DIVERSITY/MULTICULTURALISM

A-17 Emotional Vulnerabilities of Advantaged Students and Their Parents
December 6 • 10:30am – 11:30am
Diversity/Multiculturalism
Despite stereotypes about the advantages of privilege, advantaged students exhibit high rates of psychological distress, often overlooked in school settings. How can educators respond more fully to the problems and vulnerabilities that privilege brings with it? How can we bridge the “empathy gap” that can result from privilege? We will discuss how schools and teachers can address these issues through learning to listen more fully to both wealthy students and their parents.
Sam Osherson, Faculty, Stanley King Counseling Institute, MA

B-11 Deepening the Discussion About Race: A Transformational Model for Faculty Development
December 6 • 1:15pm – 2:15pm
Diversity/Multiculturalism
We will present a model for professional development that uses race as a starting point to engage faculty in transformational change for equity and inclusion in their school. Prioritizing the exploration of race, which has been one of the most historically challenging conversations, also reveals tools to use in other arenas of equity and inclusion. Developed in 2012, “Deepening” helps faculty develop a deeper awareness of how race impacts how one teaches and leads and the skills needed to create a more equitable school culture.
Holly Hinderlie, Wellness Coordinator, Choate Rosemary Hall, CT
Eliza Alexander, Interim Executive Director, Independent School Association of Northern New England, ME

C-8 Discussion Group: A Wolf Pack for Under-Served Students
December 6 • 3:15pm – 4:30pm
Diversity/Multiculturalism
Schools that serve primarily low income students in a boarding setting often feel as though they are lone wolves. Come find your pack at this session to start a collaboration among schools with like-missions. Development strategies, curriculum best practices, sustainability challenges and student services are among the top areas where we can learn from one another and emerge stronger. Participants should be prepared for an interactive hour!
Laura Henry, Director, Chinquapin Preparatory School, TX
Chris Horton, Director of Residence Life, Chinquapin Preparatory School, TX

D-6 Building a Pipeline: Recruiting and Retaining a Diverse Faculty
December 7 • 8:30am – 9:30am
Diversity/Multiculturalism
How do we attract prospective faculty members who aren’t already aware of boarding schools as an option? How can we source candidates who don’t already know who we are? How do we address misconceptions potential candidates may have about boarding schools? How can we diversify our candidate pool? What do we need to do to retain faculty who may not fit the traditional mold of boarding school teacher? This session will focus on how Blair Academy and Lake Forest Academy have approached recruiting and retention to support a diverse student population in the last decade and on the institutional frameworks that we have established. We will also share how we track and report our progress to our larger community and what processes we have put in place to continue our practices in the future.
Chris Fortunato, Head of School, Blair Academy, NJ
Tom Johnson, Dean of Faculty, Lake Forest Academy, IL
Robin Scheman, Member of the Board of Trustees, Blair Academy, NJ
Kristin Paisley, Director of Business Services and Human Resources, Lake Forest Academy, IL