Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion & Equity

Consulting partner Sophic Solutions engaged.

Offered two All-Community Conversations featuring parents, alumni and faculty panelists.

Inaugural meeting of the DEI Advisory Council.

DEI Assessment Conversations launched. Through conversation with students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff, the assessment is providing opportunities for a candid, independent review of the current state of DEI experiences/issues within our school. Sophic Solutions is obtaining feedback from persons who have offered to share their experiences as well as community members selected at random.

Hosted first Start, Stop, Continue and Consider discussion. During this session, participants shared their thoughts concerning activities Pembroke Hill should start, stop, continue and consider doing to become a more equitable and inclusive school for all.

Six upper school students and three faculty members attended the virtual Student Diversity Leadership Conference and the People of Color Conference, respectively. Both events were sponsored by the National Association of Independent Schools.

Created the position of director of diversity, equity & inclusion and commenced the search process. Learn how to apply on the PHS Employment page.

All faculty/staff participated in a required DEI professional development training led by Sophic Solutions and Jewish Community Relations Bureau/AJC.

The results of the DEI Assessment, conducted by Sophic Solutions, were shared with the Board of Trustees. The status of the school's DEI work was explored in depth at the March Trustee meeting.

Jewish Community Relations Bureau/AJC presented age-appropriate programs to lower school, middle school and upper school students: 

• lower school - April 26/28
• middle school - April 16
• upper school - April 16

Held Understanding Contemporary Antisemitism virtual session in which experts on antisemitism increased participants' understanding of the manifestations of contemporary antisemitism.

Hosted a second Start, Stop, Continue and Consider session, which was facilitated by the PHS DEI Advisory Council and Sophic Solutions.

After conducting a national search, Pembroke Hill announced the appointment of Dr. Jason Gines '95 as director of diversity, belonging, inclusion and equity. Jason's appointment is effective for the 2021-22 school year.

The following diversity recruitment statement was developed and added to all employment openings.

Pembroke Hill School is committed to a culture that advances diversity, equity, and inclusion. We serve students from diverse backgrounds and seek to hire a diverse faculty and staff. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, divers-ability, religion, spirituality, socioeconomic status and national identity. Applicants must be committed to and passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion to contribute to academic success with inclusive excellence. Our aspirations include fostering the development of a school community that cultivates cultural humility. We promote self awareness, knowledge of cultural and intellectual diversity and a willingness to advocate for others.

DBIE Council Reviewed DBIE Statement

Pembroke Hill commemorated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with events through the school including a letter sent to all constituents, classroom activities and participation in the city-wide 8th Annual Martin Luther King Walk.

Parents Association sponsored winter Global Cultural Celebration - honor the heritage of members of the Pembroke Hill community who identify with the areas in North, South and Central America.

Pembroke Hill celebrated Black History Month with many classroom activities, daily Black history facts and posters sharing the biographies of Kansas City Black historical figures.

Board of Trustees reached consensus on DBIE Statement.

Parents Association sponsored the spring season Global Cultural Celebration - honor the heritage of members of the Pembroke Hill community who identify with the areas of Europe and Australia.

The Parents Association Inclusion Council, with the support from the DBIE Advisory Council, sponsored the all-school culminating event - Global Cultural Celebration in Patterson Hall on May 6. The event featured 65 countries and over 100 volunteer organizers. With tremendous pride, PHS families set up booths and shared food, decorations, informational materials and artifacts from their native countries and many dressed in traditional clothing. Entertainers performed songs and dances from a variety of cultures. 

The first Fireside Chat was held in Patterson Hall.  The event is an opportunity for parents, faculty and staff to come together to discuss topics pertaining to school culture.

The first Fireside Chat of the school year was held in Patterson Hall.  The event is an opportunity for parents, faculty and staff to come together to discuss topics pertaining to school culture. The theme for the September program was The Ties that Bind: Discussion around the Community Shared Commitment.