Our Episcopal Identity - The Episcopal School of Dallas

ESD's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Approved by Episcopal Identity Committee of the Board, January 6, 2022. Approved by the Board of Directors, January 13, 2022.

The Board, in partnership with the school’s executive leadership, has worked to reaffirm our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at The Episcopal School of Dallas.

I am a heart open to others.

ESD Manifesto

This commitment is not new; it is an ongoing effort that was embodied in formal commitments made by the school in 1996, 2005, and 2015. Diversity, equity, and inclusion at ESD are defined as follows:

Diversity: Casting as wide a net as possible to attract and retain the best and most spirited people to work, teach, and learn at ESD so as to enrich our community through their variety of talents and perspectives.

Equity: Ensuring that all members of our community have the tools and the environment they need to succeed and be the best version of themselves.

Inclusion: Ensuring that every person at ESD feels a sense of being an integral part of our community and that they have their place within our broader school culture.

The goal of the Board in this work is to help the school achieve a fuller expression of its Episcopal Identity as grounded in the gospels and the teachings of Jesus, and to achieve its mission of igniting lives of purpose through the development of an educated conscience. In the baptismal covenant of the Episcopal Church, the faithful are called to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” The commitments made herein are a further articulation of that call. Our Founding Rector and Headmaster, The Reverend Canon Stephen B. Swann, often proclaimed, “Every child is made in the image of a loving God,” to remind students, faculty, and staff of their roles in embracing and shepherding all in our community.

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The children attending our school now will leave the relative shelter of ESD soon and live their most productive and fulfilling years at mid‐century. In order to be ready for that world they will need an understanding of the joy, strength, and value of diverse perspectives necessary to succeed in an increasingly diverse community. By having our work guided by these commitments, we believe each of our students will be better prepared to successfully live a life of purpose. Therefore, the Board reaffirms our commitment, which includes a continuing effort to fulfill the following objectives: Be a school that reflects and values the diversity of our community in all its forms, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and political viewpoint. Ensure that all students and employees feel like they belong at ESD, are fully included in the life and culture of the school, and have a safe environment in which to become their best selves. Ensure that all students and employees feel respected and valued regardless of who they are or what they believe. Ensure that the faculty and staff have the training necessary to teach, in the classroom and by example, the tenets of our Episcopal Identity, including around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ensure that all students and employees are treated fairly and have equitable access to opportunities at ESD. In order to achieve these objectives, we have asked the school administration to ensure that ESD will continually: Unify the ESD community, especially around our shared belief that every child is made in the image of a loving God. Review and enhance the structures and systems within the school to encourage an increase in diversity in our community. Be proactive in ensuring that the curriculum reflects multiple perspectives and all school policies are nondiscriminatory and free of bias. Ensure that teachers are able to understand cultural differences when planning lessons and managing classrooms. Collaboratively engage the voices of faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community. Review the implementation of these efforts, including soliciting input from the school community. The Board understands that we live in a highly politicized world with many sources of information and misinformation. In some circumstances, this can lead to misconceptions about the school's direction. To address potential misconceptions, we note specifically that our commitment and objectives are: Not a change in our Mission or departure from our Episcopal Identity. Not a devaluation of our teaching of the Gospel. Not a curriculum change to teach that being part of an ethnic or racial group makes a person responsible for systemic problems, or to cast blame on or shame any member of the community for actions that took place in history. Not the teaching of Critical Race Theory. Not a mandate that the school encourage children to question or not question their sexual identity or sexual orientation. Not the introduction of a political agenda into the classroom or chapel. Not a devaluation of the concept of merit in determining student achievement. Since we are a community with a variety of perspectives on these issues, it is imperative that all community members communicate with each other in accordance with the principles of honor, respect, and integrity. Our Code of Conduct states: “We take pride in making a commitment to these higher ideals and hold each other accountable when we fall short.”

The children attending our school now will leave the relative shelter of ESD soon and live their most productive and fulfilling years at mid‐century. In order to be ready for that world they will need an understanding of the joy, strength, and value of diverse perspectives necessary to succeed in an increasingly diverse community. By having our work guided by these commitments, we believe each of our students will be better prepared to successfully live a life of purpose.

Therefore, the Board reaffirms our commitment, which includes a continuing effort to fulfill the following objectives:

Be a school that reflects and values the diversity of our community in all its forms, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and political viewpoint.
Ensure that all students and employees feel like they belong at ESD, are fully included in the life and culture of the school, and have a safe environment in which to become their best selves.
Ensure that all students and employees feel respected and valued regardless of who they are or what they believe.
Ensure that the faculty and staff have the training necessary to teach, in the classroom and by example, the tenets of our Episcopal Identity, including around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Ensure that all students and employees are treated fairly and have equitable access to opportunities at ESD.

