January 27, 2025

Evanston Township High School is closely monitoring recent changes in federal policy that may directly impact our school and our broader community. These new directives have introduced more questions than answers, and their immediate implications are uncertain. Our administration is actively assessing these developments to determine their potential effects on our district while awaiting further guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education. As we navigate this shifting landscape, our highest priority—now and always—remains the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff, and families.

Federal stances and policies may continue to evolve, but ETHS remains firmly grounded in our core values as both an institution and a community. We are committed to our ongoing work to create safer, more inclusive spaces for all of our students. Still, we recognize that these policy shifts have generated fear and uncertainty. Let me be clear: At ETHS, we will not allow our students’ identities or their very existence to be erased; their rights and dignity are not up for debate. We fully embrace our fundamental responsibility to protect and support every student, no matter their background, identity, or circumstances.

ETHS is and will continue to be a welcoming, inclusive, and affirming school for all. This imperfect work remains ongoing. This includes our LGBTQ+ students and staff, who are facing harmful rhetoric and policies that limit their rights and recognition. It includes students and staff from immigrant families who may be experiencing uncertainty about their future. It includes students and staff with disabilities, who are concerned about how potential cuts to federal education funding could impact access to vital services. It also includes our Black students, whose identities and lived experiences have been marginalized or diminished in broader conversations around equity. It includes any student who may feel vulnerable or uncertain as a result of these changes in federal policy.

We recognize that belonging is fundamental to learning. ETHS is proud to have some of the most dedicated educators and staff when it comes to fostering inclusion and supporting students. Our collective efforts to advance measures that protect vulnerable youth, promote acceptance, and create supportive learning environments are essential to ensuring every student feels valued and empowered to succeed.

To our students: you belong here. We see you, we value you, and we support you—just as you are.

The district’s nondiscrimination policy, in line with the Illinois Human Rights Act, provides students and employees protection from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity, among other categories. For students seeking support or community, we encourage you to access the following school resources:

• For mental health support, contact your counselor, social worker, or psychologist.

• To connect with identity-based affinity groups and student spaces at ETHS, contact our Equity Office (located in The Hub), which is dedicated to supporting all students.

• To report incidents of discrimination or bullying, please notify the Deans’ Office or submit this form.

We are many members of one community; we share in moments of joy, support one another through challenges, and grow together in ways that shape our lives far beyond the halls of our school. We take pride in our values and the progress we have made, but there is still more work to be done. Meaningful inclusion and belonging are principles to which we must recommit ourselves to continuously as educators. As we face this moment, we embrace its call to build greater understanding, respect, and acceptance among one another.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these developments.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” —James Baldwin

Sincerely,

Marcus A. Campbell, Ed.D.
Superintendent