The mission of Shipley’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is to support Shipley in its aim to be a truly anti-racist and diverse educational institution that embraces social justice for, and offers genuine belonging to, people of all races, colors, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, genders, nationalities, socioeconomic statuses, and abilities.

Our Goals

Foster a Diverse Community
Foster a fully diverse and inclusive community.

Ensure Equitable Experiences
Ensure an equitable experience for all members of the community.

Provide Education 
Create immediate and longer-term School-wide initiatives regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion at Shipley. Prepare students to be leaders in a global society. Commit to sustaining a vibrant, inclusive, and caring multicultural community.

Engage All Members of the Community
Involve all community voices from students, colleagues, families, and alumni. Ensure that cultural awareness and understanding is reflected in many areas of school life.

Be Accountable
Regularly review plan strategies and tactics to ensure the effectiveness of these initiatives both in the near and long-term.

Community Commitment

We are committed to cultivating an environment where all members of the Shipley community are engaged, feel respected and valued, grow as individuals, strive for excellence, and have the opportunity to do their best work. We honor and value all differences and are committed to being a safe and inclusive environment for all people.

Our Work

We engage students, colleagues, and families in an array of DEI-centered learning experiences and community-building opportunities. Here are a few of the programs that the School offers and participates in:

List of 5 items.

  • Our Work: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan

    GOAL 1: DIVERSE COMMUNITY
    Foster a fully diverse and inclusive community.

    GOAL 2: EDUCATION
    Create immediate and longer-term School-wide initiatives regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion at Shipley. Prepare students to be leaders in a global society. Commit to sustaining a vibrant, inclusive, and caring multicultural community.

    GOAL 3: EQUITABLE EXPERIENCES
    Ensure an equitable experience for all members of the community.

    GOAL 4: ENGAGEMENT
    Involve all community voices from students, colleagues, families, and alumni. Ensure that cultural awareness and understanding are reflected in many areas of school life.

    GOAL 5: ACCOUNTABILITY
    Regularly review Plan strategies and tactics to ensure the effectiveness of these initiatives in both the near- and long-term.

    Read More
  • Our Work: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs

    Students and colleagues participate in school-wide DEI programming aimed at building cultural awareness and celebration in our community throughout the year, including: 
    • Black History Month
    • Hispanic Heritage Month
    • Lunar New Year
    • National Day of Silence
    • Pride Week
  • Our Work: Professional Development

    Shipley colleagues receive generous support from the school in their quest to learn more about the complex issues of multiculturalism and social justice. Over the past year colleagues have attended or presented at the following local and national professional conferences: 

    Local

    Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS) and Multicultural Resource Center @ ADVIS
    A founding and active member of the MCRC@ADVIS, Shipley works collaboratively with other Philadelphia-area schools to develop programs that promote and enrich diversity. The Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS) is a nonprofit organization representing independent private schools in eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. 
    The Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) is a state association serving over 100 independent schools across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in Delaware. PAIS offers services including collaborative dialogues on important school issues, professional development programs, communication on governmental affairs as well as advocacy, and a rigorous accreditation process. 

    National Conferences

    Shipley regularly sends teaching and operational colleagues to national conferences supporting efforts in the DEI space, including:

    In-School

    Regular Professional Development Sessions
    Shipley teachers engage in weekly professional development sessions to encourage growth and learning around academic achievement, individual well-being, and collective well-being. During the 2022-2023 school year, teachers will have six sessions devoted to DEI topics.

    Teaching Resource Center

    The Shipley Teaching Resource Center is a place for teachers to pursue professional growth opportunities, working one-on-one or in collaborative settings to learn from each other and share areas of expertise. In particular, colleagues attend and present regular sessions on diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

    Colleague Reading Groups
    In addition to professional learning, colleagues have also participated in various diversity, equity and inclusion reading groups. Books that colleagues have read in the past or are currently reading include: 
    • Not Light, But Fire by Matthew Kay
    • White Privilege by Dr. Robin D’Angelo
    • How to Be an Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
    • Was the Cat in the Hat Black? The Hidden Racism of Children's Literature, and the Need for Diverse Books by Phillip Nel
  • Our Work: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Groups

    Adult Affinity Groups/Alliance Groups

    Upper School, Middle School, and Lower School Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Family Committees
    The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Family Committees are volunteer groups designed to help create and foster programming for parents and guardians regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion education. These groups meet once a month and are focused on coordinating events, speakers, workshops, book groups. 

