a community of belonging

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, & BELONGING (DEIB) AT PARKER

At Parker, we embrace the celebration and understanding of different identities, backgrounds, and experiences. We lean into difficult conversations with courage and respect. And we continuously strive to improve our cultural competency, policies, and strategic goals.

Parker has a deep commitment to building a school community that truly is global in perspective, diverse in composition, and reflective of our world. Our goal is to be one community where all members feel valued, included, and respected.

At Parker, we know our learning environment is enhanced by the different stories and experiences of each member of our school community. We are one community composed of many families representing a broad range of viewpoints, cultures, and backgrounds–we all learn from each other.

Parker Voices | The Importance of DEIB Work at Parker

Teaching children to be knowledgeable about differences, supportive of others, and active in changing structures that are oppressive to various groups can all begin within inclusive classrooms. It is within a classroom that openly and directly addresses the interests, needs, and possibilities of all its members that students may best experience democratic structures that empower and support all participants.

(Sapon-Shive, 1992, p. 21)

PROGRAMMING & CURRICULUM

students

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Themes in Co-Curriculars

  • Grade 3: Upstander Behavior
  • Grade 4: Unpacking Stereotypes
  • Grade 5: Self Love

Curricular Tools 

  • JK-5 Curricular Audits
  • Diversity and Inclusion Literacy Themes (JK-5)
  • Gender Smart Goals 
  • Racial Literacy Resources & Goals
  • Diversity Book Sources

 

Advisory Lessons & Trips

  • Cultural Appropriation
  • Identity Lessons

Life Skills: Race, Ethnicity, Nationality; Gender Identity; Courageous Conversations & Difference; and more

Grade 9 Program

  • Summer Bridge Program for First Gen Latinx & African American students
  • Interim
  • Life Skills

Center for Character, Citizenship, Community

34

Parker faculty who have completed S.E.E.D. training since 2018

faculty & staff

The National SEED ProjectSM is a peer-led professional development program that creates conversational communities to drive personal, organizational, and societal change toward greater equity and diversity. We do this by training individuals to facilitate ongoing seminars within their own institutions and communities. SEED leaders design their seminars to include personal reflection and testimony, listening to others' voices, and learning experientially and collectively. Through this methodology, SEED equips us to connect our lives to one another and to society at large by acknowledging systems of oppression, power, and privilege.

  • SDCOE Equity Conference:

    SDCOE's statewide Equity Conference is a valuable time for county offices, districts, schools, community partners, and parents to collaborate and learn together on how to engage effective, systemic change.

    It brings together nationally recognized speakers and spotlights current research and best practices. The Equity Conference sessions are focused on strengthening our systems to better respond to the linguistic, cultural, social-emotional, and mental health needs of all students, and create the conditions for them to thrive and make healthy choices. 

  • People of Color Conference (PoCC): The NAIS People of Color Conference is the flagship of the National Association of Independent Schools' commitment to equity and justice in teaching and learning. The mission of the conference is to provide a safe space for leadership and professional development and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools. PoCC equips educators at every level, from teachers to trustees, with knowledge, skills, and experiences to improve and enhance the interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in their schools, as well as the attending academic, social-emotional, and workplace performance outcomes for students and adults alike.

community

For more than 10 years, the NAIS Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM) has provided schools with a deep understanding of the climate of inclusion on their campuses, from current and past students to teachers, administrators, and trustees. Through AIM, Parker has implemented various action items, including:

  1. Creation of diversity and inclusion mission statement
  2. Development and implementation of an outreach plan
  3. Development and implementation of a JK to 12 inclusive curriculum framework
  4. Revising hiring practices to proactively attract more diverse faculty to the School
  5. Provide professional development for faculty and staff

Parkers strategic plan goals support Parker programs and curriculum that promote the core values of diversity, inclusivity, and cultural competency, ensuring all members of the Parker community are valued and respected.

The standing Diversity Committee consists of board members of the Parker community. Some of their responsibilities include:

  • Providing leadership and support in the School’s implementation of the Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism study action items.
  • Providing input to increase opportunities in the JK-12 program and curriculum which deepen the community’s awareness of the richness and potential of the diverse society in which they live, while also developing an understanding of the experiences and perspectives of other peoples and societies.
  • Reviewing the effectiveness of the Diversity and Inclusion Plan in all three divisions both through curriculum and instruction.
  • Developing strategies to support and encourage the parent community in embracing and celebrating diversity and inclusion.
  • Supporting School-wide initiatives to provide professional training and implement essential skills, building an inclusive culture at Parker. 6. Support the admissions office in community outreach.

Beginning in 2019, our Director of Diversity and Inclusion Christen Tedrow Harrison began hosting a series of community coffees, inviting parents to Campus to discuss topics related to Diversity and Inclusion work at Parker.

In February of 2019, Parker hosted its first Pollyanna Conference.

The goal of the Pollyanna is to engage a broad and diverse community of educational leaders whose perspectives and experiences will bolster our collective efforts to identify best practices and real-world strategies solutions to support our students living and leading in a wonderfully diverse and global society.

The one-day conference opened with a special keynote speaker, Dr. Rosetta Lee, with the balance of the morning dedicated to individually-facilitated workshops (broken down by constituency). Other highlights included a student presentation, guided workshop focusing on the individual school PODs, and a group discussion on next steps.

Examples of recent speakers and workshops include:

210

attendees at Parker's 1st Pollyanna Conference in 2019

Education needs to enable the student to look through window frames in order to see the realities of others and into mirrors in order to see their own reality reflected.

Emily Style