In order to achieve these objectives, we have asked the school administration to ensure that ESD will continually:

Unify the ESD community, especially around our shared belief that every child is made in the image of a loving God.
Review and enhance the structures and systems within the school to encourage an increase in diversity in our community.
Be proactive in ensuring that the curriculum reflects multiple perspectives and all school policies are nondiscriminatory and free of bias.
Ensure that teachers are able to understand cultural differences when planning lessons and managing classrooms.
Collaboratively engage the voices of faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community.
Review the implementation of these efforts, including soliciting input from the school community.

The Board understands that we live in a highly politicized world with many sources of information and misinformation. In some circumstances, this can lead to misconceptions about the school's direction. To address potential misconceptions, we note specifically that our commitment and objectives are:

Not a change in our Mission or departure from our Episcopal Identity.
Not a devaluation of our teaching of the Gospel.
Not a curriculum change to teach that being part of an ethnic or racial group makes a person responsible for systemic problems, or to cast blame on or shame any member of the community for actions that took place in history.
Not the teaching of Critical Race Theory.
Not a mandate that the school encourage children to question or not question their sexual identity or sexual orientation.
Not the introduction of a political agenda into the classroom or chapel.
Not a devaluation of the concept of merit in determining student achievement.

Since we are a community with a variety of perspectives on these issues, it is imperative that all community members communicate with each other in accordance with the principles of honor, respect, and integrity. Our Code of Conduct states: “We take pride in making a commitment to these higher ideals and hold each other accountable when we fall short.”

ESD’s Long-Standing Commitment to Diversity

1996
The Board stated that “the commitment of ESD to diversity is long‐standing” and approved the following Statement on Diversity: “The Episcopal School of Dallas believes that diversity in our school community enhances the quality of the education that ESD provides. Diversity fosters development of critical thinking which welcomes alternative points of view and is sensitive to the interests, traditions and concerns of others. The ESD community acknowledges and values the diversity that exists in our ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, the languages we speak, our genders and ages, the traditions we observe, the structures of our families, our financial and educational resources, and the special needs we may have. In our recruitment practices for students and their families, faculty, staff, and those serving on the board, we strive to create a diverse school community whose members embrace the Mission Statement of the Episcopal School of Dallas.”
2005
The Board reiterated the school’s commitment to DEI and approved a series of “long‐range diversity goals” which included: Further increasing the percentage of people of color in the community; Actively and continuously training faculty on “how to create equity‐centered classrooms and implement a balanced multicultural curriculum”; Regularly reassessing “diversity policies, procedures, mission statements and practices” which “requires [a] constant review of the school’s climate, culture, and curriculum for bias and inequity.”
2015
The Board reiterated its commitment to diversity with the following Statement on Diversity and Inclusion: “The ESD community is committed to creating, maintaining, and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment as it prepares young women and men for lives of intellectual discovery, integrity, and purpose. We believe that diversity in our school community enhances the quality of the education that ESD provides and is essential to the development of well‐rounded people in the twenty‐first century. The Episcopal School of Dallas values diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic background.”

Divisional Programming

Yom HaShoah

In honor of Yom HaShoah, which translates from the Hebrew language as “day of remembrance,” eighth-graders lead a special service to remember the Holocaust.

Students volunteer to be a part of the service, reading blackout poems they wrote as part of their study of the event, lighting six candles and placing traditional Jewish rocks on the altar in honor of the six million lives lost.

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Student Diversity Leadership Conference

Several students attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN. Along with other high-school students from across the US, they explored ways to self-reflect, form allies, and build community.

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Hannukah

Jewish friends shared their Hannukah traditions like the menorah with classmates.

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Día de los Muertos

Students across divisions celebrated Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This traditional Mexican holiday celebrates and remembers loved ones who have passed away.

Middle School students created an  or altar in remembrance of notable Latino figures as part of a lesson on Spanish history.

Learn more about cross-divisional efforts here.

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Sukkot

In celebration of Sukkot, the Jewish festival of the harvest, the Jewish Student Union built a sukkah outside the dining commons and invited all students inside to celebrate as a community.

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Consulate General of Mexico

Latinos Unidos students visited the Consulate General of Mexico, where they learned about foreign policy, statistics, and unity.

