Equity, Diversity, & Inclusivity

The Waldorf School of Pittsburgh is founded on the principles that affirm our common humanity and the equality of all people. We believe that the educational experience of all children is enriched when they play and learn in the company of peers from diverse backgrounds.

 

We acknowledge that systemic biases and inequities are embedded in our society and institutions. Naming these forms of inequity, and recognizing and assessing their impact, is essential to dismantling them. Our work is to limit these experiences as much as possible and respond in a restorative manner when these instances arise.

 

It is therefore the policy of WSP to strive for broad representation and celebrate diversity within our entire community (the student body, the Faculty/Staff/Administration, families, and the Board), and curriculum so that they mirror the richness of the community and world in which we live. We are committed to increasing our capacity to work for equity, inclusion, and justice.

 

Purpose

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Committee is an advisory committee that exists to support the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh by welcoming, supporting, and connecting families from non-dominant groups to each other and to our entire school community to create strong relationships. We work to help families and students from dominant groups understand their privilege and act as allies to others. We aim to provide opportunities to affirm the children and their families, making space for students to be their authentic selves.We are a resource to the entire community for ongoing self-education on EDI topics.

 

Goals

• Promote and support opportunities for connection, community, representation, and access for students and families who are underrepresented in our community.

• Provide opportunities for students to unify and work collectively to foster tenacity, truth, and the ability to organize around the priorities that they deem important in their education. We acknowledge that a sense of authenticity and belonging has been shown to have a positive effect on academic performance and self esteem.

• Help school employees understand and advocate for the various ways that families express their desires for equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice. We recognize that there are unique and distinct expressions that deserve to be named and understood. 

• Identify resources that can provide the material support needed for programs, enrichment opportunities, staffing, and professional learning that deepens the school’s equity work.

• Institutionalize events and enrichment opportunities so they can be sustainably held by the school.

• Support and review effectiveness of the following:

  • Marketing/recruitment/retention efforts focused on students and employees who are underrepresented in our community

  • Professional development for school employees

  • Professional development for Board members

  • Parent and student education around EDI issues

 

Structure

The EDI Committee consists of at least one representative from the Board, Administration, Early Childhood Faculty, wider educational/scholarly community in Pittsburgh, and Grades Faculty in addition to parents/caregivers of WSP students. Ideally the committee would be between 6 to 12 members with significant representation from underrepresented groups in our community. Members are requested to commit to a minimum of a year of service and are expected to attend the majority of meetings.

 

Committee Meetings:

Meetings occur twice monthly. Co-chairs are responsible for creating and circulating the agenda (all committee members may add items to the agenda in advance of the meetings), sending meeting reminders, facilitating the meeting, and ensuring that minutes are taken.

 

Communication/Reporting

Co-chairs will provide a written update from the Committee to the Board in advance of each Board meeting. Written reports for the Board will be shared back through the bodies of the school through the following conduits:

• Early Childhood Faculty member will share reports with Early Childhood Faculty

• Grades Faculty member will share reports with Grades Faculty

• Administration member will share reports with Administration

• Parent Association Representative to the Board will share reports with the PA through 

• the four yearly PA meetings (September, November, February and April). 

 

The EDI Committee is expected to provide an annual report at the end of each fiscal year to the Board, containing a self-assessment of the committee’s effectiveness and describing accomplishments relative to stated  goals and responsibilities, including identifying challenges and barriers encountered during the year, and recommendations for solutions.

 

Scope

We function as a supporting body to the school with the purpose of driving change to make our community more inclusive and equitable. The various representatives of the school bodies on the committee bring our recommendations to those bodies for final decisions. (ex. pedagogy suggestions go to faculty, financial suggestions go to the board…)

 

Accountability

The committee shall review its stated goals and objectives at the beginning, middle, and end of each school year to assess the effectiveness of its work. If there are areas in which the committee is ineffective, we will work collaboratively to create a solution. Accepted recommendations will be followed on a regular basis with documentation of follow through, next steps, and any issues of delay in implementation. The Board of Trustees will review the EDI Mandate on a yearly basis. The Board will review all EDI Committee reports and will bring recommendations into Board work (budget, strategic planning, professional development, Board goals, etc.).