People of Color Conference

Taylor Kanemori

Director of Equity & Inclusion

We were very excited to take twenty-eight Seattle Academy faculty and staff members of color to the People of Color Conference (PoCC) this past December in Seattle. This was the National Association of Independent School’s (NAIS) 32nd PoCC with the highest attendance yet with over 7,000 attendees. The theme of the conference was 1619-2019 and Beyond and there were over 120 workshops to choose from over four days. Along with the faculty and staff, we were able to

give a group of Upper School students the opportunity to attend the 26th annual high school Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) that was happening simultaneously. It was truly meaningful to be able to share this conference with so many members of our community. Over the four days, both conferences provided safe spaces for attendees to talk through issues of identity, equity, and inclusion with members of other independent schools from across the country and even a few that were international. People attended engaging sessions, heard from meaningful speakers like Valarie Kaur of the Revolutionary Love project and sociologist Pedro Noguera, and actively participated in affinity spaces based on their racial identity and then their geographic location.

“We were all very moved by her mountains of research and deep dive into the intersection of racism, trauma, and violence in America.”

The keynote speaker at the conference’s opening ceremony was Dr. Joy DeGruy, who blew us all away as she talked us through parts of her book, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. We were all very moved by her mountains of research and deep dive into the intersection of racism, trauma, and violence in America. Upon returning to school, all Seattle Academy attendees received a copy of Dr. DeGruy’s book and are very excited about the conversations surrounding our reading.

There were two workshops that were led by SAAS faculty and staff. Danae Howe, Assistant Head of Middle School, and Rob Phillips, Head of School, along with a panel of SAAS colleagues, talked to a packed room about having A New Lens on Hiring. Danae and Rob led the session by giving a history and overview of our school and a few bullet points on what to keep in mind when going through the hiring process before they turned it over to the panel of seven SAAS faculty and staff members who each told their story of how they found their way to Seattle Academy. It was beautiful to hear the way everyone thought about their journey to SAAS and clear that there is not just one way that our school thinks about searching for talented and committed teachers, staff, and administrators. The idea of searching for and committing to a broad range of human talent and potential that we use when talking about our student population is clearly carried over into our hiring process. We were touched by how crowded our session room was with over 100 people from all over

the country packed into our tiny provided space, and we were pleased by how well-received our unconventional hiring practices were. We received great questions from the audience about how they might change their institutions’ current practices and the pros and cons of having a set hiring committee.

Head of Upper School Giselle Furlonge also led a session on how to continue the work both adults and students started at PoCC/SDLC once they return to their schools. Often times there is so much momentum started at the conference, but once we come back to our schools and fall back into the rhythm of the year,

High school English teacher Kevin Kimura attended PoCC for the first time after having been to SDLC when he was a freshman in high school. “I'm grateful to SAAS for making it possible for me to attend PoCC. The conversations I had there have prompted me to reflect critically on the methods our community uses in our efforts to live our mission with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It was a difficult and provocative experience, and I look forward to seeing our school continue to follow through on its commitment to becoming a destination institution for faculty of color. Going forward, I am especially interested in working to make sure that all our teachers and students have the curricular support they need to help our school become a truly inclusive community.”

Michelle Sievers, Director of Marketing and Communications, had this to say about her first time at the conference. “The word that comes to mind for my experience was powerful —and I’m still processing it weeks later. In particular, the affinity group (mixed race) I attended prov ided me a n oppor tunity to be surrounded in a room full of educators and peers who’ve had similar experiences and frustrations in life (personally and professionally) as me – trying to check a box or fit into a box that never really applied to me. To know you’re part of a community where you are not an ‘other’ and they understand you…that’s powerful and inspiring. I can’t ‘unknow’ the stories and sharing throughout PoCC.”

Kenzie Rosengreen, Learning Support teacher, on her first year at the conference: “My experience at PoCC was inspirational and thought-provoking. It felt comforting to be surrounded by many others who shared my experiences and understood my perspective. I really enjoyed the workshop about supporting transracial adoptees in the classroom. I hope to return next year.” there are only a few of our ideas that can really be accomplished. Giselle helped talk to attendees about how to hold their own Equity Conferences at their schools with the focus on their own faculty, staff, and students of color.

On the final day of PoCC/SDLC, the students led groups of adults through a Privilege Walk and facilitated a conversation around privilege and our current and changing views on how it relates to our own lives. After just two full days of programming, these students were using the skills they had been taught to engage adults in subjects many have a hard time having. It was powerful to watch the kids lead this discussion and share their thought processes on how privilege applies to their lives and their schools. The work that is done with students during SDLC is inspiring, and year after year we get to see the group of young people we take go through a draining but also empowering journey of identity. This cohort went on to lead Seattle Academy’s all-school Martin Luther King Jr. assembly on January 20 with personal testimonials and a Stand Up/Sit Down activity that allowed the community to connect through common feelings of insecurity, difference, and strength.

The closing ceremony began with the PoCC choir singing a song written by Danae Howe. This was the second year we were able to watch Danae in her singing element, beautifully leading the choir through their set before the closing words of the conferences were spoken. Rodney Glasgow, one of the SDLC planners, ended his piece with these lasting words: “Justice is when safety and love become systemic.” ☜