Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

STRATEGIC

PLAN

FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, & BELONGING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WELCOME

STATEMENT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

GOAL 1: ENSURE CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN FACULTY, STAFF, & BOARD OF TRUSTEES

GOAL 2: DIVERSIFY THE COMMUNITY

GOAL 3: ENHANCE CURRICULUM THROUGH DEIB LENS

GOAL 4: CONNECT AUTHENTICALLY

DEAR DERBY COMMUNITY,

We are pleased to share our Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The plan was created based on a goal set in our 2022-2025 school-wide Strategic Plan, in order to ensure that Derby is offering the best educational experience to all students. With this plan the school will have a roadmap to meet its goals and live out the sentiment stated in the 2013 Diversity Statement.

Community input was essential to the creation of the plan. Twelve different listening sessions were held over the course of the 2022-2023 school year. Students, faculty, staff, administrators, parents, and members of the Board of Trustees were invited and encouraged to share their ideas and vision for the future of DEIB work at Derby Academy. The themes from these sessions, along with information gleaned in the 2021 and 2022 parent survey data, were used to construct this three year plan which was approved by the Board of Trustees in the winter of 2024 and will begin at the start of the 20242025 school year.

The goals in this plan are deeply rooted in both Mind and Heart. We believe that this plan solidifies the school’s commitment to ensuring that all Derby Academy community members can thrive as their fullest, most authentic selves, building their cultural competency skills, and learning across differences.

We look forward to the execution of these goals in partnership with the full Derby community.

Sincerely,

Annie Peterman, Director of Community and Belonging

Colleen Ramsden, EdD, Head of School

Ajay Sadhwani, President, Board of Trustees

Jeff Camuso, President-Elect, Board of Trustees

STATEMENT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

At Derby Academy, we recognize and value the characteristics that contribute to each individual’s full identity, to include race, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, culture, nationality, family structure, language, sexual identity, socioeconomic background, physical differences and learning styles.

Our mission is to cultivate a school community infused with a multiplicity of voices and perspectives. By moving beyond individual experiences, we learn to think critically, adapt, communicate, collaborate, imagine, understand, and grow.

Our goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment where each person freely brings their whole self to school each day, confident that every individual will be respected. We believe that being a truly inclusive community requires constant attention, at times involving moments of uncertainty and misunderstanding. We dedicate ourselves to use conversation as a catalyst for the growth and change we seek.

ENSURE CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN

FACULTY, STAFF, AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Our goal is to ensure cultural competency in the Derby faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees. Those who have a strong foundation and ongoing training in understanding the impact of identity and cultural differences and similarities will confidently and responsibly implement DEIB programming.

DIVERSIFY THE COMMUNITY 2

Diverse learning communities are ones of academic excellence where students develop cross-cultural skills, understanding, and respect, ensuring that they are prepared for the world beyond Derby. Derby is committed to diversity, including, but not exclusive to, diversity of: race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geography, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, nationality, family structure, and physical and learning differences.

THROUGH DEIB LENS 3

Derby seeks to be an institution that offers developmentally appropriate instruction on identity, bias, and discrimination. It is our goal to provide multiple perspectives and foster critical thinking.

CONNECT AUTHENTICALLY 4

Our goal is to provide points of authentic connection for all members of the Derby community. Connection fosters empathy, helps us to understand different viewpoints, and strengthens our communication skills.