priority among many. It is the foundation of everything that we do,” said Lentz.
Lentz began her address with a “land acknowledgment,” setting the tone for the speech to follow.
“We are operating in a national landscape where immigrants and asylees are targeted daily, where disabled students and LGBTQ+ youth face increasing hostility, where equity work is questioned, where funding for education and even basic necessities like food and heat is under threat,” she added.
She bragged about the school district’s continued focus on “equity and belonging,” noting that the Portland district is the most racially diverse in the state, with students speaking 61 languages. She highlighted Somali as one of the most common languages spoken after English.
“This diversity is our superpower. It enriches learning, it builds empathy,” said Lentz.
She vowed that, as the Trump Administration focuses on enforcing immigration law, all staff will receive training to “support students” in the face of immigration enforcement, though she did not clarify what that support will entail, or if it will involve active resistance against law enforcement.
“In the months ahead, all staff will receive training and active bystander intervention and de-escalation, ensuring that we are fully prepared to support students and colleagues in the face of potential federal immigration actions or other safety concerns,” said Lentz.
Lentz showed the council a promotional video about the district’s five-year roadmap, which conspicuously placed equity at the center of all its plans, above even academic achievement.
She celebrated the district’s new 2025 initiative that put halal food on the menu at every school meal to allow Muslim students to comply with religious dietary restrictions.
She also claimed that math and reading scores have increased throughout the district “at every level” in the past year.
Lentz’s bio on the school district’s website highlights her focus on “social justice.”
“Outside of work, you’ll find Sarah close to the ocean, consuming all things related to social justice, meditating, creating art, adventuring with her son, and seeking deep human connection—preferably alongside food made with love,” says the bio.
