The Bolles Way: Pursuing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with Intention

Thank you for investing your time today in what we think is one of the single most important and foundational qualities of the Bolles community – our mission to deliver a Bolles experience that is safe, inclusive and diverse. The School’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts are not just critical to a successful Bolles future. They define us today and set us apart as an institution that adapts to change, embraces multiplicity and recognizes the strength of its unique togetherness. The Bolles School is a community distinguished by its rich differences – we are a dedicated, confident community of:

Students, faculty and families from all over the world
People with varied backgrounds and distinct cultural experiences
And individuals with unique strengths, interests and definitions of themselves.

This is what #BollesTogether looks like on paper. But how that plays out in real, every day life here at Bolles is up to us. We have work to do if we are to raise our own bar. And your perspective and experience are exceedingly important to this work. We are fortunate to be well equipped with an institutional history of changemaking, an existing culturally diverse community and a desire to refine our practices. These strengths give us an incredible platform from which to pursue excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on all campuses. We invite you to take a closer look at the many initiatives and goals. This is exciting work and we look forward to sharing meaningful dialogue as we work together toward even greater heights of diversity, inclusion and understanding. #BollesTogether

Respectfully,

Tyler Hodges
President and Head of School

Twyla Ashman
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Bolles School is committed to diversity, inclusion and opportunity. As a place of learning, The Bolles School is committed to continuously improving our culture, curriculum and community in ways that reflect our core values of excellence, courage, integrity and compassion. The Bolles School is a community built on mutual respect, meaningful dialogue and purposeful change. Throughout this process, we are listening carefully to our students, parents/guardians and faculty/staff from the past and present to build an even more just, diverse and inclusive future for all.

Bolles Diversity Statement

The Bolles School fosters an intentionally inclusive and safe environment that values, affirms and celebrates the dignity and worth of all students, faculty, staff, parents/guardians and alumni.

We recognize and appreciate that diversity exists in our beliefs, skin color, racial background, heritage, nationality, traditions we observe, religions we practice, languages we speak, structure of our family, financial resources we possess, differing learning styles, our abilities and physical limitations, age, gender and sexuality.

We believe our differences help define us as individuals. Our commitment to learning to communicate and empathize with one another unites us as a school community. Through this deliberate practice we equip our graduates with the intellectual and moral clarity to thrive in an increasingly complex global society.

Published 2015

Q&A

Q: What diversity efforts have you made in the past and what efforts will you make going forward?
A: While we can always and will do better, we are proud of the actions we have taken to advance diversity, inclusion and opportunity with our faculty and student body. We have had exhibits, presentations and conversations about issues of equity, inclusion and opportunity across our student body and faculty/staff. These have been facilitated by the School’s Multi-Cultural Leadership Team (MLT) and OneJax. Faculty and student teams have been sent to the NAIS People of Color Conference and the NAIS Student Leadership Conference. We also had administrators attend the Carney, Sandoe Diversity Forum and Hiring Fair. In addition, we have been working with internationally known consultant and speaker on diversity and inclusivity, Dr. Derrick Gay. Dr. Gay has held workshops for the entire faculty/staff, administration, MLT and student groups from the middle and upper schools.

Q: Can you tell us more about some of the specific work that has been ongoing and will continue?
A: Of course. We have been considering this work for many years and here are a few examples of the projects that are ongoing, important and evolving:

Ongoing training for faculty and staff on identifying and overcoming implicit bias.
Continuation of the curriculum review that is part of the School's strategic plan, in conjunction with the Academic Council and Department Heads.
Follow through on that strategic plan, which includes diversity, equity and inclusion within the Bolles experience.

Q: Is the school adding any courses focused on the Black experience or history:
A: The school offers an American Journey Social Studies class and an African-American Literature class on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus. Libraries on all four Bolles campuses also have done an incredible job boosting resources on multicultural and diversity studies. We continue to review and enhance our curriculum through this lens.

Q: How is the school involving the parent community in its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts?
A: The School continues to communicate with our parent community via surveys, through our teachers and via the comment/questions area of the DEI webpage.

Q: How are Bolles alumni being included in this important work?
A: Bolles Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Twyla Ashman has spoken with numerous alumni groups. The Bolles Alumni Office has been supportive of of our alumni and looks forward to more conversations with our alumni. Independently, a group of Black Bolles alumni have formed a Black Bolles Alumni page on Facebook and Instagram to promote the achievements, successes and career paths of Black alumni.

