Ranney Delegation Attends Diversity Conference in San Diego

Beginning November 30, 2010, several Ranney students and faculty headed to San Diego, California, for the three-day Student Diversity Leadership Development Workshop and People of Color Conference. Hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the annual workshop fosters inclusion, builds respect for diversity and tolerance, and develops student leadership.

Over 1,300 students from independent schools across the nation attended the workshop. For two-and-a-half days, 11 Ranney students from grades nine through 11 participated in leadership and diversity training under the guidance of professional development coaches and independent school teachers. Ranney student-participants at the workshop included ninth graders Madison Boyan, Soroya Dookie and Steven Parlamas, tenth graders Veronika Fischer, Jordan Hesslein, Ben Puvalowski and Paul Sondhi, and juniors Melissa and Natalie Cantave, Chris Grosso and Adam Nickel. The workshop “pushed our comfort zone and opened our eyes to things we don’t see every day,” said Steven Parlamas ’14.

Also attending the conference were over 3,000 independent school teachers and administrators. Along with Head of School, Lawrence S. Sykoff, Ed.D., Upper Head of School Paul Zanowski, Director of College Guidance Myronee Simpson, Art Department Chair Kate Greenberg and Upper School History teacher Noel Delgado, Ph.D, took part in the conference. Throughout its duration, faculty and administrators were instructed on ways in which to foster a positive and productive learning environment where students feel valued and welcome - Ranney’s mission.

Since returning from San Diego, student leaders and teachers have discussed ways in which they can use the leadership skills they learned to further advance Ranney’s mission promise to know and value each student. Ranney’s student delegates hope to implement training and experiences received at the conference through programs and projects that support the school’s commitment to diversity and benefit the entire Ranney community. Expect to see more information about diversity initiatives at Ranney in the upcoming months.

With the 2011 Diversity Conference set to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, student-attendees from the 2010 event believe it essential that 10 different kids be granted the experience to take part in this inspirational and life-changing event. For many, the conference was a privilege and experience that they would like to share in every which way possible.