community & diversity
BELMONT HILL ANNOUNCES NEW DIVERSITY ACTION PLAN By Caleb Collins ’93, P ’25, Director of Community and Diversity
Now that Belmont Hill has completed the National Association of Independent Schools’ Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM), what is next for the School? The goal was that the findings of the comprehensive diversity audit would become the foundation for a Diversity Action Plan that would guide the School through its Centennial. I am proud to announce the Board of Trustees recently passed the Diversity Action Plan this past fall. The intent of the plan is to address components of gender, sexual orientation, and sexual identity in addition to race, socio-economic class, and other areas. It will closely monitor the overall experience of our students as well as their parents. The School will place an even greater emphasis on training and professional development for faculty and staff. The plan will demonstrate to our external community that our commitment to DEI initiatives is real. This ambitious plan will provide the School with as many as 11 different areas of focus. The Board of Trustees Diversity Committee has prioritized areas of focus to ensure adequate progress is seen immediately. While much work on many of these focus areas had already begun prior to the formation of the plan, our pace has certainly quickened. 1. Pedagogy and Program – Move to a 6. Language – Help all boys and adults more integrated vision of multiculturunderstand intent vs. impact regarding alism, gender, and equitable teaching language use. practices within the academic program. 7. Parent Experience – Continue improving 2. Student Experience – Support support for and education of the parent body. difference and enhance a true sense 8. Governance – Promote leadership of belonging in new ways. development, equity, and inclusion among 3. Hiring – Aspire to surpass the INDEX median for teacher diversity within five years. 4. Admission – Aspire to have approximately one-third of the student body self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color). 5. Faculty/Staff Development – Build a truly culturally competent faculty and staff.
parents, students, faculty, and staff. 9. Alumni – Ensure all Belmont Hill alumni feel equally valued and supported.
Belmont Hill School Diversity Committee Jon Biotti ’87 President of the Board of Trustees, Parent Caleb Collins ’93 Director of Community and Diversity, Parent Gretchen Cook-Anderson Board Member, Parent Carl Dawson ’72 Board Member, Parent Will Forde ’05 Board Member
10. Marketing and Outreach – Increase marketing content for DEI initiatives.
John Grady ’66 Board Member, Parent
11. Centennial Vision – Clarify an even more inclusive Centennial vision for Belmont Hill that builds upon past strength with a demonstrated commitment to growth and improvement.
Kirk McKeown ’95 Board Member
The Board of Trustees will assess progress annually. This exceptional group fully embraces the plan and intends to support with resources as needed in order to make continued progress on its goals. The complete Diversity Action Plan can be found at www.belmonthill.org/diversity-action-plan on the School’s website.
Michael Grant Assistant Head of School, Dean of Faculty
Sarah Pelmas Head of School and O’Donnell Family Chair, Winsor School; Board Member Greg Schneider Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School David Wilkins Board Member, Parent
www.belmonthill.org
winter–spring 2021
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