Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee Holds Inaugural Meeting
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee Holds Inaugural Meeting

Spartanburg Day School’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee held its inaugural meeting Wednesday via Zoom to lead our school's efforts to be more purposeful in cultivating an environment where all individuals feel known, accepted and valued.

Represented on the committee are faculty members, students, alumni, parents, administrators and members of our board of trustees. Serving as co-chairs are board members and current SDS parents Marjorie Appiah and Michel Stone. 

“I am invested in improving diversity, equity and inclusion because I believe in representation, fairness and respect,” Appiah said. “True diversity is to ‘see,’ listen and accept.”

Stone said, “I’m co-chairing this committee for many reasons, but mostly because I believe that one’s humanity is inextricably bound to everyone else’s humanity and that our DEI work will broaden lenses and spark empathy that can change the world.”

Committee members are:

  • Marjorie Appiah, board of trustees, parent
  • Michel Stone, board of trustees, parent
  • Rachel Deems, head of school
  • Jaime Wall, board of trustees president, parent
  • Aixa Anderson, Lower School Spanish teacher
  • Adom Appiah, 11th grade
  • Jayde Barton ‘11
  • Darryl Evans ‘06
  • Mya Ferguson, 8th grade
  • Elizabeth Flores, Upper School Spanish teacher
  • Paige Gaines-Phillips, Upper School dean of students, photography teacher
  • Sunny Huckaby, head of Lower School
  • Sharda Jackson Smith, parent
  • Leigh Ann Langley, parent
  • Farrar Richardson, head of Middle School
  • Tim Teel, admissions associate
  • Kevin Weatherill, head of Upper School
  • Kevin Wynn, Middle School English teacher, coach
  • Caleb Xiao, 10th grade
  • Chelsea Zikusooka, 7th grade

After virtual introductions, members began preliminary work to establish a mission statement and vision for the committee’s future work. Each member was asked to share his or her own reason for becoming involved. The meeting laid a foundation for information gathering and setting both short- and long-term goals related to DEI. The committee will next meet on Nov. 18.   

 

 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee Holds Inaugural Meeting
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee Holds Inaugural Meeting