Equity and Inclusion

At Greens Farms Academy, we embrace, honor and affirm all members of our school community across race, age, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, family composition, ability/disability, learning styles, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and other characteristics that construct our unique identities. We seek to ensure that all aspects of school life — including curriculum, admission, retention, hiring practices, and support for students, families, and employees — reflect our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Coyle Scholar
January 26, 2021: Julie Lythcott-Haims

"What It Means to Be Black in White Spaces"

In this powerful talk on identity and community, Julie Lythcott-Haims will share her experience as a Black and biracial woman growing up in white spaces. She found that even as she accomplished so much—graduating from Stanford University and Harvard Law School, working as a corporate lawyer and as Stanford's first-ever dean of freshmen—she still couldn't escape the grip racism, discrimination, and microaggressions had on her sense of self. In this talk, she will share how she found self-acceptance through the healing power of community. Her story is deeply personal, but its message is universal: people from marginalized communities will recognize echoes of their own experiences, and allies will learn how they can better show up, listen, and advocate for others.

In Lythcott-Haims' Real American: A Memoir, she writes a powerful and award-winning reflection of identity, belonging, and community, and details growing up Black and biracial in white spaces. She shares the role that racism, discrimination, and microaggressions took on her self-worth, and how she found acceptance through community.

To purchase a copy of Real American: A Memoir, click here.

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An Update from the Head of School

Jul 1 2020

By Bob Whelan
Head of School

Over the last month, we have witnessed yet again how the nation’s long legacy of racism continues to damage and destroy the lives of Black and Brown people. We also have witnessed a vital and impassioned national conversation about inequality, racism, and the notable absence of a just and fair society for all.

Alumni Perspectives: Acknowledge the Inequities

Jun 29 2020

By Shanelle Henry
Director of Equity and Inclusion

On June 19, in honor and recognition of the history of Juneteenth, I extended an invitation to Black alumni to gather in affinity and amplify their voices and concerns as Black alumni of GFA. The conversation was raw, painful, and revealed deep and long-held wounds. Paraphrasing Dr. King’s question (above), I asked the group: “What is it that GFA has failed to hear?”

Race-Consciousness: Recommended Reading

Jun 12 2020

By Shanelle Henry
Director of Equity & Inclusion

Not surprisingly, in recent weeks, the most common question I have been asked is, "How are you?" The second most common question has been, "What can I do?" I am always grateful to those who actively seek to do the hard internal work of becoming critically race-conscious.

A message from Shanelle Henry, Director of Equity and Inclusion

I am so excited to be a member of this community! I feel privileged to work in a PreK–12 educational environment where our students are urged to explore their place in — and potential impact on — the world. Our mission calls upon us to prepare students for a life of purpose. This can (and should) be defined in many different ways, and that compels us to continue to do no less than our very best to maintain our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community that values the identities, perspectives, and experiences of all its members. Our motto, “Each For All,” demands nothing less.

One of the most critical elements of equity work in schools is strong and courageous leadership. The charge of shepherding a school’s equity and inclusion efforts is both complex and rewarding. It is my aim to ensure that all constituencies on campus, from our youngest learners to our most tenured faculty and staff, have an opportunity to be part of the voice and structure of what makes GFA unique. GFA is home to thousands of stories, and those stories — and the voices that tell them — make us strong.

We are writing the next chapter of what it means to be Greens Farms Academy.

Each for All.

Shanelle Henry,
Director of Equity and Inclusion

Our GFA Values

By Bob Whelan
Head of School

As the events of the last few days, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, have been unfolding in the news, I keep thinking about the impact they are having on our kids. I've been thinking about our black students and our students of color, their families, my colleagues of color, their loved ones, and how this must feel. I'm thinking about our white students and their families, and what they are thinking as they seek to make meaning of this as they consider race, injustice, and their place in the world.

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

Our curriculum is grounded in supporting positive identity development for all students. Starting in Pre-Kindergarten, students engage vital questions of inclusion, equity, and social justice in developmentally appropriate ways. Our PreK-12 curriculum evolves continuously to include and affirm a wide range of voices, perspectives and social identities.

LOWER SCHOOL

Our Lower School curriculum asks essential questions to help our youngest learners begin to think critically about their individual identities, celebrate cultural diversity, build cross-cultural relationships, and challenge assumptions and stereotypes.

In the Lower School, teachers at each grade level have been working to incorporate projects and themes linked to the social justice standards. That division has also significantly expanded the library collection with an eye to incorporating a spectrum of identities.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Throughout Middle School and across disciplines, GFA students are taught to engage difference both curiously and respectfully as they consider issues of equality, human rights, and stereotypes. As an example, our English curriculum incorporates voices from a wide breadth of cultures and experiences, and students study American history by engaging with the complexity of our country’s story through diverse perspectives.

Advisory and grade-level meetings have engaged students in workshops around a number of inclusion and social justice issues. That division has also started a QUEST (LGBTQ) club and an elective focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

UPPER SCHOOL

Our curriculum in the Upper School includes a number of courses focused on equity and inclusion. In Ninth Grade Seminar, students exercise the skills to critically analyze and discuss identity, privilege and marginalization, structural racism and discrimination. Throughout the disciplines, students are regularly exposed to speakers, writers, artists and others to learn about issues in society at home and abroad.

There are also a number of new course opportunities focused on these themes in English, Global Studies, and History, along with course offerings in our May Term program.

Students in Qualitative Research have investigated a number of DEI-related issues: political viewpoint tolerance, the connection between friendship circles and core identifiers, gender distribution among Upper School clubs, study of socioeconomic class and inclusion, and the relationship between student stress and core identifiers.