2021-22

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts that have been accomplished during the first semester of the 2021-22 school year:

Semester 1:

Bullying and Harassment Policy Revision to the Student Handbook
Implementation of Safe Reporting Form for students
LS/MS/US Multicultural Leadership Team members attended Multicultural Leadership Institute by the Wildwood School Outreach Center
Members of LS/MS/US faculty and staff attended Creating Equity, Inclusion, and Harmony in the Classroom workshop with Rosette Lee
All school faculty and staff optional Global Read – Dancing in the Mosque
“Bolles… Be Yourself and Belong” Alternate Day at Bartram for students
Understanding Whiteness and Its Impact on Teaching and Learning, 3 series workshop with Jenna Chandler-Ward (attended by 6 MS/US English and History teachers who presented knowledge gained during department meeting)
Schoolwide Curriculum Audit (Led by Division Heads and Department Chairs)
- Presentation to Math Department on Bringing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into the Math Classroom
- Attended Q&A session on curriculum audit for History Department
Bringing Civility Home workshop pilot facilitated by Kyle Reese/ED of OneJax for Whitehurst Multicultural Leadership Team
Bringing Civility Home workshop facilitated by Kyle Reese/ED of OneJax for Ponte Vedra faculty
DiversityEdu online modules coupled with OneJax Diversity Education for Bolles Wellness Seminar classes/students
International Education Week activities at US
Campus specific cultural observations via library resource time/flag/advisory/classroom (ex. Diwali/Hannukah/MLK)
NAIS People of Color Conference (10 faculty members attended)
NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference (5 students participated)

Upcoming: Semester 2

Carne Sandoe & Associates Diversity Hiring Forum
Bringing Civility Home workshop facilitated by Kyle Reese/ED of OneJax for Whitehurst faculty
Black History Month observances
DEI workshop at Professional Day in February
Women’s Month speaker for US (pending COVID restrictions)
Culture Fair at US
International Festival at LS
Bolles community climate survey
Academic Policy for Religious and Cultural Observances
Listening sessions facilitated by Charlene Taylor-Hill

2020-21

Diversity, equity and inclusion have been important areas of development at Bolles. We have been working hard to improve the Bolles experience for students of all racial, cultural and social backgrounds. Together, we're going to make Bolles an even better place.

This work gained wonderful momentum in the summer of 2021. And while there is much work ahead we are proud to announce several key initiatives:

The Board of Trustees and Administration approved a Strategic Plan last May which includes diversity, equity and inclusion within the student experience and they continue to work hard to develop the many tactics necessary to achieve this goal.
In conjunction with the Board of Trustees and Administration, the Academic Council and Department Heads continue their review of the overall curriculum as part of the work on the 2020-25 Strategic Plan.
We have hired an independent resource to investigate, discuss and parse out the allegations made on the @BlackAtBolles Instagram page. Dan Schorr, formerly managing director with New York City-based Ankura, was selected for this important role. He already has begun his good work.
We established Multicultural Leadership Teams on all four campuses to begin meeting this school year.
We are exploring avenues to increase financial aid giving that will promote diversity, equity and inclusion by working with new and existing donors.
Offering a new African-American Literature class on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus for the 2020-21 school year.
The Bolles Parent Association formed a group called “Parents for Positive Change.” This group has shared resources, direction and information to help foster conversation around the student experience at Bolles. They already have begun sharing information in the weekly global emails and are planning for additional opportunities this fall.
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Twyla Ashman, along with other teachers and administrators, has continued work that has been underway at Bolles for some time, including:
- The creation of a DEI Task Force with representatives from all campuses.
- A review of the School's Parent-Student Handbook, with a focus on campus language guidelines.
- Faculty and staff will continue to do professional development work with Dr. Derrick Gay.
- Providing a list of resources for faculty, staff and parents to build inclusion and awareness competencies.
- Ongoing training for faculty and staff on identifying and overcoming implicit bias.
- The School is conducting important diversity and inclusion Zoom forums to discuss ways to encourage connectedness and a more inclusive community.

