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Conferences Further Promote School’s Diversity Work

Students and faculty share ideas for and gain insight into bringing diversity and equity into the classroom.
Ranney School has participated in the National Association of Independent Schools’ (NAIS) People of Color Conference/Student Diversity Leadership Conference (PoCC/SDLC) for the past several years. This December, six students and three faculty members once again headed to the national meeting to focus on leadership and community building. This year’s event was held in Tampa, Florida, from December 2-5, 2015.
 
Ms. Kate Greenberg, Mr. John Doyle and Senora Jeanette Cordero represented Ranney School’s faculty across all three divisions at the PoCC by attending daily sessions on diversity in independent schools, as well as participating in affinity groups that addressed difficult conversations on gender, racism and sexual identity in young people today. Said Ms. Greenberg, who coordinates Ranney’s participation in the event, “POCC is a very unique conference which provides a safe space for well-intentioned faculty and students to understand hidden biases, to bridge understanding between different identity groups, to meet colleagues working in the areas of diversity and to find new ways in which we can bring diversity and equity into our classrooms. Attendees have the opportunity to network and build connections in support of their own growth and development as well as that of their schools.”
 
For example, Mr. Doyle, said “Each focus group afforded me the opportunity to learn from independent educators across the country on topics necessary for our school to truly afford all children a learning environment that is safe, and that encourages each student to learn at their best.”
 
Sra. Cordero, who also attended the 2008 PoCC in New Orleans, added, “The collaborative event helps faculty to understand how they can better embrace diversity in student life and academics.”
 
While faculty attended the PoCC, the following Upper School students attended the SDLC: Christine Raso, Aidan Denver-Moore, Robert Odell, Isabelle Heckler, Mari Patient and Athena Dookie. SDLC is a multiracial, multicultural gathering of student leaders in grades 9-12 from across the country. he conference focuses on self-reflecting, forming allies and building community. Led by a diverse team of trained adult and peer facilitators, participants develop effective cross-cultural communication skills, better understand the nature and development of effective strategies for social justice, practice expression through the arts, and learn networking principles and strategies. In addition to large group sessions, SDLC “family groups” and “home groups” allow for intense dialogue and sharing. ​

Said Christine Raso, “For me, SDLC was an eye-opening experience because I met so many people from such diverse backgrounds. I have never been so comfortable in a room full of 1,599 people. I always felt my voice was heard because everyone in my family group respected each other’s opinions. We spoke a lot about white privilege and how we can use that to help minorities. Another major part of the conference was learning how to be an ally. Being an ally means learning to know when to step in, but also when to step out. You want to stand up for the victim, but make sure not to suppress the victim’s voice, for example. I hope to bring a lot of the exercises we did back to Ranney because having a live example really made an impact on me.”
 
Ranney students were paired with students from the all-male St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City to share and discuss ideas at the end of the conference. The two schools formed such a bond that Ranney students plan to visit them this spring as well as host the boys on campus for a diversity event.
 
In addition, the faculty and students who attended the conferences will be sharing their experiences with the full school community in early 2016. They will present their recommendations for how the speakers, policies, programs, community education and in-class curriculum they learned about at PoCC/SDLC can  be brought to Ranney to further our institutional goals of diversity, equity and justice.
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.