Deepening Belonging through Respect and Understanding

As I look ahead to the upcoming school year, I am eager to continue implementing our Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Inclusion ("DEAI") Strategic Action Plan. We will build on the goals and initiatives that we began to implement last year, and through our constant reflection of our progress and areas of growth, we will also move forward with new initiatives outlined in our plan. This year’s school-wide character education theme, “Represent the ‘L’ with Respect” will be integrated into our conversations as we continue to create a climate of belonging.

Professional Development for Leadership

In multiple sections of our DEAI plan, professional development was highlighted as a goal, and we are fortunate to have a team of consultants who will continue working with Laurence in the upcoming school year. This summer, Dr. Steven Jones, CEO and Founder of Jones Consulting, led a Cultural Competency workshop with our Senior Administrative Team. A few of the topics included: learning how to implement the skills of highly effective leaders who lead diverse learning institutions; creating a psychologically safe environment for all at every level of the school; and how to address microaggressions and unconscious bias in a healthy way. 

Dr. Steven Jones and Janine Hancock Jones, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Harvard-Westlake, will continue consulting with members of our Senior Administrative Team throughout the year, and we look forward to continuing to advance our journey along the cultural competence continuum.

Student Programs

It is equally important for our students to engage in age-appropriate conversations around DEAI. Janine Hancock Jones will speak with our 5th and 6th grade students, building on lessons addressed during last year’s conversation, "Intent vs. Impact and the Power of Our Words." This coming year, 4th graders will join the workshop as well. 

Last year, Dr. Rachel Kavanaugh, Laurence’s School Counselor, and I launched our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)/Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (“DEI”) Curriculum. We will build on this program to continue providing safe opportunities for discussions, and our monthly lessons will continue to focus on ways that we can “Keep Kind in Mind.” At the end of last year, we asked students and teachers for their reflections on this program in order to deepen its effectiveness. Based on their feedback, we have added topics. For example, in the primary grades, we will include conversations about students’ unique identities, as well as the myriad of identities in their classroom communities, the power of speaking up to be an upstander, and the ways that gender stereotypes can be harmful and the impact that they can have. In the upper grades, we will explore the concepts of fairness and equity, discuss the value of multiple perspectives, and help students develop the skill of compassionate communication by practicing skills to challenge assumptions and develop empathy for those who others label, even though those labels don’t fit.

Parent Involvement

We value the importance of bringing our entire Laurence community together to celebrate and develop a sense of pride in everyone’s unique identities. In the classrooms, our Family Cultural Share Program will provide one way for parents to share important celebrations and aspects of their culture that are especially meaningful to them. We will also continue our Global Perspectives Program by incorporating additional school-wide presentations led by parents. This program provides a space for families to share their story, which can include the country location, family and cultural customs, and common etiquette. Additionally, our cultural celebrations will continue to be an important aspect of our Red, White, Blue & Green Assemblies, including assemblies honoring Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, and Armenian History Month. 

Wherever you are in your understanding of DEI, I welcome you to engage in the conversations by joining the DEI/Global Garden Parent Committee.

Connecting Faculty and Staff

To further deepen the sense of belonging amongst our faculty and staff members, we will continue the onboarding and mentoring program that was created last year. We strive to facilitate a smooth transition and ensure new members of Laurence are supported throughout the year by partnering them with a mentor, who provides ongoing support and guidance, as well as institutional and cultural knowledge. Our formal and informal mentor meetings and individual check-ins help us work towards one of our goals of retention and development, while nurturing the faculty and staff and allowing them to grow and evolve.

As I remain focused on ensuring all voices are heard, valued, and respected, I invite you to reach out to me to connect and find opportunities to strengthen the sense of belonging in our community.