Diversity

Chinese New Year

Students learned about the Chinese New Year and the year of the pig in their classes.

Diversity

No Place for Hate

Middle School advisories worked together to highlight ways in which ESD can become No Place for Hate.

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Passover Seder

Members of the ESD community were invited to the Interfaith Passover Seder, hosted by the Jewish Student Union.

The Seder is a feast that includes reading, telling stories, eating special foods, singing, and other Passover traditions. Members of the JSU helped retell the story of the Exodus from slavery to freedom and invited participants to reflect on how we might be advocates of justice for all in our world today.

Learn more about the Passover celebration.

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How We Learn From Each Other

Affinity Groups
An affinity group is a group of people who share a similar identity. You must be able to speak from the "I" perspective. Ex: I am a member of this group. These affinity groups offer a place for dialogue, reflection, and support within our community. Black Student Union: The Black Student Union aspires to dedicate themselves and the organization to be a component for education, cultural, spiritual, and social exchange among students. Members charge the organization to act as a unified intermediary for the promotion of creative Black Student Union enterprises, and to aid in the awareness and significance of African Americans as part of their experience at The Episcopal School of Dallas (ESD). Jewish Student Union: The Jewish Student Union explores our Jewish identities within the ESD community and shares aspects of the Jewish faith traditions and spiritual beliefs with one another as well as with the broader community. As we seek to understand our own religious identity, we also seek “to demonstrate and proclaim the unique worth and beauty of all human beings as creations of a loving, empowering God” (NAES Episcopal Identity Statement). Women's Studies Organization: The Women’s Studies Organization (WSO) brings students together for three purposes: 1) to appreciate and celebrate female identity, 2) to strengthen and assert the female voice in our co-educational environment, and 3) to provide a safe place to discuss gender.
Alliance Groups
While affinity groups are made up of students who share similar identities, alliance groups are made up of students of all identities working towards a common goal. You can speak from a "we" perspective. Ex: Although I might not experience that personally, we are in supportive of your right to feel that way. Asian Student Union: Asian Student Union is an open group that seeks to educate ESD about the Asian diaspora. This group is open to anyone who wants to learn and celebrate Asian culture and foods. Biracial/Multiracial Alliance Group: Biracial/ Multiracial alliance group is the newest alliance group on campus. They are coming up goals and a mission. Latinos Unidos: Latinos Unidos is an alliance group with the goal of bringing awareness to and education about Hispanic and Latinx culture. This group is open to anyone who wants to honor and celebrate Latinx and Hispanic cultures across the diaspora. Middle School Diversity Club: The Middle School Diversity Club meets twice a month. Working alongside their faculty advisors, Middle School students share in Chapel according to the Virtue of the Month, various religious holy days (Jewish High Holy Days, Holi, Chinese New Year), and the National Heritage Month celebrations. Religious Diversity: The Religious Diversity alliance group allows students of all faiths to connect and discuss faith traditions, practices, and beliefs. This group allows for those that have a different faith tradition to find community. It also enriches the lives of those who have a desire to learn more about different faith traditions and values. Spectrum: Spectrum exists to create a safe space for LGBTQ+ members of the ESD community and their allies. We are committed to using advocacy and education to establish a more inclusive environment at ESD. S.O.A.R Club: S.O.A.R is a middle school (7th and 8th grade) club focusing on student-led allyship. This club teaches skills around empathy, kindness and how to become an up-stander.
Campfire Program
“Sitting around the campfire, being able to see and converse with everyone on equal footing ... inclusivity is what I want for everyone.” - The Reverend Canon Stephen B. Swann, ESD Founding Rector and Headmaster Created to model the sense of community created at ESD's very first class held in 1974, our Campfire Program is designed to guide new and current students and families through both a successful transition into ESD and a fulfilling experience throughout their time here. Although it does not replace the advisory program in which every student participates, the program offers onboarding into the ESD community, social and academic guidance, and Campfire-family specific events. To learn more about the Campfire Program, here.
Professional Development
Our faculty and staff are committed to making ESD a safe and inclusive space for all. To this end, all faculty and staff participate in regular diversity focused professional developments led by our Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on topics such as cultural sensitivity, religious diversity, race and the impact of racism, and more.
Regional and National Student and Educator Conferences
Students and faculty/staff often travel with Diversity and Inclusion Coordinators to several conferences and events throughout the year, such as The Texas Women's Foundation Annual Luncheon, Student Diversity Conference, SMU Women's Symposium, People of Color Conference, and other local diversity-focused conferences.