A YEAR OF COVID AT RECTORY
diversity equity & inclusion rectory’s dei work continues through covid By Melissa Zahansky, DEI Director Although Rectory adjusted to a campus climate that looked and felt much different from years prior, we didn’t allow it to slow the work we needed to embark upon to make Rectoy a more equitable institution. A highlight of this journey was a Zoom gathering facilitated by Steve Davis from the Institute for Human Relations, with 20 BIPOC alumni and past and current parents, to listen and better understand their experience on our campus.
Leadership, & Difference) program allowing forums for regular discussions
Hearing their voices allowed us, with the guidance of Mr. Davis, to pursue
on DEI. Our goal is to continue to provide opportunities for our children
a thoughtful, intentional process in our diversity, equity, and inclusion
to explore and embrace their identities while learning how to understand
(DEI) work.
and respect others.
As a school, we established a DEI Executive Committee, with
Our faculty utilized the many online opportunities offered this past year
representation from several leaders throughout Rectory, and thoughtfully
to continue educating themselves in areas specific to their teaching. In
evaluated how better to recognize, value, and respect each member of our
July, a group of 20 administrators and faculty attended the CAIS Future
community. Our DEI strategic plan includes developing and implementing
of Learning is Now!: Anti-Bias Teaching conference with Liz Kleinrock as
curriculum with a representation of the different perspectives of our world
the keynote speaker. We will continue to allow for these opportunities
community, offering professional development focusing on culturally
and are excited to incorporate a DEI workshop into our professional
responsive teaching and relating, recruiting, and retaining BIPOC faculty
development this year.
and students, and engaging and involving parents, alumni, board, and student voices to guide the process. Throughout our curriculum and advisory time, we worked collectively to discuss identity, racism, cultural appreciation, gender, and equality with educators facilitating developmentally appropriate conversations and students leading the discussions. This past April, 21 Rectory middle school students participated in the CAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference
Recognizing this work is constantly evolving and ongoing, the Rectory community is committed to continued efforts in cultivating a space where each child feels safe, heard, and valued.
and continued our S.H.I.E.L.D. (Student Happiness, Inclusion, Equity, 15
