Meet Peck's Director of Community Connections & Belonging

Cymone Williamson became The Peck School's Director of Community Connections & Belonging on May 1.

The Peck School is a K-8 in Morristown, NJ that sets the standard for excellence in elementary and middle school education. Building on its core principles of learning with curiosity, community responsibility, and consideration of others, the school's program nurtures children to lead healthy, principled, and productive lives.

Williamson comes to Peck with an impressive resume. She most recently worked as the Associate DEI Program Director in the corporate sector at The RealReal. There, she led company initiatives and streamlined processes to positively impact constituent engagement and create a more inclusive community.

Williamson has a bachelor’s degree in journalism & public relations from Wayne State University and holds certifications in DEI Leadership and Project Management.

“We are excited for Cymone to continue building on our current work as we strive to create a community of belonging for all,” says Head of School Andy Delinsky.

“Cymone rose to the top because of her warm, welcoming demeanor as well as her thoughtfulness and attention to detail when interacting with everyone she met.”

We caught up with Williamson to ask her a few questions. Here’s what she had to say:

Why did you want to work at The Peck School?

As a professional within the diversity, equity, and inclusion space, working for Peck presented a unique opportunity to work for an established organization with a long history of examining structural policies and making positive changes toward a more equitable future.

During the interview process, there was a genuine excitement around the work taking place throughout the school, and I really wanted to be a part of it and make a positive impact on our students, who are the next generation of leaders. I wanted to be a part of an organization where people are passionate and enjoy coming to work every day.

Why is the work of community connections and belonging so important?

Creating opportunities for community connections and prioritizing belonging is extremely important because every individual brings unique perspectives and valuable characteristics, which can be beneficial to the greater community.

However, if there is not a sense of belonging and individuals feel othered, it can be challenging to understand the power of diversity, especially in the absence of diverse representation. When we all commit to creating safe spaces where everyone can show up authentically, people are more likely to show creativity, value different opinions, experiment with new things, and make a positive impact on those around them.

What are you most looking forward to as you begin this inaugural role?

The Peck team has done a great job of identifying how belonging can be placed at the forefront of everything we do. I’m looking forward to helping advance the goals that are already in place while developing a strategy and roadmap that will build for the future.

I’m also really excited to collaborate within the community to create inclusive programming throughout the 2023-24 school year!

The Peck School is a K-8, co-ed, independent school in Morristown, NJ. www.peckschool.org

We set the standard for excellence in K-8 education, where academic preparation and character development intersect powerfully in the learning experience. By embedding consideration of others, service, and belonging in all that we do, we are designing an integrated approach to education that develops curious and disciplined learners who positively shape the world.