Doing “The Work”: Community, Connection, and Support for DEIB Practitioners
Nov 15, 2024—Mar 13, 2025
Location
Prospect Sierra Lower School
Cost Early Bird Pricing for Members (Available until Oct 23) $1,925 members; $1,625 group-rate 3+; $3,000 non-members
Categories Equity & Inclusion, Hybrid, In-Person, Leadership, Ongoing Program, School Leaders
Doing “The Work”: Community, Connection, and Support for DEIB Practitioners
SESSION 1: November 15, 2024 | 9:30am - 11:30am | Virtual
SESSION 2: January 17, 2025 | 10:00am - 3:00pm | Prospect Sierra Lower School
SESSION 3: February 14, 2025 | 9:30am - 11:30am | Virtual
SESSION 4: March 13, 2025 | 10:00am - 3:00pm | Prospect Sierra Lower School
ABOUT THIS HYBRID ONGOING PROGRAM
Doing “The Work” of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at an independent school can be slow, taxing, and isolating just as much, if not more, than it can be rewarding. Schools typically have only one to a few people tasked with responding to harm, re-evaluating and creating equitable systems, building community, supporting students who don’t fit the dominant profile, and the list goes on. In a changing world where the societal context is a moving target, how can DEIB practitioners link arms in order to do this heavy lifting together?
Facilitated by members of The San Francisco Equity Leaders (SFEL), a cohort of DEI Directors from Bay Area independent schools and consultants, this ongoing program is intended for people who are doing DEIB work in official and “unofficial” roles. It is meant to provide participants with a safe and supportive community to reflect, share stories, and learn from each other.
Participants will:
- Reflect on our personal identities, why we do this work, and what is challenging and rewarding about it
- Connect with each other and establish a communal network of shared wisdom and resources
- Envision and explore different ways to approach DEIB work
- Receive support, affirmation, and encouragement from peers
AUDIENCE
This ongoing program is intended for people in DEIB, community, and school culture-centered roles, as well as people who “unofficially” assume these roles.
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
Quise Rodriguez holds an administrative credential as well as a Master’s Degree in Social Justice and Equity in Education from UC, Berkeley. She brings over 16 years of experience working as both a teacher and administrator in independent and public schools. She is currently the Elementary Division Head at Prospect Sierra School in El Cerrito, CA.
Josephine Saunders has been an educator for over 25 years, in public, international and independent schools. She has served in schools in the UK, Boston, Washington DC, and San Francisco. She is currently the Associate Head of School at Presidio Hill School and serves on the Advisory Board at Breakthrough San Francisco. Previously, she was the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at San Francisco Day School. She is passionate about working and developing educators and has worn many hats over the years. Her previous roles have included preschool to 9th-grade teacher, Lower School Director, New Service Teacher Coach, supporting teachers through the BATTI (Bay Area Teacher Training Institute) program as a supervisor, and an Equity and Inclusion Coach. Josephine loves to share her passion for learning, growing, and healing in community.
Anthony Witte is the founder of Witte's End Consulting, LLC, a DEIB firm. He brings 20 years of experience as an educator, from teaching to leading diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. His graduate studies in Education, Equity, and Social Justice from San Francisco State University ignited a passion for helping people from all backgrounds move from awareness to social action. He is a founding member of the San Francisco Equity Leaders diversity consortium and a board member of People of Color in Independent Schools (POCIS) and STRIDES. He has presented nationally at educational conferences and co-authored Diversity Work in Independent Schools: The Practice and the Practitioner and Belonging: Assessing the ‘B’ in DEIB Work.
HOST AND PARTNER SCHOOL
CATDC partners with member schools to host our in-person programs, providing educators the opportunity to learn with peers in diverse settings. We are thrilled to partner with Prosect Sierra School on this ongoing program, welcoming the larger independent school community to meet on their campus throughout the school year.
Cancellation Policy
Life happens. We understand that there will be times when you cannot attend a workshop that you have registered and paid for. We strive to be as helpful and flexible as possible when things out of your control happen. Please visit our FAQ page for detailed information about our cancellation policy and answers to frequently asked questions about enrollment and membership.