STUDENT CLUBS AND PROGRAMS

Each year, GFA Middle School and Upper School students regularly participate in regional and national conferences, including the annual National Association of Independent Schools’ Student Diversity Leadership Conference, the White Privilege Conference Youth Action Project, and the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools’ Student Diversity Leadership Conference. The Equity & Social Justice Seminar is an annual Upper School program at GFA that brings together current students and alumni from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to engage in activities and dialogue about diversity and inclusion. Each year, Upper School students organize a day of exploration and advocacy around issues of gender identity, and each October, the school celebrates Unity Day, for the purpose of "coming together with schools around the world and wear orange to stand together against bullying and unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion."

SPECTRUM – a student-led discussion group in the Middle School that explores the experiences and impacts of race, culture, and gender in students’ lives.

LEAD (Learning and Educating About Diversity) – a student-led club in the Upper School dedicated to exploring identity, equity and inclusion in the GFA community through dialogue and programs.

QUEST (Questioning, Understanding, and Educating about Sexuality Today) – the Upper School Gender & Sexuality Alliance, QUEST seeks to ensure that GFA is a safe space for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Students promote honest and open dialogue amongst their peers about LGBTQ+ issues through various activities and programs such as: LGBT History Month, Ally Week and the Day of Silence.

FACULTY AND STAFF

AFFINITY GROUPS – At GFA we are a professional community of teachers and learners. The term affinity group refers to people who share a similar identity but not necessarily the same experiences. Affinity Groups for Faculty and Staff at GFA exist as brave spaces for our faculty and staff to engage in critical self-reflection on their identities and the impact of power and privilege in their lives and practice. Participation in affinity groups ultimately strengthens the ties within the community and is central to creating an inclusive and thriving school for all of us.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT – Faculty members attend a variety of conferences and receive professional development training from organizations such as the National Association of Independent School (NAIS); the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE). As a demonstration of our commitment to equity and inclusion, GFA is dedicated to sending a cohort of faculty to the NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) and White Privilege Conference each year.

FACULTY AND STAFF COMMITTEE ON EQUITY AND INCLUSION – open to all GFA faculty and staff, the Committee meets regularly throughout the school year and focuses its efforts on ways to nurture a professional culture that values diversity, encourages mutual understanding, promotes cultural competency and embraces courageous conversations with safety and respect.

School-wide

GFA VOICES – an annual all-school celebration honoring our diverse, multicultural community. Students, faculty and families are invited to share and express their identities, traditions and perspectives through music, dancing, storytelling, artwork, creative writing, food and more.

LEARN MORE

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. COMMEMORATION PROGRAM – an annual all-school assembly to honor the life and vision of Dr. King through reflection, speakers, music, and more.

LEARN MORE

TRUSTEE COMMITTEE ON EQUITY AND INCLUSION – comprised of Board members, administrators, parents and alumni, the Committee works actively to support and promote GFA’s mission “to create and sustain a diverse and inclusive community that values the identities, perspectives, and experiences of all its members,” and develop deeper understandings of equity and inclusion definitions, language and practice.

FAMILY SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT

The Office of Equity and Inclusion at GFA supports families by providing programming and discussions on understanding equity and inclusion within our school community.

FAMILIES OF COLOR WELCOME SOCIAL AND MEET & GREET – an affinity-based social gathering at the start of the school year for new and current families of color to meet and connect with one another and discuss identity-specific experiences and resources available for them.

PARENT CONNECTION MEETINGS – Parent Connection meetings consist of a series of casual parent meetings for each division at school throughout the year when parents meet to discuss social and emotional development topics related to their children.

ADMISSIONS, HIRING AND OUTREACH

At GFA, we believe each child and adult should be able to see themselves reflected within our school community. Our partnership with organizations such as A Better Chance, Horizons, and REACH Prep make it possible for us to meet students and families from a variety of backgrounds who will enrich our school community. It is also vitally important that our faculty and staff represent a broad range of backgrounds and human experiences. Attending job fairs that promote diversity and working with agencies like Nemnet and Strategenius, among others, allows us to draw from diverse pools of highly qualified teaching and staff candidates.

INSTITUTE FOR TEACHING DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

As part of its commitment to fostering cultural competency, GFA has engaged Dr. Derrick Gay more than a dozen times in the last three years to work with students, faculty and staff. Gay is an internationally recognized consultant to businesses, educational, arts, and philanthropic organizations around the world on issues of Diversity and Inclusion, and Global Citizenship. He joined the GFA Board of Trustees in 2018. Read more:

Each for All

GFA’s commitment to building and nurturing an inclusive community is core to our mission. We believe:

a diverse faculty, staff, and student body benefits and enriches all members of our community and is critical to meeting our educational aim of preparing students for their futures;
our curriculum and co-curricular program must teach our students global competency and to espouse the habits, skills, and attitudes necessary to live and thrive in a multicultural and interconnected world;
our community must be a place where all voices are heard, respected, and valued.

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES, FACULTY AND STUDENTS

Resources In Independent School Education (RIISE)

NAIS People of Color Conference

Teaching While White

Social Justice Standards: the Teaching Tolerance Anti-Bias Curriculum Framework

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources: Student Health and Well-Being at the Intersection of Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Click here to hear Ms. Henry's guest spot on the NAIS podcastMember Voices

Upcoming Events

Director of Equity and Inclusion

Equity and Inclusion Coordinator

Ben Gott — Jennifer Ferreira
*Lower School*