THE KINKAID SCHOOL
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council Finds its Voice DEI Council Members
20
Current Parents
7
Parents of Recent Alumni
8
Alumni
8
Faculty/Staff
3
Senior Administrators
Trustees
32
E
arlier this summer, Kinkaid formally announced the establishment of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council (DEI Council). That public moment was the culmination of more than two years of work by the Board of Trustees, school administrators, and many others to create a framework and foundation on which our school could build on ongoing open and honest conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion at Kinkaid. In the past, Kinkaid approached these difficult issues in various ways, and the DEI Council is an evolution of lessons learned. The DEI Council promotes values of solidarity and integrity that are supported by school leadership and are integral to the comprehensive education of a well-rounded student. DEI initiatives are not a standalone effort, but instead align with Kinkaid’s values and mission statement and weave seamlessly into all aspects of the Kinkaid experience – academics, athletics and the arts - to create a community where everyone feels safe, valued and respected. While so many elements of the Kinkaid experience make our school exceptional, there are always areas for growth in order to sustain balanced excellence. The DEI Council exists to advance certain strengths and improve certain shortcomings, always in the best interest of our students and our school. In the coming months, as the work of the DEI Council becomes more visible across campus and among our alumni, it is important to know the make-up of the group and what role it will play in our community.
Who is on the DEI Council?
The DEI Council is comprised of 28 individuals representing broad perspectives from across our community, including several who represent multiple constituencies. The group includes current parents (20), parents of recent alumni (7), alumni (8), faculty/ staff (8), enior administrators (3) and trustees (2). Lower, Middle and Upper Schools are also well-represented by DEI Council members.
How was the DEI Council selected?
After an application process open to the entire Kinkaid community, the DEI Council was selected in the fall of 2019 by the Interim Head of School Dr. Ed Trusty, senior administrators and a focused working group of the Board of Trustees, in conjunction with outside advisors on best practices at JONES as detailed below. As current DEI Council members complete their varying terms, new applicants will be solicited through this same accessible process. For a full list of the current members, visit https://www.kinkaid.org/explore/dei.
