DEIB Action Plan 2024-2025 School Year
Integrating Equitable Practices, Inclusivity and Belonging-ness at LFSF
As we start exploring this year's DEIB action plan, let's reflect on how our shared understanding of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging has evolved over the past two years through our work together as a school community.
These definitions have been shaped through our collective efforts, incorporating insights from our mission, vision, DEIB statement, and the valuable feedback from all of you—students, staff, families, and other stakeholders. By continuing to work together to define these terms, we create a shared understanding that helps us all move forward with a common purpose.
Diversity
Diversity at the Lycée Français de San Francisco encompasses the wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that each member of our school community brings. This includes differences in race, ethnicity, nationality, language, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, abilities, religious beliefs and so much more. Embracing diversity means recognizing and valuing these differences as strengths that enrich our learning environment and contribute to a more global perspective. It means bringing our values of Empathy and Respect to the forefront in our daily interactions with one another.
Equity
Equity at LFSF involves ensuring that all students, staff, and families have fair access to the opportunities, resources, and support they need to succeed, regardless of their background or identity. This means actively identifying and addressing barriers to achievement and participation, and providing additional support where needed to create a level playing field. Equity is about fostering a school environment where everyone has the tools to thrive, acknowledging that some may need more or different resources to reach their full potential. This requires ongoing effort from everyone in the community to stay flexible and responsive to each other's needs.
Inclusion
Inclusion at LFSF refers to creating a school culture where every member of the community feels welcomed, valued, and respected. This involves actively promoting an environment where diverse voices and perspectives are not only present but are encouraged and celebrated. Inclusion means ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their differences, feel that they belong and can fully participate in all aspects of school life. It is about building a supportive, collaborative, and respectful community where diversity is integrated into the fabric of the school.
Belonging
Belonging at LFSF goes beyond inclusion; it is about creating a deep sense of connection and ownership within the school community. Belonging means that every student, staff member, and family feels not just included, but truly part of the school’s fabric. It’s the feeling of being seen, heard, and valued for who you are, and knowing that your contributions matter. Belonging is achieved when each of us actively contributes to creating a secure and supportive environment, aligning our actions with the school’s values to build a strong, united community where everyone can thrive.
DEIB Action Plan
We are excited to introduce our DEIB action plan, which outlines the steps we will take together to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within our school community. This plan is a collective effort that builds on our shared values and feedback from across the community.
It embodies our deep commitment to ensuring that every individual feels truly seen, heard, and valued. Success will be achieved when our DEIB efforts turn into collective action, making the work sustainable and ensuring everyone feels empowered and involved. This year’s action plan will help us integrate DEIB into our daily practices, making it a shared responsibility that resonates throughout our entire community.
School-Wide Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Initiative
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) are deeply interconnected in fostering a supportive and thriving school environment. SEL equips students and staff with the skills to understand and manage emotions, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. When integrated with DEIB principles, SEL helps create a climate where every individual feels valued and understood, promoting empathy and respect across diverse perspectives. By aligning SEL with our DEIB goals, we strengthen our commitment to a community where emotional well-being and inclusive practices go hand in hand, ensuring that everyone can succeed and feel a true sense of belonging.
The objective of this initiative is to implement a comprehensive, systems-based approach to Social and Emotional Learning from preschool through 12th grade, fostering emotional intelligence, resilience, and community well-being across the entire student body.
Implementation Strategy:
- Systems Approach: Develop and integrate a school-wide SEL framework that is culturally responsive and can be used as a foundational tool for supporting all community members with emotional expression and conflict resolution skills.
- SEL Advisory Committee: Support the LFSF SEL Advisory Committee composed of staff and faculty members who will oversee the SEL initiative. This committee will:
- Provide ongoing support and resources to teachers.
- Get ongoing support through monthly coaching sessions from an outside consulting group of wellness professionals.
- Monitor the effectiveness of SEL programs.
- Adjust the framework based on feedback and outcomes.
- Roadmap:
- Year 1: Introduction and initial implementation of SEL framework in all grades. Training for faculty and staff.
- Year 2: Evaluation and refinement of SEL practices, with targeted interventions based on feedback.
- Year 3 and Beyond: Full integration of SEL into daily routines, with continuous professional development and support.
Student and Staff Development for an Inclusive and Equitable School Community
Social and Emotional Learning
In order to develop our practices in Social and Emotional Learning, we will be equipping faculty and staff with the knowledge and skills to effectively implement SEL, resolve conflicts, and support a diverse and inclusive school environment.
