Equity and Inclusion

Max Rosenberg

Class of 2023

Liyana

"The Day of Silence is so important because it provides a space for our LGBTQ+ friends and allies to come together and show their support. It is a reminder that you're never alone and there are people at GFA, and around the globe, who love you for who you are."

I am grateful that GFA has made a conscious effort to create spaces so students can find their own voices.

Lucy Biggers

Director of Equity & Inclusion

Shanelle Henry

"Racial equity work is — and should be — disorienting. It is about becoming comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations about race and racism, systemic oppression, and all of the inequitable practices that have plagued our country for centuries. ... We must focus on the issues of racial equity at our school. The time is NOW." Read more

Being honest about who we are, what we know, what we’ve ignored, and what we now understand will help move us forward.

John Smith

MS English, Equity & Inclusion Coordinator

Ben Gott

We must start from a place of love for the people around us; of willingness to engage with the individuals within our institutions that aren’t quite “there” yet; and of hope that we can make contributions in our own sphere that might bring other institutions along with us." Read more

GFA is poised to do groundbreaking work in this area.

Carolyn Hale

Upper School Club

QUEST

The two students wanted to turn one of the crosswalks at GFA into a rainbow, hoping to make a clear statement that LGBTQ+ students are known and loved in this community. Read more

Even if we’re not there to talk about the crosswalk, people see it as an important sign of what the school stands behind and stands with.

In Our Own Words

Lessons from the Student Diversity Leadership Conference

Feb 21 2019

By Jasmine Joseph ’20

Even when you think you know everything that there is to know, there is always more learn. That’s a saying that I (and I’m pretty sure most people) have heard throughout their lives. The Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) is a life-changing, informative conference that discusses diversity within independent schools.

MLK Assembly 2023

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

Equity and Inclusion at GFA

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.

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.

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, education and discussion on understanding equity and inclusion within our school community.

BLACK FAMILIES WELCOME SOCIAL AND BBQ – 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 allows us to draw from diverse pools of highly qualified teaching and staff candidates.

INSTITUTE FOR TEACHING DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Resources for Families, Faculty, and Students

Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism (PBS.org)

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

Guide for Parents of Asian/Asian American Adolescents

GFA Director of Equity and Inclusion Shanelle Henry collaborated on a Day After Election Guide (published by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities)

Equity & Inclusion Team

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.

Director of Equity & Inclusion

Shanelle Henry

Equity & Inclusion Coordinator

Equity & Inclusion Coordinator

Equity & Inclusion Coordinator

Equity & Inclusion Coordinator

Equity & Inclusion Coordinator

Equity & Inclusion Coordinator

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.

Listen to GFA Director of Equity and Inclusion Shanelle Henry discussing the Day After Election Guide on the podcast Third Space with Jen Cort:

Listen here

Explore the Voices Multicultural Cookbook

If you would like your recipe added, please email it to voices@gfacademy.org.

Coyle Scholar: Julie Lythcott-Haims

"What it Means to Be Black in White Spaces"

"What it Means to Be Black in White Spaces"

Click here for Ms. Henry's panel discussion with TEAM Westport: "Towards Becoming an Anti-Racist Society: Talking With Young Children About Race & Racism"

Click here for Ms. Henry's Panel discussion with YWCA Greenwich: "Black @: A Conversation About Race, Culture and Curriculum in Our Schools"

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

BEYOND HEALING CONFERENCE

Moving beyond healing to create affirming, joyful, and culturally centered learning environments for Black students.

This 1-day conference is designed to foster dialogue, share innovative solutions, and provide practical tools for ALL educators (teachers, administrators, DEIB practitioners, counselors, learning specialists, coaches and others) who seek knowledge and best practices for supporting Black students to thrive in independent schools.

Register to attend a series of workshops, hear from KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Daryl Howard, Maryland State Department of Education Task Force on Equity and Excellence for Black Boys, and end with a SPECIAL FIRESIDE CHAT WITH: Cole Brown, author, Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World and Kendra James, author, Admissions: A Memoir of Surviving Boarding School.