Developing leaders by supporting and encouraging adult and student learners is some of the most important work we do in service of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Through recruitment, retention, and admissions, we are purposeful in building, supporting, and celebrating a community of faculty, staff, and families who share our vision and mission. We also strive to continue our own growing and evolving as we seek to further educate ourselves through a variety of ways:
By seeking out, attending, and reflecting on meaningful professional development
By participating in and facilitating local and national workshops, and
By empowering students to develop their leadership skills inside and outside the classroom.
Director of Diversity & Inclusion; Dean of Faculty; SEED Co-Facilitator Joined SF Day in 1999
Before joining SF Day, Loren taught in the San Francisco Unified School District. After earning his B.A. in Communications from the University of Cincinnati, he worked for a number of years in marketing research as a manager and trainer for market research interviewers. Loren received a teaching certificate from San Francisco State University and has a Master’s degree in private school leadership from Columbia University’s Teachers College in New York City. Loren has participated in many workshops around issues of diversity, including being a cast member in the documentary film, "The Color of Fear," which highlights race relations in the United States. He has also completed the training program for the National SEED Project on Inclusive Curriculum. Loren has two sons, both of whom are SF Day alumni. In his position as co-director of diversity, Loren is excited about the conversations he has with faculty and parents, which help bring our community closer.
Betsy Brody
Co-Director of Diversity & Inclusion; Director of High School Counseling; 8th Grade Advisor Joined SF Day in 2014
In addition to serving as the co-director of diversity and inclusion, Betsy is also our director of high school counseling. She is a passionate advocate for diversity work and has extensive experience working as the director of inclusion at French American International School and International High School. In that position she was responsible for organizing and overseeing multiple school-wide initiatives in response to the National Association of Independent School’s Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM), researching and hiring diversity practitioners to work with faculty/staff, collaborating with students, families, faculty/staff, and community organizers to host annual interactive diversity workshops, supporting student affinity groups, and acting as a school-wide staff liaison to the Board Committee on Community and Diversity.
SF Day is proud to be one of the many schools across the country to host the national SEED Project on Inclusive Curriculum. SEED stands for Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity. This project was founded by Peggy McIntosh, Director of the Gender, Race, and Inclusive Education Project at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.
As a SEED host, SF Day invites other Bay Area Independent Schools to join our group, which provides a forum for peers to discuss school culture as it relates to diversity and inclusion. Quoting a participant from a previous SEED group: “SEED is an experience in awareness. You will join a group of people you may not know. Through readings, writings, and group activities, you will begin to explore your attitudes and experiences with race, religion, class, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, able-ism, family structure, and more. Once you’ve examined these issues, you may begin to view with a new eye what you are seeing and how you are seeing it! Plant the SEED of thought!"
The NAIS People of Color Conference is the flagship of the National Association of Independent Schools' commitment to equity and justice in teaching and learning. The mission of the conference is to provide a safe space for leadership and professional development and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools. PoCC equips educators at every level, from teachers to trustees, with knowledge, skills, and experiences to improve and enhance the interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in their schools, as well as the attending academic, social-emotional, and workplace performance outcomes for students and adults alike.
SF Day's faculty are dedicated professionals who understand that diversity is ever-evolving and is therefore a prerequisite to learning. Opportunities to further our work in this area are offered and encouraged in the summer and throughout the year. Those who have attended workshops, conferences, or trainings are encouraged to share their learnings upon their return. In 2018-19, faculty members and attended:
Harvard Graduate School of Education's Race, Equity and Leadership in School Institute
CATDC - Equity as Excellence
White Privilege Conference
Equity and Inclusion Institute at Nueva School
Teaching While White
To compliment our work, the following national experts have conducted training on campus:
Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. - America & Moore: Diversity Education, Research & Consulting
Sheri Glucoft Wong - Family Therapist and Parent Educator
Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith - Psychologist and Assistant Professor at the Wright Institute
Joel Baum, Gender Spectrum
CAST Team, Universal Design for Learning
In our journey to continue learning, we are fortunate to have those in our community equipped to share their learning and present at conferences and workshops nationally:
San Francisco Equity Leaders was founded by the following schools: Burke's School, Cathedral School, Children's Day School, San Francisco Day School, and Town School. SF Equity Leaders aims to serve San Francisco independent schools by providing analysis and resources that address topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our work creates a touchstone for reflection and action leading to a more equitable and successful experience for students, faculty/staff, and families.
The White Privilege Conference (WPC) provides a challenging, collaborative and comprehensive experience. WPC strives to empower and equip individuals to work for equity and justice through self and social transformations. The conference is unique in its ability to bring together high school and college students, teachers, university faculty and higher education professionals, nonprofit staff, activists, social workers and counselors, healthcare workers, and members of the spiritual community and corporate arena. Annually, more than 1,500 attend from more than 35 states, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, and Germany.