    National SEED Project
    As part of the National SEED Project, the Shipley Caregiver Cohort meets monthly to dive deeper into topics regarding identity and social justice. This parent and guardian designed group also connects with other National SEED Project groups in the local Philadelphia area. 

    Black Family Network
    The Black Family Network (BFN) is a parent and guardian affinity group for parents of Black students at Shipley. The group is composed of parents and guardians in all divisions and meets monthly to support Black families within the school. 

    Colleagues of Color Affinity Group
    The Colleagues of Color Affinity Group is composed of BIPOC teaching faculty and operational colleagues. The group meets monthly to support and network within the school and also with other local independent schools.

    Black Alumni Association (BAA)
    Comprised of Black Shipley Alumni, the BAA strives to support Black Shipley students and alumni, increase Black alumni representation and engagement in Shipley activities, cultivate connections between current Black students and alumni, and create professional and social networking opportunities. The group is united to make Shipley a safer, more understanding, and more embracing place for current and future empowered Black students at the School in order to achieve the mission of diversity and inclusion.

    Leadership/Governance

    Board of Trustees Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
    The Board of Trustees Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee serves as the primary provider of forward-looking DEI policy and strategy, and mechanisms for administrative accountability. 

    Student Groups & Conferences

    Upper School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
    As part of the Upper School Student Government, the Upper School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee leads the student body in DEI issues and topics. This group helps to provide educational opportunities for students via assemblies and other programming for the Upper School; serves as a sounding board for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and helps to plan events on campus, including Impact Week. This group meets bi-monthly and is open to all students in every grade level in the Upper School. 

    Black Student Union (BSU)
    The Black Student Union (BSU) is an affinity group designed to promote social justice, facilitate historical and cultural enrichment, create a platform for racial discussions, and build a strong bond between Black students in the community. The BSU helps to lead events, programming, and mentorship for younger students. The group meets bi-monthly. 

    Asian Student Alliance

    Jewish Heritage Student Group

    Upper School SPECTRUM
    The Upper School SPECTRUM group is an LGTBQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) ally group that focuses on supporting and educating students in the Upper School regarding diversity and inclusion. The group helps to promote awareness and provide programming including, but not limited to, National Day of Silence, National Coming Out Day, and Pride Month. 

    Middle School SPECTRUM
    Middle School SPECTRUM Club works to learn about LGBTQ+ identities, educate others about issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community, and create a culture at the Middle School that is inclusive of all LGBTQ+ students and adults.

    Middle School Race and Identity Club 
    Middle School Race and Identity Club works to increase our racial literacy, examine our own racial and ethnic identities, and create a culture at the Middle School that is anti-racist and celebrates all cultures.

    Lower School Diversity DEI Group

    Conferences Students Have Attended
    We believe it is important that students in all divisions have the opportunity to attend both regional and national conferences regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students have attended: 
  • Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Resources

    Articles

    Books

    Podcasts

    Resources for Students

    Resources for All

Fulfilling our mission and living our motto demands being a richly diverse and inclusive community that provides educational experiences that are excellent and equitable.
Michael G. Turner
Head of School

Meet the Team

List of 5 members.

  • Photo of Rebekah Adens

    Rebekah Adens 

    Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Photo of Lila Corgan

    Lila Corgan 

    Middle School English Teacher, MS DEI Coordinator
    Phone/Extension: N/A
  • Photo of Ace Schwarz

    Ace Schwarz 

    Middle School Science Teacher, Colleague DEI Coordinator
    Phone/Extension: 4233
  • Photo of Monserrat Toledo Díaz

    Monserrat Toledo Díaz 

    Lower School Spanish Teacher, LS DEI Coordinator
    Phone/Extension: 4711
  • Photo of Kira White

    Kira White 

    Upper School Counselor, US DEI Coordinator
    Phone/Extension: 4661

Upcoming Events

List of 1 events.

  • Jan
    8

    The Shipley Parents and Guardians DEI Discussion and Community Group

    Please join Shipley parents, Katie Culver and Justine Polster, and Rebekah Adens, Director of DEI, for a DEI Discussion Group. View the full event details here: https://calendar.shipleyschool.org/event/the-shipley-parents-and-guardians-dei-discussion-and-community-group/
    Beechwood House 931 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr PA 19010

DEI Conversations

Ace Schwarz on How Schools Can Evolve to Make Everyone Feel Safe

Sheri Rider Jobe on Why DEI Matters

Dr. Nicole Christian Brathwaite ’99 on Equity in Education

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion News

The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.