O U R AC T I O N P L A N F O R R A C I A L E Q U I T Y:
TRACKING OUR PROGRESS MAKING STRIDES IN THE AREA OF OUR PEOPLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, Pace Academy published its Action Plan for Racial Equity, a living document created to “eradicate racism and its legacy, and to dismantle any racial hierarchies within our school community.” To accomplish these goals, foster true racial equity and ensure that every community member feels supported, valued and safe, we have since embarked on an examination of institutional practices, policies and procedures—and are implementing meaningful changes. The Board of Trustees, Head of School FRED ASSAF, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer JOANNE BROWN and Director of Equity and Inclusion NIRVANA SCOTT are working alongside dedicated students, faculty, staff, administrators, parents and alumni to realize the action items detailed in the plan. The plan focuses on six areas: Teaching & Curriculum, Our Community, Listening & Learning, Our People, Joining Our Community and Our Pledge. In each issue of this magazine, we report on strides made in one of these areas. Up next? Our People.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ON OUR PROGRESS IS AVAILABLE AT www.paceacademy.org/diversity-inclusion.
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SUMMER 2021 ||| KnightTimes
University of Virginia Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Partnerships Kevin McDonald spoke to all faculty and staff during the 2021 pre-planning week. He is pictured with current faculty and staff who are also UVA alumni.
The Office of Diversit y, Equi ty and Inclusion kicked of f the year with a full day of training for fa culty and staf f.
“To foster a sense of belonging in our school community, all students must see themselves reflected in our leadership, faculty and staff, and must experience meaningful, intentional and authentic support,” the Action Plan for Racial Equity states. To ensure that Pace is a safe, supportive space in which to work, the plan calls for regular training for all faculty and staff, with specific antiracist and anti-bias train-
ing for school leadership, admissions committees, department chairs and new faculty mentors. That work began prior to the start of the 2020–2021 school year, when all faculty and staff took part in mandatory training during the pre-planning period. To build upon the learning inspired by those educational sessions, the Office
