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.

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 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.

Meet the Team

List of 2 members.

  • Photo of Deauntra Thompson-Smith

    Deauntra Thompson-Smith 

    Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Photo of Monserrat Toledo Díaz

    Monserrat Toledo Díaz 

    Lower School Spanish Teacher, LS DEI Coordinator
    Phone/Extension: 4711
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

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

    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. 
     

    Affinity Spaces & Heritage Clubs

    Affinity Spaces are created by colleagues and students at Shipley to allow connection through shared identities. These spaces allow for individuals to feel safe and sometimes heal with each other. Heritage Clubs explore one's identity through cultural interconnectedness to allow for the advancement and advocacy for one's heritage. Heritage clubs celebrate diversity through events.

    Lower School Affinity Groups and Heritage Clubs

    Overview: Affinity groups in the Lower School serve to create a sense of belonging and affirm students' identities through gatherings and cultural celebrations.

    Connection & Belonging (PreK-Grade 2)
    Explores and celebrates everyone’s identities. Through stories, games, and culture sharing students can find connections amongst themselves and make everyone feel welcomed and included.

    Students of Color [SOC] (Grades 3-5)

    Focus on social gatherings, celebrations of holidays, and culture sharing, students connect and find themselves among peers with whom they share cultural identities and backgrounds.

    Students of Jewish Heritage [SOJH] (Grades 3-5)
    Focus on celebrating and supporting Jewish students. Through social gatherings, celebrations of holidays, and culture sharing, students connect and celebrate their shared Jewish identities.

    Middle School Affinity Groups and Heritage Clubs

    Overview: In the Middle School, we create safe cultural, racial, and heritage identity with gatherings, conversations, and celebrations. The Middle School supports programming with the Upper School. 

    Black Heritage Association (BHA)
    Focused on building cultural identity and celebrations of blackness. BHA supports and uplifts Black Student Union programs. 

    Jewish Heritage Association 
    A heritage association that focuses on cultural understanding and celebrates Jewish identity and history.

    Middle Eastern North African (MENA) 
    Focus on developing a positive racial identity and a community of shared understanding among students with MENA identities. Supports the Upper School MENA with programming. 

    Spectrum
    A space to gather and celebrate LGBTQ+ identities. The group supports programming with Upper School Spectrum.

    Upper School Affinity Groups and Heritage Clubs

    Overview: Affinity groups and heritage clubs in the Upper School are responsible for youth-led programming and celebrations focused on identity,advocacy, and advancement. Their goal is to promote interconnectedness and understanding amongst the students.  

    African American Male Association
    A well-rounded outlook on what it means to be an African American Male at Shipley. Focused on supporting one another in cultural, social, and educational development.

    Asian Student Alliance 
    A pan-Asian affinity space that serves as a space for advocacy, promoting cultural understanding, and celebrations.

    Black Student Union

    Focused on promoting the well-being and cultural interests of Black students as well as educating and advocating around systemic issues in society.

    DEI Student Association (DEISA)
    Creating spaces for the Shipley community to advance identities through cultural interconnectedness. Promoting cultural understanding and advancements through actionable goals. 

    Jewish Heritage Association
    A heritage association that focuses on cultural understanding, celebration, and advocacy of Jewish identity and history.

    Middle Eastern North African (MENA)
    Developing healthy cultural and racial identities. Celebrating and promoting positive understandings of culture, history, and advancement among MENA students.

    Spectrum
    A space for LGBTQ+ students and allies to gather to celebrate their identities, discuss current events, and plan campus programming.

    Colleague Affinity Groups and Heritage Clubs

    Overview: Spaces created for colleagues with shared identities to come together to celebrate and build community with each other. This creates affirming and positive environments at Shipley. 

    LGBTQ+ Colleagues
    The LGBTQ+ Colleague Affinity Group provides a space for colleagues to gather in community and discuss LGBTQ+ events and news. 

    Jewish Heritage
    The Jewish Colleague Affinity Group provides a space for colleagues to share company, celebration, and support (and snacks) while navigating being Jewish in the Shipley community and beyond.

    Colleagues with Kids at Shipley
    The Colleague-Parent Affinity Group provides an opportunity for colleague-parents to provide support for one another and to help the School to understand our unique experiences and perspectives as colleagues with children enrolled in the school.

    Colleagues of Color
    Composed of BIPOC teaching faculty and operational colleagues. Focused on monthly meetings to create community as well as to connect, support, and network within the school. 
  • Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Resources

    Articles

    Books

    Podcasts

    Resources for Students

    Resources for All

In Video

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion News

Meet the Team

List of 2 members.

  • Photo of Deauntra Thompson-Smith

    Mr. Deauntra Thompson-Smith 

    Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Photo of Monserrat Toledo Díaz

    Mrs. Monserrat Toledo Díaz 

    Lower School Spanish Teacher, LS DEI Coordinator
    Phone/Extension: 4711
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.