Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Our ongoing commitment
DEIB at Windward
As a community, we believe that to fully achieve the goal of educating children with language-based learning disabilities, the experience of academic success must be combined with opportunities for social and emotional growth within an intentionally diverse and inclusive setting. Students at Windward are prepared for responsible citizenship in an increasingly diverse and interdependent world. We are aware that achieving diversity and all that it encompasses is not always an easy task; however, the rewards are immeasurable for all members of the community. The Windward School’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion informs the School’s daily work, helps to shape the community, and guides the vision for the future.
Windward’s commitment to its community
DEIB Mission and Vision
At The Windward School, we are committed to a world where every child with a language-based learning disability is empowered to achieve unlimited success—a vision fulfilled by disrupting the educational status quo. The Windward School deliberately builds both its curriculum and culture to foster a powerful sense of belonging through a research-based program that is authentically inclusive, along with a community in which everyone is seen in their full humanity.
The Windward School aspires to bring forth students who are culturally engaged critical thinkers, confident self-advocates who understand and celebrate their differences, and upstanders who identify and challenge all forms of injustice. Windward is committed to these values and expectations of its community members by embracing the importance of ongoing anti-oppression dialogue and critical conversations; by advancing educational equity in underrepresented communities, especially those historically marginalized by society; and by working to ensure that our program is accessible to all who need it.
Defining DEIB
Understand how the words diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work together to reflect Windward's ultimate goal for the School's community members—belonging. Definitions have been adapted from the National Association of Independent Schools' Diversity Work in Independent Schools.
Diversity
The wide range of human characteristics used to mark or clarify identities, such as ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender, etc. The term “diversity” is used as shorthand for quantifiable statuses. For example, does the School’s population reflect the region's racial diversity? Modern day U.S. society consists of 30%-to-40% people of color.
Equity
As a function of fairness, “equity” implies ensuring that people have what they need to participate in school life and reach their full potential. In equitable schools, systems are in place to support equal access to the program, services, activities, and technologies. Examples of equity may include financial aid to ensure that all children who need to attend Windward can do so, or a faculty mentorship program for new hires of color.
Inclusion
Taking every individual’s experience and identity into account, the School strives to create conditions in which all are accepted, safe, supported, and affirmed. Community members understand the language used when talking about gender, oppression, race, identity, etc., and they can devise and apply solutions when issues arise. For example, when people stand up for those marginalized within interpersonal situations, this is inclusion in action.
Belonging
All three elements—diversity, equity, and inclusion—are important, yet all must be present in a school to truly build a culture in which every individual experiences a powerful sense of belonging. This is when all community members can thrive and be their authentic selves every day.
Fostering respect, appreciation, and acceptance
An Inclusive Community
Windward expands a student’s ability to function in a pluralistic society by teaching self-awareness while encouraging genuine respect and appreciation for other people. To that end, we are committed to creating and fostering a community that is inclusive for all its members regardless of race, ethnicity, ability, socio-economic status, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, or any other attribute that does not define a person’s character. We are dedicated to maintaining a sense of community for all people and for those individuals in particular who have struggled historically to be wholly accepted into society.
Meet the DivE In Committee
The DivE In Committee (which intentionally capitalizes the D, E, and I in homage to its DEIB work) is the leadership team that will guide, advise, and oversee Windward's ongoing three-year DEIB plan. All volunteers serve a minimum tenure of one year. The committee was selected based on each individual’s background knowledge, skills (e.g., organizational, writing, interpersonal), and diversity of representation (e.g., role, race, gender, sexual orientation, professional experience, length of time as a Windward community member, etc.).
