Diversity & Inclusion

• The review of our academic curriculum and teaching practices to ensure they are broadly representative and authentically prepare our students for college and their lives beyond.
• Meeting our admission objectives to ensure a diverse, talented, mission-appropriate student body.
• Meeting our hiring objectives to recruit and retain a more diverse faculty and staff.
• Diversifying the administration and the board to ensure our strongest school leadership.
• Targeted fundraising and endowment giving to support financial aid and faculty/staff compensation and retention.
• Dedicated funding to train students and faculty in social justice education, and requiring this training for all student leadership positions.
• Extending our affinity groups for all members of the community, students and adults both.
• Creating new digital resources through the library, website, and archives to support this work.
• Additional leadership roles that support Akilah Edgerton as our Dean of Diversity & Inclusion.

To our extended Berkshire community of students, parents, alumni, faculty, and staff,

I’m reaching out amidst the acute tragedy and outrage following the violent deaths of black Americans George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor this spring. We are also mourning the lives lost during the ongoing protests and demonstrations across the United States. These traumatic events come as we confront other examples of systemic racism, including the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on communities of color across the world. In short, our Berkshire community is grieving these injustices and these attacks on the most basic of human rights. Our hearts are heavy for those in our community who have historically had to endure hate, prejudice, discrimination, and violence as part of a lived experience that is defined by race or other aspects of their identity.

This is a moment in time when we are compelled to reiterate that Berkshire stands in unequivocal opposition to this discrimination, violence, and inequity. They have no place in our school or in the world beyond us. We are guided by our core values, particularly those of respect and inclusion, in ensuring that our community leaves every member feeling safe, affirmed, and valued. This will always be our ongoing commitment. Further, our work with our students is dedicated to creating empathetic leaders who will be the change that is so clearly needed in the world.

Finally, I write to share my and our collective support to all members of the Berkshire family. In times of crisis and despair, we are fortunate to be able to lean on each other. If I or we can be helpful in any way, please do not hesitate to reach out. Even as we are separated, I write today to bring us together to remember all that we stand for as a school. 

All my best from Berkshire,