Strategic Plan 2020-2025

Goal: To nurture students to be the best version of themselves by fostering well-being and joy in an environment that cultivates a diverse and inclusive community.

Strategy A: Optimize the student experience to empower positive connections within the Bolles community and encourage a sense of collective pride and a healthy school-life balance.

Strategy B: Cultivate a welcoming community by providing programming reflective of our commitment to support a diverse and inclusive school environment.

Strategy C: Create a safe, nurturing environment where students experience joy and learn how to enhance their own well-being.

Academic Policies for Religious and Cultural Observances

The Bolles School believes in nurturing students to be the best version of themselves by fostering well-being and joy in an environment that cultivates a diverse, international and inclusive community. The cultivation of an inclusive community has led us to establish a policy for religious and cultural observances which supports students expressing their whole identity.

The following list is not exhaustive of all holidays or observances, nor active religious communities on campus. However, Bolles School will not assign homework or assessments on the following holidays, nor over Thanksgiving, Winter, or Spring Breaks.

Christmas
Diwali
Eid
Good Friday/Easter
Lunar New Year
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur

In addition, when students will be absent from school for observances other than those listed above, requests should be submitted to the campus office by guardians or parents by the beginning of the school year (Lower School) or beginning of the semester (Middle/Upper School). The Bolles School is committed to honoring any religious or cultural request by excusing school attendance, games, or practices if it is in conjunction with religious observances or cultural celebrations.

The Multi-Cultural Leadership Team

An advisory and action group of faculty, staff and administrators committed to supporting the multicultural-related work and experiences within the community, the MLT at Bolles guides programming and creates recommendations regarding policy and practice to ensure that our school sustains and expands its growth as an inclusive, multicultural environment.

Ponte Vedra Beach Campus
Christina Karvounis, Chair
Twyla Ashman
Anne Fallon
Linda Farber
Stacey Hendershot
Carolyn Houston
Christen Newson
Stacey Posick
Kathy Rawlins
Kimberly Thomas

Whitehurst Campus
Twyla Ashman
Daniel Austin
Andrea Benitez
Linda Farber
Christy Lusk
Jen Moore
Jaime Plauche
Andi Oldham
Laura Ropp
Meredith Thorpe

Bartram Campus
Michael Stephens, Chair
Twyla Ashman
Josh Bauman
Gabrielle Fudge
Mindy Kelly
Kelly Lipscomb
Meredith Mormann
Sean Mullings
Josh Pearson
Brynne Plant
Janice Rausch
Jennifer Velcio
Jackie Willingham
Savannah Wood

San Jose Campus
Twyla Ashman, Chair
Angela Blackledge
Jessica Boylan
Andres Buitrago
Dana Bussiere
Allison Denmark
Kim Dividu
Lauren Genduso
Jen Gomez
Anna Jacobson
Moya Marks
Piper Moyer-Shad
Claudia Rae
Chengmei Rothschild
Jen Stover
Mannie Wellington

DEI Task Force

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force will identify strategies and tactics necessary to implement the diversity and inclusion components of the five-year strategic plan.

Fernando Acosta Rua '85	Trustee and Alumnus
Twyla Ashman	Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Black Student Union Faculty Sponsor and Sophomore Advisor
Natalia Aycart	Director of Global Learning & Engagement
Josh Bauman	Head of Middle School Bartram Campus
John Curran	Web Design and Communications Associate and Residential Life Staff
Mike Drew	Associate Head of School
Tracey Douglas '82	Alumna
Brittany Groover	Trustee
Stacey Hendershot	Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus Head
Anna Jacobson	Upper School English Teacher and Student Diversity Committee Faculty Sponsor
Christina Karvounis	Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Librarian
Danielle Leach	College Counselor
Christy Lusk	Lower School Whitehurst Campus Head
Moya Marks	Upper School San Jose Campus Head
Piper Moyer-Shad '91	Assistant Head of Upper School, Director of Student Leadership Development, Upper School Science Teacher and Alumna
Tatiana Salvador '86	Trustee and Alumna
Matt Toblin	AP Psychology Teacher and Varsity Football Head Coach
Mannie Wellington	Upper School Dean of Students and Varsity Football Assistant Coach

Task Force Areas of Focus:

