Seize the Moment to Effect Change
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Action
IDEA Statement
Creating and cultivating connections between all people, ideas, and sectors, the School welcomes all learners to wrestle with voices and perspectives that challenge our assumptions, biases, stereotypes, and privileges. Not allowing our differences to divide us requires each of us to engage in honest, vulnerable, and courageous conversations through empathy, reflection, examination, and action. Being real agents of change is a continuous journey.
Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, our trust in each other strengthens our sense of identity, autonomy, and interdependence. As a school of inquiry, innovation, and impact, we are committed to creating and sustaining a school culture where all members feel valued and safe, sharing their authentic selves to design a better world…together.
Welcoming every voice, please share your experiences, recommendations, and feedback.
Action Steps
We must seize the moment to effect change. We must start from where we are, understand where we are, and move forward to cultivate a community of endurance to sustain the long journey of antiracism. We are committed to creating and sustaining a school culture where all members feel valued and safe, sharing their authentic selves to design a better world…together.
The Mount Vernon School has established short-term objectives, mid-term priorities, and long-term goals to advance and sustain inclusion, diversity, equity, and action in the future.
Organizational & School Climate
- Commitment to look back to look forward through conducting intentional conversations with past and present members of the Black community within The Mount Vernon School
- Commitment to analyze and revise the School’s current processes, policies, handbooks, and communication in order to build a more inclusive future where words of racism and actions of prejudice will not be tolerated
- Commitment to retain external resources to measure IDEA gaps, missed opportunities, community needs, and next steps
Learning & Well-Being
- Commitment to review the School’s curricular and instructional framework for PS-12 programming through a culturally responsive IDEA lens and infuse and amplify multiple perspectives, voices, experiences, and historical contexts of Black and underrepresented communities
- Commitment to expand anti-bias and anti-racist training opportunities for all students, faculty and staff members, parents, and trustees and deepen competencies for social and emotional learning — self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, healthy relationships, and ethical decision-making skills
- Commitment to support the social and emotional well-being of students and staff members of color through dedicated staff members, programs, and opportunities
Recruitment & Retention
- Commitment to strategic shifts in outreach in admissions to increase awareness, engagement, and enrollment of diverse communities within the Atlanta area
- Commitment to build upon recruiting and retention of staff members of color through partnerships, mentorship, and leadership
- Commitment to expand IDEA Department, conducting national search to recruit Chief of Inclusion Diversity Equity and Action reporting directly to the Head of School as a member of the senior leadership team and identifying IDEA directors for the Lower Campus and Upper Campus as well as IDEA divisional coordinators
Advancement & Continuous Improvement
- Commitment to communicating clear, tangible action steps reflecting short-term and long-term targets
- Commitment to amplify the progress of inclusion, diversity, equity, and action within The Mount Vernon School, bringing awareness and understanding to the broader School community
- Commitment to conducting ongoing analysis and review in real time to pivot and adjust as necessary for the School to lean in and live out IDEA daily
IDEA Expressions
In 2018, the Mount Vernon School began to have courageous conversations around the most challenging issues of our day, including diversity, equity, and inclusion. The following IDEA Expressions of Learning are not meant to be an exhaustive or even a performative list of activities, experiences, and projects but intentional demonstrations designed to make continual improvements in amplifying inclusion, diversity, equity, and action at Mount Vernon.
Resources
Collective conviction requires us to lean in to look back to look forward, startle the heart, begin the journey and cultivate resilience. The following is a sample, not exhaustive list, to continue our journey of courageous conversations.
Historical Foundations of Race & Racism: Look Back to Look Forward
Frederick Douglass, Autobiographies, Frederick Douglass
New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander
Stamped, Ibram X. Kendi
The Soul of Black Folks, WEB Du Bois
Why We Can’t Wait, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Racial Literacy: Startle the Heart
Frederick Douglass, Autobiographies, Frederick Douglass
New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander
Stamped, Ibram X. Kendi
The Soul of Black Folks, WEB Du Bois
Why We Can’t Wait, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Anti-Racism: Begin the Journey
Anti-Racist Work in Schools, Elizabeth Kleinrock
Everyday Anti-Racism, Mica Pollock
How to be an Anti-Racist, Ibram X. Kendi
How White Parents Can Use Media to Raise Anti-Racist Kids, Sierra Felucci
What White Children Need to Know about Race, Ali Michael & Eleanora Bartoli
Reconciliation: Cultivate Community Resilience & Belonging
Be the Bridge, Latasha Morrison
Cultivate a Heart of Mercy, Dr. Bernice King
I’m Still Here, Austin Channing Brown
Talking About Race, National Museum of African American History and Culture
Why You Need to Talk to Your Kids about Race, Parent Cue
Shame and Accountability, Brené Brown
Connect with IDEA at MV
Need more information or support, connect with us by emailing [email protected]
Previous Communications
January 10, 2021 Community Letter
November 29, 2020 Community Letter
November 1, 2020 Community Letter
October 18, 2020 Community Letter
October 11, 2020 Community Letter
October 4, 2020 Community Letter
September 13. 2020 Community Letter
September 6, 2020 Community Letter
August 16, 2020 Community Letter
July 16, 2020 Community Letter
June 24, 2020 Community Letter
June 1, 2020 Community Letter
Meet the Team
Elisse Hayes, Interim Director of IDEA
Molly Collier, IDEA Preschool Coordinator
Taryn Rumph, IDEA Lower School Coordinator
Chaundra Suddith, IDEA Middle School Coordinator
Pamela Villafane, IDEA Upper School Coordinator
Quick Links
The Mount Vernon School
Upper Campus
510 Mt. Vernon Hwy NE
Atlanta, GA 30328
Lower Campus
471 Mt. Vernon Hwy NE
Atlanta, GA 30328
404-252-3448