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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Middle School Spanish students making traditional tortillas

   Seventh and eighth students making traditional tortillas in Sra. Dosch's Spanish class.

Welcome.

Our school pursues thoughtful, actionable steps to ensure that our community is diverse, equitable and inclusive for all. We know that students thrive within a community of diverse perspectives and talents. We value our vibrant community of families and faculty—including our collective ethnicity, faiths, orientation, gender identities, family structures and socio-economic backgrounds.

four middle school students walking to class

Advancing DEI through a Commitment to Community


Recent Advancements
  • Set direction for DEI work in 2023–2024, in collaboration with school leadership
  • Educated students and faculty about cultural appropriation vs cultural appreciation, especially with regard to traditional attire 
  • Led workshop on Inclusive Language, Disrupting Stereotypes and the Learning for Justice program, “Speak Up At School,” 2023
  • Provided DEI training to Summer at Tower Camp Counselors
  • Displayed the LGBTQ+ flag in the Backyard in advance of Pride Month
  • Utilized the Diverse Bookfinder Collection Analysis Tool to identify areas in which our library was lacking in diversity themes, and purchased additional titles to fill gaps identified. 
  • Created a bulletin board for exploring themes of diversity, such as "Belonging at Tower," including quotes from faculty who described times when they feel a sense of belonging. 
  • Purchased multicultural art materials for all homerooms, Spanish Classes, Middle School classrooms
     
Ongoing Work
  • We will assess our curriculum to better incorporate best practices of multicultural pedagogy, asking ourselves questions such as, "Whose stories are we telling?" and “Are there enough windows and mirrors in our curriculum so students see themselves reflected (mirror) and learn about others (windows)?”  
  • Our commitment to further diversifying our community extends throughout the admission process, in the hiring and retention of faculty, and in representation on our Board of Trustees. 
The You Belong Here Bulletin Board in the Second Floor Lower School Hallway

The 2nd floor hallway includes a bulletin board that highlights belonging and helps community members begin conversations about community, kindness, friendship and belonging.

Planting spinach seeds in science class at the Greenhouse Terrace

Middle School students planting spinach seeds. Variables such as light, water, soil chemistry, temperature will impact each team's measurements of growth.

Woodshop: Making a Knock Hockey Game

Meet DEI Coordinator, Kelley Howells.

Kelley Howells’ portrait

Third Grade Teacher and DEI Coordinator Kelley Howells leads the Tower School Faculty Diversity Group and is a member of Tower's Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Committee. This committee, comprised of Board of Trustees members, faculty and administration, works to advance the understanding of topics such as identity, race, unconscious bias, belonging and equity. Ms. Howells has held the position of DEI Coordinator since 2022.

Professional Experience

Ms. Howells’ training includes the following recent seminars, workshops conferences* and learning opportunities:

  • Informed in APA Style Guide for Inclusive Language, April 2022
  • Accompanied students to AISNE Middle School Diversity Conference, April 2023
  • Trained at AISNE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conferences, 2016–present
  • Incorporated Learning for Justice's ”Speak up at School” program in Tower's Faculty Diversity Group meetings, 2022–2023
  • Trained as a member of the inaugural cohort of the AISNE Leadership and Racial Justice Fellows 2022, July 2022 

 

Personal Experience

Ms. Howell's personal experiences and learning opportunities created the foundation for exploring diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and belonging professionally.

  • Became interested in topics of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice as a student in the Lynn Public Schools
  • Minored in African American History and Culture at Tufts University
  • Participated in the Anti-Apartheid Movement at Tufts University
  • Attended the “Free Nelson Mandela” Rally in Hyde Park London in 1988
  • Was privileged to have had dinner with Bishop Desmond Tutu
  • Studied American Sign Language and other courses for differently-abled students as part of my Masters degree at Lesley University

Recent Conferences for Educators, Administrators and Board of Trustee Members

Our teachers and administrators and trustees attend conferences and workshops that engage in important discussions of identity, equity, and belonging and explore ways to support diversity in our classrooms and curriculum as well as within our community.  

Recent opportunities have included the following conferences and workshops:

  • Kelley led a faculty workshop on Inclusive Language, Disrupting Stereotypes, Identity, and “Speak Up At School”
  • Board Retreat on diversity
  • AISNE Diversity Equity and Inclusion Conferences
  • AISNE Workshop: Identifying and Responding to Bullying and Microaggressions at Every Age 

A school climate assessment will inform the Board of Trustees’ strategic initiatives related to DEI to address the needs of students, families, and faculty. 

* NAIS: National Association of Independent Schools  
   AISNE: Association of Independent Schools of New England 

 

Non-Discrimination Statement: Tower School does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, handicapped status, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnicity in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, tuition assistance programs, or athletic and other school-administered programs.