Equity & Inclusion

Equity and Inclusion at Baker School

What We Believe

We believe that there is no true education without diversity, equity, and inclusion, any more than there is no true education without arithmetic or reading. This belief is rooted in Baker’s mission and supported by our progressive principles and practices.

Diversity at Baker is Built on Our Values.

The best education occurs in a school community comprised of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, abilities, cultures, races, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, and family structures. We strive to create an inclusive environment that attracts and supports families from many backgrounds, including those traditionally underrepresented in independent schools. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to who we are as a school community. An open exchange of thoughts, ideas, and feelings generated in a safe and diverse community creates valuable learning opportunities. We graduate students with a deep understanding and appreciation for diversity in all respects. The following practices articulate how we realize our vision of a diverse and inclusive community:

Equity in Programs and Practices:

We allocate many resources toward ensuring that our community composition and curricula reflect our commitment to diversity. Every student has equitable access to all school services and programs. We are committed to a school environment that is inclusive of and accessible to all families.

Valuing Personal Expression and Experience:

Baker affirms the uniqueness of each individual and values authentic expression of those diverse experiences. We are committed to understanding how personal, cultural, and historical aspects of identity contribute to and enrich our school community.

Self-Reflection and Awareness:

We invite individuals to question their assumptions and examine their beliefs with the goal of personal and community growth and the fostering of social justice. We nurture curiosity and inquiry in order to learn from a diverse range of experiences and points of view. We are committed to exploring Baker’s unique culture to better understand the experiences of our students and their families.

Meaningful Interaction and Dialogue:

Baker encourages each individual to interact meaningfully with other members of the community. We provide a safe environment that supports expression of our similarities and differences in ways that invite dialogue and education.

Authentic Teaching and Learning:

We develop curricula that fosters student knowledge of varied cultures, practices, and experiences. We train our teachers to create and sustain a cohesive and equitable classroom community. We honor and celebrate every student.

READ: An Important Message from Our Leadership Team on June 4, 2020

Anti-Racism

We are committed to anti-racism work within our staff, faculty, student and parent communities. This recent statement from the Baker Leadership Team expresses our commitment:

Today is the day of George Floyd’s memorial service. In a school community committed to anti-racist and equity work, we must do better. We must reflect, we must work, we must act. When one of our children of color voices the question, “Mom, could that happen to me?”, we all bear the weight of this child’s question. The weight of this question is not just this family’s to bear. It is not just for our families of color to bear. It is for white parents, teachers, and all community members to bear.

We are grateful to our EqAT leaders for the work they have been doing for many years in our community and for the outgrowth of that work leading to SEED staff and parent seminars. As we continue to work together to do our own personal and collective anti-racist work, we look forward to deeper levels of engagement and action.

Now, more than ever, it is our obligation to support those who are experiencing trauma and to recommit to eradicate racism. Please act — for the sake of our children, our families, our school community and our world.