Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

OUR DEIB Vision

We commit to an inclusive and diverse community in which everyone can say, "I belong."

We will foster:

A diverse, safe, and equitable school environment.
Actions and advocacy that support our Core Virtues.
Cultural competence, anti-bias, and social justice.
Intellectually curious and engaged global citizenship.

male students sit on couch at st. thomas school

Building Leaders for a Diverse World

Our mission is to develop responsible citizens for a global society. Through our curriculum and school activities, we engage students in exploring diverse perspectives, cultures, and identities. From early learning to middle school, our programs are designed to cultivate empathy, respect, and a deep understanding of the rich tapestry of human experience.

Our diverse community is embraced through daily practices, curriculum, and traditions that honor a wide range of beliefs and cultures. Our unique chapel program is a testament to this, bringing together students of all ages to explore major world religions, celebrate human commonalities, and reflect diverse perspectives.

Professional Development: A Pillar of Our DEIB Strategy

St. Thomas School invests significantly in professional development to enhance our faculty's and staff's understanding of DEIB. This includes workshops, book clubs, and speaker series on topics like microaggressions, implicit bias, and cultural competency. These initiatives ensure that we are continually growing and learning as educators and community members.

The Board's Role in Advancing DEIB

The St. Thomas School Board of Trustees plays a crucial role in our DEIB efforts, demonstrating leadership and commitment to these values. The formation of DEIB committees at the board level reflects our strategic approach to embedding DEIB in every facet of our governance. Through retreats, workshops, and ongoing education, our board members are deeply engaged in understanding and addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Their work not only guides our policy and decision-making but also ensures that DEIB remains a central focus in our school's strategic planning and daily operations.

An Ongoing DEIB Journey

We acknowledge that the journey towards perfecting DEIB is ongoing. We are constantly identifying areas for growth. We invite you to join us in this journey of learning, understanding, and celebrating the diverse world we live in.

Belief Statements

Head of School

The head of school commits fully to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where all members can proclaim with fidelity “I belong.” Through hiring and retention efforts, academic and character programs, policies and procedures, and daily interactions, the head demonstrates an unwavering commitment to our collective and ongoing DEIB work.

Board of Trustees

The St. Thomas School Board of Trustees affirms our highest level of commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where all members can proclaim with fidelity “I belong.” As stewards of St. Thomas School, we strive to celebrate the differences that enrich our community and to implement equitable policies and actionable steps to make our school authentically inclusive. The board’s steadfast commitment is further supported by a standing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging committee comprised of the head of school, trustees, faculty, administrators, parent/guardians, and community representatives.

Activities and Plans

In recent years, St. Thomas School has completed many steps to ensure we have a diverse and inclusive culture in our community. Below is a recap of the work of the board, faculty and staff, and student and family activities in recent years:

Faculty and Staff

In fall 2020, all faculty and school leadership participated in a series of two facilitated trainings, two faculty-led trainings and small group discussions focused on understanding and preventing microaggressions.
Over the 2020 summer, faculty and staff elected to dedicate its summer book club tradition to reading How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and participated in a series of two formal discussions led by the school’s librarians.
A desire to continue learning and discussing racism and related topics resulted in the formation of a faculty-led DEI committee chaired by Jordan Funk and Karen Mathewson. The group hosts a twice-monthly faculty-led lunch discussion on DEI-related topics.
In March 2021, faculty and staff participated in a professional development workshop titled “Take Inventory to Avoid the Encounter” led by Kimberlee Williams, Director of Intercultural Affairs at the Bush School.
Senior administrators attended the NWAIS workshop Hiring for Cultural Competence to learn how hiring processes and practices can advance equity and real belonging in our school.
Rosetta Lee also facilitated a session on cultural competency with faculty, staff and board members in April 2021.
Hosted discussion sessions for faculty and staff following presentations in the 2021-2022 Equity and Inclusion Speaker Series, a practice that will continue with the 2022-2023 series.
Led the STS community in "Stop and Celebrate" events for Black History Month in February 2022, Asian American Pacific Islander Month in April 2022, and Hispanic Heritage Month in October 2022.
In April 2023, faculty and staff participated in a professional development session with DEI consultant and educator Erin Jones. This session-focused on postures for effectively preparing to have hard conversations-kicked off what will be ongoing work with Ms. Jones.
Following the recommendations of the school's accreditation report, the faculty DEI committee is focusing on three areas during the 2023-2024 school year: Curriculum, Community, and Chapel.
- Curriculum: Research existing curriculum standards and evaluate their alignment with the St. Thomas School mission, vision, and core virtues. This may include defining why DEIB are essential components of curriculum, surveying other schools, determine tools for evaluating standards and (eventually) implementation of chosen standards.
- Community – Foster strong relationships and a sense of belonging among the faculty and staff community. This may include setting up opportunities for us to connect and share our cultures, experiences, and more. This may also include identifying patterns and trends in barriers and facilitators to belonging amongst staff/faculty.
- Chapel – Better understand how different members of the school community experience Chapel to identify barriers to inclusion and identify ways to create a welcoming and meaningful space for all. This may include creating surveys for staff, faculty, students, alumni, and potentially parents.

Board of Trustees

In July 2020, the board held a DEI-focused retreat and welcomed Cliff Avril who described his experience as a Black member of our STS parent community.
In February 2021, the board continued its learning with a workshop led by Rosetta Lee. From that workshop, the committee worked to create and adopt St. Thomas School’s new statement on diversity.
In June 2021, the board held a series of DEI listening sessions to help school leadership identify strengths and opportunities for growth, and to establish priorities for the school's ongoing DEI work.
In October 2022, the board's fall retreat was led by DEI consultant and educator Erin Jones.

Students and Families

In April 2021, we hosted two virtual conversations with diversity consultant and educator Rosetta Lee: one for parents on Cultural Competency: Success in the Classroom, Playground, and Beyond and one for middle school students on Identity, Inclusion, and Allyship. Rosetta shared how independent schools like ours are building cultural competency and involving everyone in their school community.
In June 2021, we hosted a series of listening sessions to provide all STS parents with the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences. These sessions will help identify and clarify what issues matter the most to our school community.
Participated in the 2021-2022 Equity and Inclusion Speaker Series.
In March 2022, a panel of STS educators guided a conversation with parents and guardians about how we use children's literature to support conversations about race, and provided examples of literature-based lessons in each academic division.
Students participated in "Stop and Celebrate" activities related to Black History Month (February 2021), Asian American Pacific Islander Month (April 2022), and Hispanic Heritage Month (October 2022).
Participating in the 2022-2023 Equity and Inclusion Speaker Series.
In February 2023, St. Thomas School celebrated Black History Month with a schoolwide door museum and gallery walk. Each classroom created an exhibit showcasing a specific person, period, or topic in Black history. Throughout the week, classes went on “gallery walks” to view the different displays that range from the arts and sciences to Black trailblazers in various fields. The exhibits were both informative and inspiring!
Participating in the 2023-2024 Equity and Inclusion Speaker Series.

Additional Resources

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In This Section...

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

OUR DEIB Vision

Building Leaders for a Diverse World

Professional Development: A Pillar of Our DEIB Strategy

The Board's Role in Advancing DEIB

An Ongoing DEIB Journey

Belief Statements

Head of School

Board of Trustees

Activities and Plans

Faculty and Staff

Board of Trustees

Students and Families

Additional Resources