Our Diversity

We recognize that diversity and inclusivity are fundamental to the richness of experience and learning that our approach to education demands.

LEARN MORE BELOW

In Reggio-inspired schools such as Sabot at Stony Point, teacher-researchers use “the hundred languages of children” as a metaphor to describe the process of representing knowledge and learning. This word cloud represents our research when creating our statement of belief and provides a lens through which we can focus the ongoing work of diversity, equity, and inclusivity at Sabot.

Statement of Belief

Diversity matters at Sabot. We nurture a learning environment where diversity is valued, respected, and celebrated. Diversity, and the variety of experiences and perspectives it provides, is central to our approach to education. Our emphasis on co-construction – an environment where everyone teaches and everyone learns – is strengthened by a community that includes diversity of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family structure, learning style, religious belief, political affiliation, and life experience, among others. We strive continually to engage with each other in ways that develop a sense of belonging among all community members, and value the powerful contributions that each individual makes to our shared learning and understanding.

Diversity matters for learning. At Sabot, students are at the center of our mission and educational philosophy. We recognize each student for their individual abilities, interests, ideas, and identities. We provide a safe, supported space for students to bring their authentic self each and every day. The ways each student observes, acquires knowledge, interacts, and tests and refines theories make for a more powerful collective experience while enriching their individual path as a lifelong learner.

Get Involved

Join the conversation and help Sabot continue to become a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable community.

Nominate Community Members for the DEI Subcommittee

The DEI Subcommittee identifies and coordinates DEI opportunities and actions across Board committees with a lens on School policies and practices.

DEI NOMINATION FORM

Sabot in Action

The Board, Administration, and Faculty work to affect change in various aspects of school life:

Community Events

DE&I Conversations: An email series to start or further conversations among the community about issues of race, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and privilege, shared by the DE&I subcommittee of the Board. See below for the content.
Richmond Peace Education Center facilitated a Raising Anti-Racist Children Workshop for the greater Richmond community on our campus.
The Sabot Institute for Teaching & Learning hosted a presentation for local educators entitled Equitable Outcomes in Education: The FirstSchool Approach

Curriculum, Policy & Programs

Faculty began an evaluation of our curriculum toward the elimination of bias and the adoption of inclusive perspectives and pedagogy.
Sabot established an endowment in 2018 that supports Sabot’s tuition assistance program.

Hiring & Professional Development

Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities conducted anti-bias training, first holding confidential affinity group discussions to inform the design of the two professional development sessions.
Administration regularly attends Virginia Diversity Network’s hiring fairs, and we utilize Nemnet Minority Recruitment services to help us identify qualified candidates.

Diversity: the presence of difference.

Inclusivity: creating a sense of belonging by accepting, respecting, and affirming diversity. Inclusivity requires intention.

Equity: being just, fair, and recognizing that not everyone has the same opportunity for equality. Equity requires institutional and systematic change.

Resources

Guidelines for Respectful Dialogue

Anti-Defamation League: Early childhood FAQs for parents, educators, and families

National Association for the Education of Young Children: Recommendations for advancing equity in early childhood education

Raising Race Conscious Children: Resources for talking about race with young children

Teaching for Change: Tools to create schools where students learn to read, write, and change the world

Teaching Tolerance: Literature and multimedia for students (a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center)

Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities: Information organized by topic

Welcoming Schools: Reading, lesson plans, and tips to make school more welcoming for LGBTQ students and families

DE&I Conversations

This email series aims to start or further conversations among the community about issues of race, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and privilege. We hope these resources/prompts, provided by the DE&I subcommittee of the Board, are thought-provoking, and we invite you to reach out to each other if they stimulate further conversation.