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KiKi Davis, Director of Institutional Equity and Diversity
Who you become is more important than what you become.
Come As You Are
It is that simple. We want you just the way you are. We invite students of all backgrounds to be part of our community, and in keeping with our Episcopal identity, we respect everyone, affirming not only their value as people--and as members of our community--but also the value of their diverse backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs. This creates a culture of dialogue and raises the level of discourse, helping to form citizens of the world who can work collaboratively to address complex challenges. People who are educated in a community based on understanding and respect have the sensitivity and cultural competency to successfully engage with a wide range of people.
There is a place for you at our table.
The qualitative and quantitative approach to inclusive communities means creating a school environment that not only reflects our community and our world through the diversity of ethnicities, cultures, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, perspectives, and beliefs, but also ensures there is a place at the table and a voice in the conversation. The work to create a community that is culturally competent and practices respectful discourse is at the center of our work in diversity and equity.
Rooted in our mission to inspire a passion for learning and to celebrate diversity, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School affirms the unique value of each member of our community as a child of God. We seek to provide opportunities to practice the virtue of goodness.
Respectful discourse is the practice of people with differing perspectives engaging in active listening and the exchange of ideas to seek mutual understanding and personal growth.
Our school’s mission and the mission of the Episcopal Church call us to uphold respectful discourse as a way of recognizing the diversity of God’s creation and as a means of bridging ideological gaps, leading to relational reconciliation and transformation.
Required training session by division of how to handle specific scenarios around race. (Fall 2018)
Gender identity workshop by Ted Lewis, Executive Director of Side by Side. (2017)
Donna Ryan Faculty and Administrator Multicultural Seminar for all new employees. (This has been a contractually-required program for over 15 years.)
Cultural Competency training for all staff.
Annual coaches workshop on anti-bias and inclusive practices.
SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) Monthly Dinners and Discussions (2014-present)
Faculty/Staff Examining Whiteness Group (meets 7 times per year since the fall of 2018)
AWARE (Alliance of White Anti-racist Educators) group of faculty members JK-12 that looks at curriculum development from an anti-racist lens (2019)
Anti-bias training for hiring managers
Professional development speakers have included: Howard Stevenson, Constance Clayborn professor of Urban Education at University of Pennsylvania and author of "Promoting Racial Literacy in Schools (2019); Peggy McIntosh, former Associate Director of the Wellesley Center for Women, co-founder of SEED, and author of "Unpacking the Invisible Backpack of White Privilege" (2016); Debby Irving, author of "Waking Up White" (will be rescheduled this year); Andre Robert Lee, Screening of film “Prep School Negro," professional development session with faculty, spoke with students of color about Black independent school experience (2012).