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Enhancing the impact of SEL: comprehensive training on what Social and Emotional Learning is, including:
- The importance of SEL in fostering a supportive learning environment.
- How SEL looks in primary versus secondary education.
- Interactive sessions, including videos and case studies.
- The SEL Advisory Committee will serve as ambassadors, supporting and guiding staff training efforts.
- Student Conflict Resolution: Partner with local Bay Area facilitators, such as the Mosaic Project, to offer workshops on student conflict resolution. These workshops will:
- Focus on peer mediation techniques.
- Include role-playing exercises and real-life scenarios.
- Promote restorative practices that align with the school’s values.
Cultivating Belonging and Connection
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National Association of Independent Schools, People of Color Conference (PoCC): This year, we're excited to open the PoCC conference to all faculty and staff as an incredible professional development opportunity.
The NAIS PoCC, a conference attended by educators from independent schools across the US, can profoundly impact our community by offering valuable insights and strategies to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. Attendees often return inspired and transformed, applying what they’ve learned to create more inclusive curricula and integrate these principles into their teaching philosophies, thereby enhancing our school environment for all students. This year we look forward to encouraging participation, with a priority for people of color.
- Middle and High School Student Workshops: Facilitate workshops tailored to middle and high school students, addressing topics such as:
- Identity and inclusion.
- Allyship and advocacy.
- Addressing bias and discrimination.
- Youth Truth Survey: The Youth Truth Survey collects feedback from students and staff on their school experience, focusing on areas such as inclusion, emotional safety, and overall satisfaction. We use it to gain a deeper understanding of our staff and students' perspectives, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to enhance our school environment and support a more inclusive and supportive community.
- Timeline
- September 30 - October 25, 2024 - Survey Window Opens for Students grade 3-12
- October 11 - All Faculty and Staff Participate in Survey
- November 8, 2024 - Post report Survey Data is Delivered
- November, 2024- Leadership Team Review
- January 6, 2025 - Post Report Workshop with All Faculty and Staff
- January 2025 - Improvement Practices Shared with the Community
- Timeline
DEIB Committee
This initiative aims to form a dynamic Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) committee of faculty and staff, because we know that great things happen when we work together. By collaborating, we’ll advance and support our school’s DEIB goals, making our community stronger and more inclusive. This work will take form with the following actions:
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Build the Committee: Assemble a diverse group of faculty and staff who are passionate about DEIB work, representing various departments and roles within the school. This team will be supported by senior leadership, specifically the DEIB Director and in liaison with the Head of School.
- Define Responsibilities:
- Review current and historic DEIB strategies and initiatives
- Develop new initiatives in collaboration with the DEIB Director
- Monitor progress and report outcomes to school leadership.
- Serve as a resource for the broader school community on DEIB matters.
- Hold facilitated, regular meetings to discuss ongoing projects, new initiatives, and challenges.
Ongoing Parent Engagement and Education
We recognize that parents are our number one partners in building a community where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. To strengthen this partnership, we strive to engage parents actively in our DEIB initiatives, ensuring our shared values are reflected not only at school but also at home and within the wider community.
Here’s how we aim to achieve this:
- Collaborating with the Parent Association: We will work hand-in-hand with the Parent Association to offer workshops, resources, and educational sessions on DEIB topics such as fostering cultural awareness.
- Gathering Regular Feedback: We will create channels for parents to share their feedback, helping us adapt and grow our DEIB efforts to meet the needs of the entire community.
- Organizing Inclusive Community Events: We’ll continue to host events that celebrate cultural diversity and promote inclusivity, creating opportunities for families to connect and strengthen bonds within the school.
Through these initiatives, we aim to foster a collaborative environment where parents feel empowered to support and enhance our DEIB efforts, further enriching the sense of belonging within our community.
We’re excited to roll out our DEIB Action Plan, which charts a course for enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within our school community. This plan represents our shared commitment to turning DEIB principles into tangible, everyday actions. By working collaboratively, we aim to embed DEIB deeply into our school culture, ensuring it becomes a part of our daily practices and interactions.
Our goal is to foster an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued, and where DEIB is not just a set of ideals but a lived reality. As we implement this plan, we will track our progress, make adjustments based on feedback, and celebrate our successes together. Your engagement, feedback, and active participation are crucial to our success.