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Ranney Delegation Attends Diversity Conference in Philly

Beginning November 30, 2011, eight Ranney students and four faculty members headed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a three-day Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) and People of Color Conference (PoCC). Hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), this inclusive annual workshop fosters inclusion, builds respect for diversity and tolerance, and develops student leadership.

More than 1,500 students — ranging grades nine through 12 — from independent schools across approximately 43 states and eight countries attended the workshop, during which they participated in leadership and diversity training led by a diverse team of adult and peer facilitators, who guided all in developing an appreciation of their own identities, building effective cross-cultural communication skills, and understanding the nature of effective strategies for social justice. Ranney students attending the workshop included freshman Adrienne Yang, 10th graders Andrew Aboujaoude, Elise Birde, Elinor Haney and Christopher Fakouh, junior Molly O’Neill and seniors Adam Nickel and Jood Ani. Aside from focusing on self-reflection, the formation of alliances and community building, bullying was another major issue discussed during the conference. After hearing stories from group members who had been terrorized by their classmates at one time or another, “I realized that Ranney is high up compared to other schools when it comes to protection from bullying,” said Andrew Aboujaoude.

Along with Ranney, there to discuss ways to continue the promotion of anti-bullying were more than 2,300 independent school teachers and administrators. Faculty-attendees from Ranney included Head of the Lower School and Associate Head for Academic Administration Patricia Lee Marshall, Director of Academic Affairs Robert Bowman, Ph.D., Upper School English Teacher Nicole Martone, D. Lit., and Dean of Students Noel Delgado, Ph.D. “We hope that interested faculty will help us set up a strong Diversity Club that will focus on student presentations and creating a diversity statement to enhance Ranney School’s commitment to diversity at all levels,” said Dr. Delgado.

Throughout its duration, these faculty and administrators were instructed on how to foster a positive and productive learning environment where every student feels valued – an already important part of Ranney’s mission-promise. Since returning from Philadelphia, student-leaders like Molly O’Neill have truly come to understand and fulfill this mission-promise. “I learned so much more about others who don’t necessarily look like me on the outside,” said Molly, who discovered several similarities that she may not have had in common with those of her gender, religion, race or ethnicity. She, along with Ranney’s other student delegates hope to implement training and experiences received at the conference during Diversity and Leadership Events to be held May 24, 2012.

Ranney has also attended the yearly Diversity Conference in such cities as Denver, New Orleans and San Diego. With the 2012 Diversity Conference set to be held in Houston, Texas from December 6-8, student-attendees from the 2011 event encourage their fellow peers to take part in this inspirational and life-changing event. For many, the conference was a privilege and experience that gave them a new perspective on diversity.
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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. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.