Reunited in Purpose

Earlier this month, Dana Hall sent a group of eight adults and four students to the National Association of Independent Schools’ (NAIS) People of Color Conference (PoCC)/Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), held in San Antonio, Texas, from November 30-December 3.

PoCC is the flagship of NAIS’s commitment to equity and justice in teaching, learning and sustainability for independent schools. This year’s theme was “Reunited in Purpose: Elevating Our Worth, Our Agency and Our Excellence,” and brought attendees back together after a two-year disruption due to the pandemic.

“Sending a cohort to PoCC is a priority for us,” said Rachel Nagler, director of Community, Equity and Inclusion. “It is a place that is explicitly designed and structured to support our educators and employees of color who work in independent schools. PoCC also brings current and relevant learning opportunities, topics and discussions that are crucial to being an excellent school with high standards around inclusivity and belonging in the classroom. This is one way we can demonstrate our commitment and sense of value we have for this cohort.”

Upper School Counselor Tia Gale said, “As a first-time conference attendee and in my first year working at an independent school, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to not only meet and connect with educators across the country who look like me, but foster and collaborate with my fellow Dana colleagues outside of our everyday roles on campus.”

Alla Baranovsky, Upper School mathematics faculty, said, “The biggest takeaway for me is that justice work has to be community work to be effective. While there, I focused on being a productive member of this community of nearly 8,000 like-minded people. My role there was not the same as that of a Person of Color, so I wanted to learn as much as possible while also making sure that our students at SDLC felt supported throughout this life-changing experience.”

Taylor Houston ’12, assistant director of Events and Parent Programs, came back feeling reinvigorated. “My aim and mission when coming to work at Dana Hall was to help students develop a deep appreciation for the school while they are here, and to help them have the best experience possible,” she said. “Hearing a presenter talk about standing up for his Black female students, I felt reassured in my role that I am here to help, lead and nurture. I have the ability to make this place the best it can be, and that is what I need to do.”

J. Husami ’23 attended SDLC, which she described as a very healing experience. “I was surrounded by people from all around the world who created this welcoming space for all backgrounds,” she said. “My cup of hope was filled because I saw this community ready to implement a positive change. One of the keynote speakers, Amanda Nguyen, shared her story and said something that really resonated with me: She said she could either expect injustice or rewrite the law. I learned a lot and can’t wait to bring it all to my community at Dana!”

Performing Arts Department Head Devon Fitchett, Assistant Head for Admission and Strategic Initiatives Angela Brown, Assistant Director of Events and Parent Programs Taylor Houston ’12, and Assistant Director of Admission Alex Adames at a PoCC event