DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AT WCS HOW WICHITA COLLEGIATE SCHOOL IS REFLECTING ON ITS PAST AND WORKING TOWARD A BETTER FUTURE The year 1963 is significant, in both our local and national histories. In 1963, Wichita Collegiate School was founded out of a desire of five families to provide a better education for their children. In late August of 1963, the March on Washington took place, spurred by a desire of innumerable people to create a better future for themselves and their children. In the nearly six decades since then, much has changed, but much has stayed the same. Now, in 2020, our school, community, nation, and world are experiencing a reckoning with that which has stayed the same. While the premise of righting our world seems incredibly daunting, we at Wichita Collegiate School are committed to improving our school and local community in many ways, but especially in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Head of School Nathan Washer is engaging trustees, faculty and staff, current parents, alumni, and other community members in conversation to understand our history and to create a better future. He has assembled a small task force to develop a defined school statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity; to audit representation of ethnicity in our student body and administration; to create professional development plans on DEI issues; and identify resources to help us review curricula that reflects a diverse range of experiences, among other things.
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Washer also hosted an alumni forum and heard from more than 30 alumni about their experiences at WCS. One alumnus in particular who attended and spoke within the forum is Regis Fox, Class of 2004. A lifer, he began his WCS career as a three- or four-year-old child and stayed all the way through to graduation. But growing up near 13th and Hydraulic in the McAdams neighborhood, Regis says he lived within “two very dynamic and different cultures. My mom nicknamed me, ‘chameleon.’ My being in two different atmospheres really let me learn at an early age how to develop and change how I walk,
major protests that broke out in response, Shah created a Change.org petition calling on WCS to implement curricula changes addressing diversity, inclusion, and systemic racism. More than 1,000 alumni signed the petition in less than 24 hours. “WCS has always stood for excellence,” Shah said, and feels everyone can achieve excellence if they are heard and respected for their individual experiences. This can only happen in a community that embraces and celebrates its differences. “We, as proud alumni, are here to collaborate and help in this important work. We are behind you 100%,” Shah said. In conversations with
"I want my kids to see every belief, meet people of every political persuasion, ethnicity, and religion. I want them to be ready to be leaders in their communities." how I dress.” Of being at school versus going home, Regis said, “’this is how I act here, but I’m home now so I can be myself.’ That’s a tough thing to say, especially when you’re a young kid, but I learned how to play those roles very well.” Another alumnus who spoke up in the forum is Amar Shah, Class of 2002. After the murder of George Floyd and the
other alumni, Shah has heard themes consistent with Fox’s experience – students leading parallel lives. So he posed this question – “How do we as an institution build leaders that bridge those gaps?” Fox and Shah both shared that the answers to that question lie in thoughtfully listening to the experiences of the full spectrum of WCS constituents,
