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 DEI Committment

DEI Commitment icon

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

“The healthy social life is found when in the mirror of each human soul the whole community finds its reflection, and when in the community the strength of each human soul is living.”

— Rudolf Steiner

Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm is committed to:

  • Recognizing all people in their full humanity;

  • Striving to provide an inclusive learning environment where all are seen, heard and welcomed;

  • Becoming agents of change by: Learning from mistakes or oversights, Informing ourselves and engaging in meaningful conversation

  • Recognizing inequity, injustice and inequality in our history and current affairs, in order to make conscious choices to grow toward equity, justice, inclusivity and diversity in our school;

  • Widening views to inform classroom teaching, relationships with parents, students and colleagues, and interactions with the community;

  • Understanding that the topics of diversity, equity and inclusion are learning and growth opportunities that are ever evolving.

Meet our DEI Committee

The DEI committee works to accomplish these goals:

  • Respond in a timely manner to DEI needs arising out of the community;

  • Keep track of recommendations and follow through with proposals;

  • Re-examine with DEI principles all festivals and curriculum-related materials offered at Summerfield. This includes but is not limited to: stories, history perspectives, religious and government holidays, plays, music, movement, field trips, guest teachers and speakers for classes, imagery displayed in classes, arts and crafts, reference materials and class readers;

  • Develop, manage and cultivate DEI programs and speaker events, in keeping with the school’s mission and learning goals;

  • Propose and schedule teacher and staff training on DEI topics;

  • Explore how to attract and retain employees who represent members of the larger society who are currently missing from our student and parent body, faculty and/or staff.

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DEI Committee Members

  • Donald Basmajian (he/him) – DEI Committee Chair & Class Teacher
    Lisa Hensley (she/her) – Finance & Facilities Manager and Safety Coordinator.
    Barb Kobabe – LS/HS Practical Arts & LS Handwork
    Kate MacKillop (she/her) – High School Counselor
    Kibby MacKinnon (she/her) – Class Teacher & College Co-Chair
    Saskia Pothof (she/her) – Class Teacher & College Co-Chair
    Andrea Vander Pluym (she/her) – Class Teacher

 

DEI Committee: 

dei@summerfieldwaldorf.org

LGBQTIAA++ Safe Space Group

The LGBQTIAA++ Safe Space is a group for 7th-12th graders that meets weekly and is facilitated by Summerfield faculty members (listed below). Safe Space Group provides a welcoming and accepting social space for students and their allies to support and learn from each other, and explore relevant topics and concerns.
 

Faculty Member Facilitators

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Students who are interested in creating and leading an affinity group can contact the DEI Committee above to learn more about affinity group leadership and facilitation.

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