Curriculum and Pedagogy
This committee is tasked with gaining an understanding of the overall curriculum structure and recommending expansion of the curriculum. A desired curriculum will include one that prepares students to value a multi-cultural world and one that is intentionally inclusive of the diverse scholars and voices that contribute to our world and community.
Campus and Community Engagement
This committee will recommend programs that promote access, diversity, equity and inclusion through campus and community partnerships. These programs should create long-term and sustainable change at Bolles and our surrounding communities.
School Policies and Practices
This committee is working to identify systemic inequities within Bolles' policies, practices and procedures to support needed change.
Training and Development
This committee is charged with recommending training to integrate anti-racism practices, stimulate inclusive ideals and breakdown constructs of implicit bias to maximize education goals.
Faculty and Student Recruitment and Retention
This committee is working with Admission and Human Resources to recommend diverse and non-traditional avenues to recruit faculty and students of color along with inclusive programming and partnerships to retain enrollment/employment.

Board of Trustees DEI Committee

Michael Meyers	Committee Chair and Trustee
Dee Brown '86	Trustee and Alumnus
Ali Chahlavi	Trustee
Rahul Deshmukh '89	Trustee and Alumnus
Kathryn Pearson Peyton	Trustee
A. Chester Skinner IV '98	Trustee and Alumnus
Tyler Hodges	President and Head of School Administration Support Lead

Bolles Administrative Team

Tyler Hodges	President and Head of School
Mike Drew	Associate Head of School
Twyla Ashman	Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Sophomore Advisor
Josh Bauman	Head of Middle School Bartram Campus
Chris Butler	Director of Transportation, Safety & Security
Stacey Hendershot	Head of Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus
Christy Lusk	Head of Lower School Whitehurst Campus
Moya Marks	Head of Upper School San Jose Campus
Kila McCann	Dean of Admission & Financial Aid
Melvin Morgan	General Manager/Facilities
Matt Morris	Director of Athletics
Carol Nimitz	Chief Advancement Officer
Jan Olson, APR	Senior Director/Communications & Marketing
Laura Rippel	Director of Fine and Performing Arts
Jeff Role	Chief Finance and Operations Officer
Paul Sollee '88	Chief Technology Officer
Kimberly Wait	Executive Assistant/Office of the President

Updates from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Communications to Our Community

Updates from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Communications to Our Community

A Message from the President and Head of School
March 19, 2021

A Message from the President and Head of School
February 8, 2021

A Message from President and Head of School, DEI Update
November 30, 2020

A Message from the Head of School
August 7, 2020

A Message to the Bolles Community from the Bolles Board of Trustees
Chair and President and Head of School
Jun 23 2020

A Message from the President and Head of School
Jun 21 2020

Statement to the Community
Jun 17 2020

A Message from the President and Head of School
Jun 10 2020

Statement to the Community
Jun 5 2020

A Message from the President and Head of School
Jun 1 2020

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students

From the National Association of Independent Schools: Cultivate Diverse and Inclusive Communities

Global Learning and Engagement

Celebrating Our Community

RSS Feeds Subscribe to Alerts

Whitehurst Heritage Day a Family Affair

Student-Led Ramadan Presentation in PreK a Celebration

Chinese Essayists Score

UN SDG Discussions, Global Dialogue Continue in Chahlavi Center

Meet Twyla Ashman, Bolles Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

ashmant@bolles.org
(904) 256-5222

The Bolles School takes very seriously any report or incident of bullying, harassment, discrimination or retaliation. If you witness any type of harassment you may report the incident by completing the Safe Reporting Form. Reported allegations of harassment will be investigated promptly by the campus head or their designee.

Safe Reporting Form

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Clubs

American Sign Language
Asian Inspiration Multiplied (A.I.M.)
Arabic Club
Black Student Union
Chinese Club
CISV
French Club
Gay-Straight Alliance
GenWow
Hispanic Student Union
India Club
International Student Union
Japanese Club
Jewish Student Union
Student Diversity Committee

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In This Section

The Bolles Way: Pursuing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with Intention

Bolles Diversity Statement

Q&A

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts

2021-22

2020-21

Strategic Plan 2020-2025

Academic Policies for Religious and Cultural Observances

The Multi-Cultural Leadership Team

DEI Task Force

Board of Trustees DEI Committee

Bolles Administrative Team

Updates from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Communications to Our Community

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students

Celebrating Our Community

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students