3 minute read
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
HERSHEY EMBARKS ON SOCIAL DISCOVERY JOURNEY
“The crises we are witnessing is not one of those that make the passage from one era to another, it can only be compared with the opening of a new Biological or Geological period, when new beings come upon the scene, more evolved and more perfect, while upon the earth are realized conditions of life, which had never existed before.”
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Dr. Maria Montessori, Peace and Education (1932)
OUR DEIB POSITION STATEMENT
Dr. Maria Montessori, and many other scientists, espoused an educational philosophy that removes the obstacles for healthy development and that allows the student’s innate energies for good to develop in accordance with their natural capacity. She wrote and observed that such an education will reveal a “new child” who is intellectually independent and emotionally drawn to contribute to moral and social conditions of their environments. Hershey Montessori School has centered intentional focus on social-emotional development that expands emotional intelligence, communication skills, social leadership capacities with special emphasis on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB).
The events that unfolded over the last year brought a heightened awareness of the social injustice and inequity that has plagued our nation’s history and profoundly affected fellow citizens. School leadership and students felt it was important to examine Hershey Montessori School’s commitment to diversity and equity and take collective action. That is why this year’s whole school professional development day centered on social-emotional development that included emotional intelligence and communication skills, as well as social leadership capacities and abilities. We also launched the DEIB Circle (“committee”), which is comprised of administrative staff, faculty, and adolescent students. The circle exists to support the school’s strategic priority of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and to ensure that all members of our community are represented and empowered across all areas of Hershey Montessori School.
Much groundwork has been laid, and DEIB will continue to be at the forefront of the work we do at Hershey for many years to come.
“As someone who has worked in education for 15 years, I am always engaging in continual self-reflection. DEIB is important to me because of my lived experiences as a Black biracial woman and my important charge of parenting three Black children in this world. Instead of thinking about what’s good for my children, I think about what’s good for our children. I want my children and the children and adolescents we have at Hershey and in this society to feel that who they are is more than enough. I want them to be seen and heard in every space that they occupy. I want to help in creating inclusive environments where they always feel like they are enough and always feel that they belong.”
HERSHEY ACHIEVES ISACS PROVISIONAL MEMBER STATUS
Hershey Montessori School proudly received Provisional Member status from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). This achievement is the first step in becoming an ISACS-accredited school. Hershey’s ISACS Steering Committee began this work in early 2019. It required Hershey to provide documented evidence of compliance across 52 standards for membership, including our current policies and practices; mission, philosophy, and goals; school community; programs and activities, student services; governance and administration, personnel; and residential programs.
The Benefits of ISACS membership include a wide variety of professional development programs though opportunities to attend ISACS conferences, subject-specific workshops, convenient webinars, and facilitated conversations with member schools on topics of governance, accreditation, and other areas. ISACS members also receive access to the National Association of Independent Schools’ Data Analysis for Student Learning (DASL) tool for data reporting and benchmarking.
