Equity & Inclusion - About - McDonogh School

Equity & Inclusion

McDonogh’s Philosophy on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

McDonogh School is a tapestry of diversity in all of its forms—race and ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status, to name a few. This diversity enriches our perspectives and makes us stronger, but it is just the starting point. 

Our Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, and staff are committed to continuing to diversify our community while simultaneously sustaining and enhancing an inclusive environment where each member of the McDonogh family is heard and valued.  We accomplish this by supporting a sense of belonging through a culture of dignity and respect.

We are dedicated to being a school where students are affirmed for who they are—where they learn the importance of having empathy for those who are different and seek ways to better understand themselves and the world around them. We do this through LifeReady, our academic philosophy, which enacts the kind of critical thinking and collaboration students will need to work and thrive across lines of difference throughout their lives.

As proponents of lifelong learning, we embrace the idea that true commitment to equity and  inclusion is a continuous journey of action, reflection, and recommitment. It requires humility, perseverance, and truth-telling. McDonogh is ever ready for this journey.
 

Pledge to Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

McDonogh is dedicated to being a truly diverse and inclusive community.

  • We pledge to continuously engage in reflective practices to ensure that our community remains equitable and inclusive for all.
  • We pledge to create a learning environment that is affirming for all of our students. Likewise, we pledge to create a work environment that is affirming for all of our faculty and staff.
  • We pledge, through our LifeReady academic philosophy, to equip our students with the knowledge, will, and skill to be agents of positive change and civic engagement.
  • We pledge to ensure that our faculty and staff continue to grow and develop their ability to create equitable, inclusive, and transformative learning environments through school-based professional development and other professional learning opportunities.
  • We pledge to build a community where the equal worth and inherent dignity of each person is honored and everyone truly belongs.

Schoolwide Working Groups

Board of Trustees Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

The Board of Trustees is committed to the work of making sure McDonogh School is a diverse, equitable, and inclusive institution. To that end, in July 2020, an Equity Committee of the Board was established as a standing group. This committee, chaired by Dee Drummond ‘92, ensures open dialogue at the board level and helps to foster, encourage, and emphasize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

McDonogh Parents Association Equity and Inclusion Committee

The MPA Equity and Inclusion Committee was created to provide specialized support to the McDonogh community and enable the development of appropriate skills and cultural competencies in order to further facilitate the continued success of McDonogh students. These essential efforts are aligned with McDonogh’s mission to “do the greatest possible amount of good.”

Learn more about our MPA E&I programs and initiatives.

AFFINITY SPACES

McDonogh supports affinity spaces and adheres to NAIS’s Best Practices on the rationale and purpose of affinity spaces. Several student, parent, faculty/staff and alumni affinity spaces have already been established.

FACULTY DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

McDonogh faculty and staff attend regular in-school professional development around diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition to on-going school-based professional development, faculty and staff are also encouraged to participate in national and local conferences. 

STUDENT DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP

 

Middle School and Upper School students have the opportunity to attend local and national diversity leadership conferences to learn about themselves and the world around them as it pertains to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

meet our team

McDonogh’s Office of Equity and Inclusion is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion through an ongoing journey of honest self-reflection, data analytics, and evaluation. 

The Director and Divisional Coordinators guide and support the School, with special emphasis on developing learning opportunities for students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni. Their goal is to foster an inclusive environment where all members of the McDonogh Family can show up as their authentic selves and work collaboratively with others to do the greatest possible amount of good.