Our BIPOC educators and staff have doubled in since 2015-2016 academic year, Bellevue School District

Since 2015-2016, we have seen the make-up of our certified staff become more diverse, with our Hispanic/Latino, Black/African American and Asian/Pacific Islander demographics doubling (Table 1, Bellevue Human Resources Department, Sept. 2019).

  • 7% of our Certified Administrators are Black or African American
  • Almost 2% of our Certified Teachers are Black or African American

We continue to see positive results of our diversity recruitment strategies related to race and ethnicity and are dedicated to continuing to hire more diverse staff. Diverse educators and staff are imperative to ensuring we are serving each student academically, socially and emotionally via relevant curriculum that ensures our Black, Indigenous and People of Color experiences are represented accurately – historically and present day – in our academic culture.

Table 1 – Diversity Trends by Percentage – Certified Administrators and Teachers


Certified Administrators

Native AmericanAsian Pacific IslanderBlack African AmericanHispanic LatinoWhite
2016-17*13.30%6.70%1.67%78.30%
2017-18*8.86%7.59%3.80%79.75%
2018-19*11.90%7.14%7.14%73.81%
2019-20*14.12%7.06%8.24%70.59%

Certified Teachers

Native AmericanAsian Pacific IslanderBlack African AmericanHispanic LatinoWhite
2015-16*5.12%0.99%3.36%90.14%
2016-17*9.30%1.20%4.50%84.50%
2017-180.50%10.38%1.14%4.69%83.30%
2018-190.69%11.55%1.24%5.91%80.61%
2019-200.75%12.19%1.84%6.47%78.76%

2016-2017 Principals and Assistant Principals tabulated separately from District Level Administrators

When looked at by school and district level, the trends are more impactful: students are seeing more diversity in the adults who work directly with students and families (Table 2, Bellevue Human Resources Department, Sept. 2019).


Table 2 – Diversity Trends by District and School Levels


District Administration

Native AmericanAsian Pacific IslanderBlack African AmericanHispanic LatinoWhite
2017-18*3.33%3.33%6.67%86.67%
2018-19*6.25%3.13%9.38%81.25%
2019-20*9.09%3.03%12.12%75.76%

Principals and Assistant Principals

Native AmericanAsian Pacific IslanderBlack African AmericanHispanic LatinoWhite
2017-18*10.94%9.38%3.13%76.56%
2018-19*14.71%8.82%7.35%69.12%
2019-20*15.94%8.70%8.70%66.67%

Certified Teachers

Native AmericanAsian Pacific IslanderBlack African AmericanHispanic LatinoWhite
2015-16*5.12%0.99%3.36%90.14%
2016-17*9.30%1.20%4.50%84.50%
2017-180.50%10.38%1.14%4.69%83.30%
2018-190.69%11.55%1.24%5.91%80.61%
2019-200.75%12.19%1.84%6.47%78.76%

75% of principals hired for the 2019 – 2020 academic year are people of color, Bellevue School District

The percentage of principals and assistant principals that self-identify as leaders of color has accelerated. This is most evident with the hiring of three principals of color for the 2019-2020 school year represent 75% of new principals hired this year[1].  At both the District and school levels, diversity trends are positive and indicate a more conscious effort for ethnic and racial diversity to be considering in hiring.

It is important to keep in mind, however, that trend data by percentage does not tell a complete story on diversity and hiring.  Some groups have small numbers and hiring of just a few individuals can dramatically increase or decrease percentages (Table 3, Bellevue Human Resource Department, Sept. 2019).


[1] Goal of increasing diversity of principals set at 50% of new principals would be candidates of color (Bellevue School District Affirmative Action Plan, 2018-2022).

Table 3 – Diversity of BSD Staff 2019

District Equity & Inclusion Leadership Team

  • Male: 7 (41.18%)
  • Female: 10 (58.82%)
  • Native American: 0 (0%)
  • Asian Pacific Islander: 2 (11.76%)
  • Black African American: 1 (5.88%)
  • Hispanic Latino: 3 (17.65%)
  • White: 11 (64.71%)
  • Total Employees: 17

Certified Administrators

  • Male: 30 (35.29%)
  • Female: 55 (64.71%)
  • Native American: 0 (0%)
  • Asian Pacific Islander: 12 (14.12%)
  • Black African American: 6 (7.06%)
  • Hispanic Latino: 7 (8.24%)
  • White: 60 (70.59%)
  • Total Employees: 85

Certified Teachers

  • Male: 342 (22.82%)
  • Female: 1157 (77.18%)
  • Native American: 11 (0.75%)
  • Asian Pacific Islander: 179 (12.19%)
  • Black African American: 27 (1.84%)
  • Hispanic Latino: 95 (6.47%)
  • White: 1157 (78.76%)
  • Total Employees: 1469

Classified Technical, Supervisory and Administrative

  • Male: 54 (36%)
  • Female: 96 (64%)
  • Native American: 1 (0.67%)
  • Asian Pacific Islander: 26 (17.45%)
  • Black African American: 2 (1.34%)
  • Hispanic Latino: 5 (3.36%)
  • White: 115 (77.18%)
  • Total Employees: 149

Classified Staff

  • Male: 327 (28.53%)
  • Female: 819 (71.47%)
  • Native American: 6 (0.53%)
  • Asian Pacific Islander: 284 (25.02%)
  • Black African American: 65 (5.73%)
  • Hispanic Latino: 150 (13.22%)
  • White: 630 (55.51%)
  • Total Employees: 1135

District Total

  • Male: 760 (26.23%)
  • Female: 2137 (73.77%)
  • Native American: 18 (0.63%)
  • Asian Pacific Islander: 503 (17.62%)
  • Black African American: 101 (3.54%)
  • Hispanic Latino: 260 (9.11%)
  • White: 1973 (69.11%)
  • Total Employees: 2855

Hourly staff are the most diverse group within the district, Bellevue School District

The most diverse staff group is the hourly classified staff, which includes paraprofessionals, office staff, custodial staff, bus drivers, maintenance, nutrition services and other hourly employees.


The Bellevue School District acknowledges that we learn, work, live and gather on the Indigenous Land of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish and Snoqualmie Tribes. We thank these caretakers of this land, who have lived and continue to live here, since time immemorial.