Diversity at Atrium

By Jaleesa Anselm, Kindergarten Teacher / Diversity Committee Chair

Did you know that Atrium has a Diversity Committee? From its inception, Atrium has valued diversity and multiculturalism in its students, faculty, staff, and curriculum. That has not changed!

This year, the Diversity Committee, which is a Board of Trustees sub committee, has been hard at work assessing the ways in which Atrium is a diverse community, as well as the ways we can become even more diverse. Part of that assessment work has been done through engaging with consultants, going to various workshops and conferences focusing on diversity initiatives, as well as conversations and collaboration with colleagues from other independent schools both locally and around the country to discuss how to achieve the goals of our strategic plan.

One of these conferences was the National Association of Independent Schools’ People of Color Conference, which was held in Tampa, Florida from December 3-5, that I was fortunate enough to be able to attend. The conference, which has been held every year since 1988 and is also paired with a student leadership conference, allowed me the opportunity not only to engage with colleagues, but to also be in a room full of educators all looking for ways to grow their programs.  

The 2015 People of Color Conference (PoCC) and Student Diversity Leadership Conference explored the theme Art, Science, Soul, and the Equity Imperative during general sessions, affinity groups, and workshops led by independent school peers.

All attendees participated in mini workshops, affinity groups, large group key notes, and networking sessions. As the Chair of Atrium's Diversity Committee, I came back with so many new resources to share and more people to consult with. Collaboration truly is an educator’s best tool.

As a committee, we always welcome feedback from the community and, in that vein, we will be holding a few events this spring to engage in these necessary conversations about how to talk about race, privilege, ability, gender, and all of the other things that make us who we are as a school.

We hope to see many families at both the film screening of I’m not racist ...am I? (February 4th, 7-9pm) and our parent forum discussion on The Case About Reparations (March 10th, 7-9pm). We eagerly look forward to dialoguing with you!