Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
The Summit School is actively engaged in age appropriate, diversity, equity and inclusion conversations. Given the wide variety of happenings surrounding racial issues, we know some children are having conversations with their peers, searching on-line, and asking their teachers questions, while other children are avoiding the conversations all together because they don’t feel comfortable voicing their opinions or their experiences. We believe students should learn the importance of acceptance and inclusion and develop their ability to take part in difficult conversations, model inclusive behaviors, and be accepting of others' differences.
The Summit School has:
- A Faculty Diversity Committee
- An Upper School Student Diversity Team and Diversity Team Advisor
- Provided training for staff members on various topics within the realm of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Begun implementing the Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards across various grade levels and contents
- Regularly scheduled (monthly) “Common Connects”. Common Connects are opportunities for students to explore various cultures in fun and creative ways, while developing relationships across grade levels.
More recently The Summit School has:
- Established a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Established a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Parent Committee that includes the Executive Director, Director of Education, Director of Diversity, teachers, and parents
- Conducted curriculum audits through the lens of DEI and the Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards
- Committed to holding frequent workshops and discussions to provide our faculty with the tools and resources necessary to create environments in which all students feel safe and can thrive, both in-person and virtually
- Utilized Maryland’s 2020 Teacher of the Year to introduce Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) training for all of our teachers and staff
- Committed to celebrating as many individuals, identities, and cultures as possible through the use of monthly themes as established by national organizations
- Incorporated themed celebrations as part of the morning announcements
- Incorporated Social Emotional Learning on our morning announcements using the “Social Thinking” framework as a tool to help students participate in deeper conversations
- Pursued and created opportunities to promote open conversations with students. For example, all Groups have participated in “get-togethers” (in-person or virtually). The “get togethers” are when a well-respected author, speaker or educator engages Summit students at age appropriate levels
- Extended the Student Diversity Team by establishing a Lower School Diversity Team
- Established a parent DEI book club.
The Summit School future plans include:
- Continued family dialogues related to diversity, equity and inclusion
- Ongoing curriculum audits and revisions
- Equitable hiring practices with a focus of developing a staff that includes diverse identities and perspectives
- Ongoing, sustained commitment by school leadership for DEI engagement
Everything we do at Summit is with the purpose of putting children first so that all children feel supported, valued, and understood. With that in mind, we will continue to embark on an initiative to embrace and promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.