What is DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)?

In the context of Waldorf education, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is the recognition of the light that resides in every student, and the environment we can foster that enables every individual to shine.

Diversity acknowledges and celebrates the unique qualities, experiences, and perspectives that each individual brings to the world and to our school. We strive to honor and nurture the diverse gifts and talents of each student, recognizing that every one of us has a special purpose and unique destiny to fulfill.

Equity ensures every student has equal access to the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive and reach their fullest potential. It is about creating a learning environment that is fair and just, where no student is left behind or marginalized. This aligns with Steiner’s vision of education as a means of social renewal, where schools play a vital role in creating a more equitable and compassionate society.

Inclusion is the active practice of welcoming and valuing each individual for who they are, creating a sense of belonging and community where everyone feels seen, heard, and respected. This means cultivating an atmosphere of warmth, acceptance, and understanding, where each student’s unique spirit is nurtured and celebrated.

Antiracism is our conscious efforts and deliberate actions to address and eradicate racial inequities against Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC). Our goal is to recognize and dismantle racial bias and racially unequal outcomes in our policies, processes, practices, and relationships affecting BIPOC individuals and groups at the interpersonal, institutional, and societal levels. The work of antiracism is aligned with our Shared Deeper Purpose to contribute to the renewal of humanity and is also aligned with the mission of Waldorf education: to honor the unique spirit of each student and to be of service to the world. As our understandings evolve, so will this plan. Given the current landscape and our commitment to antiracism, we feel it is necessary to articulate what antiracism is in the context of DEI with the understanding that antiracism and efforts towards antiracism are included within the DEI umbrella, as are our efforts towards combatting all identity based inequities.

Rudolf Steiner founded Waldorf education in 1919. Racism, antisemitism, and related social harms impacted his work, as they shape us, our school, and our society today. The Hartsbrook School stands behind the following Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) statement on racial comments in the works of Rudolf Steiner:

“We acknowledge that Rudolf Steiner…offered many profound insights that support the value and dignity of each human being and form the foundation of our organization’s histories and worldview. Yet, he also made statements that reflect harmful assertions regarding race and ethnicity. Racism, explicit or implicit, stands in direct conflict to the fundamental principles of Waldorf education…” (Accessed 5/23/22)

We believe that the culture of the Hartsbrook School reflects the individuals that make up the school and our own capacities to be racist or antiracist. It is our responsibility to identify and dismantle racism in ourselves and in the school, to work toward antiracism, and to cultivate a culture of inclusivity and equity.

Ultimately, DEI is about recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every human being, and working to create a school culture that reflects this understanding. It is about weaving a tapestry of love, compassion, and respect, where each student has access to our education, is supported in developing an understanding of their own unique identities and gifts, learns to see, understand, and effectively communicate with others, and can then unfold their true potential while in our care.

Purpose

This framework serves as a guiding star for our DEI journey. It provides a constellation of goals and principles that will help us navigate and measure this important work with intention and grace. 

Through this framework, we hope to deepen our understanding of how DEI is an essential part of our school’s heartbeat, and is woven throughout the student experience. By aligning our efforts and reflecting on our progress, we can create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment that embodies Waldorf education principles, honoring the whole child and supporting their journey towards becoming free-thinking, compassionate human beings.

Every faculty and staff member plays a crucial role in bringing our mission and vision, below, to life. Through collaborative and reflective strategic action planning, we invite each individual to explore how they can contribute to our overarching goals, using their unique talents, passions, and experiences to shape a school culture that embodies the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Together, we can build a community that not only talks about diversity, equity, and inclusion but truly lives these values each and every day.

DEI Mission

The Hartsbrook School is dedicated to nurturing a culture that supports the value and dignity of every individual, fosters belonging, celebrates differences, and works in community to meet present challenges and build toward a better future together.

Vision

The Hartsbrook School fosters a diverse community and an equitable and inclusive culture where all community members feel a validated experience of belonging and actively create inclusion for others, and are supported to reach their full potential. Organizational policies and practices support a highly engaged, diverse community that is in relationship with and both learns from and positively impacts the greater community.

Goals

Background

It is critical that all students at Hartsbrook have equal opportunity to reach their full potential, and that all staff and faculty are equipped to support a diverse student body as well as contribute to an inclusive school culture. We have made strong and visible strides in our efforts to weave diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into our school culture. This work is ongoing, and by working together and keeping our eyes fixed on the goal of a more just and equitable world, we can continue to build a school culture that celebrates diversity, upholds equity, and embodies inclusion by continuing to improve the efficacy of efforts in the following areas:

1. Curriculum and Pedagogy
2. Institutional Infrastructure
3. Access & Success
4. Community Engagement

Curriculum and Pedagogy

• Support the educational goals of Hartsbrook through the consideration of how educational content and pedagogical practices embrace broad and varied perspectives, engage a wide range of students, and promote a critical exchange of ideas, with the subgoals that all Hartsbrook students will be able to:
  • Develop an understanding of their own identity and voice
  • Develop an understanding of identities and experiences different from their own
  • Develop skills/tools to effectively navigate difference
  • Through building community, learn how to positively impact change

• Examples of current initiatives
  • Early Childhood, Elementary and High School teachers work to provide windows and mirrors for students that reflect back the identities, languages, cultures and ancestry of the students so all may see themselves represented in the curriculum as well as see and learn about those identities and experiences that are not their own.
  • Teachers at all levels work to bring lessons that can be accessed and embraced by a diversity of learners, including neurodiverse students, through the consideration of auditory, visual, and kinesthetic components. While the integration of story telling, the arts, and movement into lessons is not new to Waldorf education, teachers pay special attention to where a sensory issue may create a challenge for a student, and work to create structures and offer alternatives where helpful.
  • 11th grade students participate in a Main Lesson Seminar where they experience a set of workshops on identity and inclusion, and are trained to facilitate each workshop. They then go into the 7th grade to lead those middle school students in activities and dialogues on identity, inclusion and respect. 

Institutional Infrastructure

• Assess, update and develop policies, procedures and practices that create an equitable institutional infrastructure that flexibly supports and enhances equity and inclusion efforts across the community. Institutional infrastructure refers to the facilities, policies, allocation of resources, articulated competencies, organizational structures, and the use of metrics and other evidence that drive intentional decision making.

• Examples of current initiatives
  • Ongoing work to update and live out Antiracism and Gender inclusion policies
  • Ongoing evaluation of school handbooks
  • Budget review process to align funding with school strategic priorities
    

Access and Success (Diversity, Representation, Participation)

• Achieve and sustain a diverse student, faculty and staff body that is representationally balanced, in order to attain the innovation and creativity that this diversity allows. 

• Examples of current initiatives
  • Implementation of inclusive hiring practices
  • Ongoing evaluation of the sliding scale model

Community Engagement

• Create and maintain an inclusive culture in order to foster trust and high levels of engagement for both internal and external communities across all aspects of their experience with Hartsbrook.

• Examples of current initiatives
  • Community Town Hall and Parent/Caregiver Evenings
  • Parent/caregiver workshops
  • High School Forums
  • Gray House collaboration
  • Gardening the Community collaboration