DEI Hiring: Gorham School District

Gorham School District’s (ME) Diversity Hiring Practices state that it is “committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff.” The district strives to embed equity in its “practices through a commitment to high outcomes, excellence, and fairness for all.”

According to a document titled Diversity Hiring Toolkit, it is “designed to help mitigate gender, racial and other hidden biases in our recruitment and hiring processes as a district.” Under “General Guidelines For An Inclusive Hiring Process,” it states that committee members “need to be aware of the tendency to favor or downgrade candidates based on race, gender, sexual orientation, social class, geography, and perceived prestige.” It then offers an example: “if a committee is giving a white male candidate a pass (e.g., a gap in the résumé or frequent job changes), all other candidates should be cut the same slack.”

The toolkit also links to a list of sample DEI questions to use during the interview process. Questions include “Our school is committed to providing an inclusive environment for a wide range of students, families, and employees. What recent experiences have you participated in or led that have helped deepen your understanding around the nuances of diversity, equity, and inclusion?” and “How does your commitment to DEI show up in your personal and professional life?”