Equity & Inclusion Action Plan

With the support of the Board of Trustees, Shady Side Academy's executive leadership team announced the following long-term Equity and Inclusion Action Plan on July 15, 2020.

Note: Progress updates as of 1/13/21 are bulleted under each action item in blue italics.

To Advance Our Vision and Leadership, Shady Side Academy Will:

Dedicate the work of the Board of Trustees’ Community Life Committee, led by alumnus parent and trustee Jeff McDaniel ‘88, to the oversight and evaluation of the administration’s ongoing equity and inclusion work, and the initiatives identified below.
Enlist the support of an outside consultant to direct a thorough, objective review of Shady Side’s climate and policies in order to identify key areas of improvement for our equity and inclusion practice.
- Working with Storbeck Diversified Search Group to conduct a climate assessment and audit of Shady Side's recruitment of and support for faculty and administrators of color
Expand the Office of Equity and Inclusion through the appointment of an assistant program coordinator and the launch of an early career fellowship program.
Support the continued development of our new African American Alumni Advisory Council and establish a range of other affinity groups for alumni of color with an emphasis on engagement, support and student connections.
- The African American Alumni Advisory Council has begun hosting events to support our African American students, including a discussion series with the Senior School Black Student Union (BSU)
- Established the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Awareness (IDEA) Alumni Committee

To Create a More Inclusive School Climate and Culture, Shady Side Academy Will:

Review expectations for student conduct and make more explicit our intolerance of behaviors that compromise the experience of our community members.
Review both the language and implementation of disciplinary policies on each campus to make certain that acts of prejudice, discrimination, and racial insensitivity are not tolerated and that the disciplinary process is clear and transparent.
- Collaborating with the Piedmont Dispute Resolution Center on the pilot and launch of a restorative practice disciplinary model at the Senior School.
Conduct a rigorous review and revision of the PK-12 curriculum to ensure it affords a strong representation of the voices, stories, and positive contributions of Black and historically underrepresented individuals and groups.
Partner with organizations that empower students to navigate social media and technology positively in support of healthy relationships, character development, and wellness.
- Established a three-year partnership with The Social Institute in support of curriculum dedicated to positive social media and technology use and social-emotional health and wellness.
Augment cultural competency, inclusion, and racial equity education for faculty, staff, and administration; establish a professional development and evaluation program that integrates these components as permanent measures of professional learning.

To Ensure Our School Community Promotes Open and Civil Discourse, Shady Side Academy Will:

Establish community norms for civil discourse and the expression and tolerance of different perspectives.
- Created the student Community Collaboration Committee, which worked to developed SSA's new Community Norms for Civil Discourse, launched in September 2020 and featured in EAB's Toolkit for Civil Campus Discourse
Clarify expectations for the faculty and administration regarding the sharing of personal views in classroom and educational settings.
- Issued President's Office guidance statement on political expression and speech in the classroom
Provide faculty and administration in-depth professional development that includes opportunities to engage and practice in civil discourse about difficult and challenging topics.

To Make Certain Our School Community Better Represents Our Diverse City and World, Shady Side Academy Will:

Create a new position on our executive leadership team reporting to the president and dedicated to the recruitment, retention, and development of a racially diverse and culturally competent faculty across all divisions.
- A new Director of Faculty Recruitment position will be added, effective July 1, 2021. With support from Storbeck Diversified Search Group, a position opportunity statement has been developed and a search will be launched in January 2021.
Institute objectives, key metrics, and supports for the recruitment and retention of Black and historically underrepresented administrators, faculty, and staff at all divisions.
Broaden our outreach, engagement, and access efforts in order to enroll a more diverse student population across all divisions, with particular focus on the increased enrollment of Black and Latinx students.

To Assess Our Progress and Ensure Accountability, Shady Side Academy Will:

To Sustain and Provide Financial Support for These Efforts, Shady Side Academy Will:

Establish an endowed equity and inclusion fund to provide both immediate and permanent financial support for these mission-critical initiatives. This fund will provide support above and beyond the annual operating budget.
- Initial $25,000 seed gift received from Roland Criswell '95 in 2020.
- As of Jan. 13, 2021, $75,000 had been raised in gifts and pledges.
- An endowed fund can be established at $250,000.
- Contact Dr. Allison Saras for more information or to make a gift.

We recognize the need to continue conversation in support of these initiatives, with our whole community and especially our students, who we are preparing to lead responsibly and compassionately in a complex, diverse world. We look forward to the ways in which our coming together will help us augment and expand upon these action steps.

Office of Equity and Inclusion

Lillian Grate
Director of Equity, Inclusion and Community Relations
412-447-2213
Email Lillian

The Office

Partners with Academy administration to inform and create equitable policies and practices
Collaborates and consults with school heads to build inclusive and equitable communities
Works with faculty to develop multicultural curricula that represent the diversity of our community and beyond
Offers education and support to parents, students, trustees and staff

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