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. Three years ago, we appointed a member of our faculty, Twyla Ashman, to her current role of Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Earlier this year, we expanded her responsibilities to oversee these efforts across grades Pre-K through 12. 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 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, for the past three years. During this time, 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:

• A review of the School's Parent-Student Handbook, with a focus on campus language guidelines.
• 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: How is Bolles helping students better understand some of these issues and how they can overcome racism, implicit bias and other barriers?
A: Bolles Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion Twyla Ashman already has met with incoming Bolles boarding students to discuss some of these important topics. In addition to new class offerings and tweaks to our curriculum, the School is planning more workshops and events to explore these topics more deeply. Student clubs like the Black Student Union and the diversity committee also are looking for ways to share experiences and deepen understanding between students of all cultural and racial backgrounds.

Q: Is the school adding any courses focused on the Black experience or history:
A: We are offering a new African-American Literature class on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus for the 2020-21 school year. 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 lense.

Q: How is the school involving the parent community in its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts?
A: The Bolles Parent Association formed a new 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 have been sharing information in weekly global emails to the Bolles parent community and are planning additional events this fall.

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 in meaningful Zoom gatherings. Bolles Alumni Director Ryan Trevett has been supportive of and participating in these events and looks to host more this year. 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.

Q: What actions are you taking in response to the allegations made on the @BlackAtBolles Instagram page?
A: In the face of these current challenges, we are undertaking a concerted effort to listen to many voices and engage in direct dialogue that reflects our school’s values and aspirations. In the wake of the posts on @BlackAtBolles, the Bolles Board formed a search committee for the purpose of seeking and hiring an independent, expert resource to conduct a comprehensive and objective review of all the allegations made concerning diversity and inclusion at Bolles. After weeks of searching, the committee eventually hired Dan Schorr, formerly a managing director with New York City-based Ankura, to partner with The Bolles School as we begin this research and review. Schorr has been reviewing this summer’s @BlackAtBolles Instagram posts, speaking with concerned parties and identifying major themes for the School to address. Throughout this process, we have supported our entire community—students, faculty/staff and alumni—and continue to look for ways we can improve, progress and strengthen our school. Listening, learning and progressing—together—as a community is our priority.  If you have something specific to share, we welcome you to contact Mr. Schorr directly by emailing dan@danschorrllc.com.

Q: How is Bolles connected to the @WhiteAtBolles Instagram account?
A: Bolles has nothing to do with the @WhiteAtBolles Instagram account. We do not condone any part of its mission or online presence. It is counter to everything we believe in at Bolles. While we have reported our concerns with @WhiteAtBolles’ content, it remains up and we continue to monitor it for any inappropriate content. Unfortunately, we cannot influence this account’s existence and cannot manage as it is an unaffiliated page and thus far has not breached any standards set forth and investigated by Instagram. If you see any threatening, illegal or harassing posts on that page – or any others – you may, as an individual, report the account to Instagram for review.

Q: Have you been communicating directly with the creators of these accounts?
A: We do not know who created these accounts nor have we heard directly from them. We are interested in direct dialogue that can advance the conversation.

Q: When did you first learn of the allegations?
A: The Instagram account is one of many similar accounts that have appeared around the country, addressing issues at schools like ours. It was brought to our attention soon after it went live on Friday, June 12, 2020.

Q: Have you been in contact with the faculty who have been named?
A: We have, and are committed to our faculty and staff, making sure they know they are essential members of our community. We are committed to ensuring everyone engaged in this conversation is treated fairly and respectfully.

Q: Have you been in contact with other schools that have been criticized in similar accounts?
A: The education leadership community is reasonably well connected thanks to associations, conferences and the like, so there is meaningful dialogue between institutional leaders on how best to address the stories of those who are posting as we all work to improve the culture, curriculum and community at our respective schools.

Q: The @BlackAtBolles page is just a symptom of much bigger issues. What is Bolles doing to address the broader picture of enhancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Bolles?
A: Momentum around our efforts has been building for many years and has gained much traction this summer. In recent years, we named math teacher and advisor Twyla Ashman as  Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Her role has been expanding ever since to include programming at the lower school levels as well. In May, the Bolles Board of Trustees and Administration approved a Strategic Plan 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 and administration, the Academic Council and Department Heads continue their review of the overall curriculum as prat of the 2020-25 Strategic Plan work. Bolles recently established a Multicultural Leadership Team on all four campuses. They are meeting this school year. Bolles also is exploring avenues to increase financial aid giving that will promote diversity, equity and inclusion by working with new and existing donors. Other initiatives include: 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; additional workshops with Dr. Derrick Gay; providing a list of resources for faculty, staff and parents to build inclusion and awareness competencies; and additional training for faculty and staff on identifying and overcoming implicit bias.

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 has gained wonderful momentum this past summer. 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 new 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.

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. 

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.

Dear Bolles Community,

I wanted to share an update on how our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have evolved since our August 7 communication announcing the hiring of Mr. Dan Schorr, an independent consultant. Our Board of Trustees tasked Mr. Schorr with reviewing this summer’s @BlackAtBolles Instagram posts, speaking with concerned parties and identifying major themes for the School to address. 

This work began immediately, and Mr. Schorr is continuing to do his due diligence on our behalf. I am certain his good work will make us stronger and better as a school and community. Throughout this process, we have supported our entire community—students, faculty/staff and alumni—and continue to look for ways we can improve, progress and strengthen our school. Listening, learning and progressing—together—as a community is our priority.  If you have something specific to share, we welcome you to contact Mr. Schorr directly by emailing dan@danschorrllc.com

While everyone agrees we have work to do in the area of diversity and inclusion, we also are proud of the forward movement instituted during the past few years. Today’s work continues a longstanding commitment to making Bolles a place where everyone can become the very best versions of themselves. (Please click HERE to read opening remarks to middle and upper school students during their first convocation.) Thank you for joining me in that commitment and for having faith that we, as a community, can and will see this through. In the words of Charlotte Bronte, “Prejudices, it is well known, are most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never been loosened or fertilized by education.”

We also will continue our partnership with Dr. Derrick Gay—a diversity and inclusion strategist who consults with organizations to deepen diversity and inclusion capacity, enhance inclusion and engagement and design strategy. We have been working with Dr. Gay for more than three years and have continued to build on professional development forums for faculty and staff. Our Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Mrs. Twyla Ashman, is currently working with Dr. Gay to arrange a variety of meetings for students, faculty and staff in October. 

As an independent school community with a long history of affecting change, we are wholly committed to advancing a more just and equitable future for all Bolles students. This is critical work and we are pursuing substantive change with courage, integrity and compassion as our guide. Bolles is committed to sharpening our school’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and intends to do so quickly and thoughtfully. A more inclusive and welcoming Bolles is our end game. Please do not hesitate to reach out with your feedback. We will continue to keep you updated on this important work. Authentic conversation, empathy and a willingness to learn will be our greatest resources as we seek to stir progress at Bolles, together.

Respectfully,
Tyler Hodges
President and Head of School

Dear Bolles Community,

As summer somehow begins to fade into another school year, we wanted to share an important update with you on Bolles’ diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

In our last communication with you, we announced plans to hire an independent consultant to conduct a comprehensive and objective review of the posts made on the @BlackAtBolles Instagram page. The Bolles Board of Trustees assembled a subcommittee tasked with finding and hiring a firm that could best fulfill this critical role for our community. Ensuing was a national search, which yielded an impressive list of 15 providers experienced in this specialized area of engagement. We are pleased to inform you Dan Schorr, formerly a managing director with New York City-based Ankura, has been hired to partner with The Bolles School as we begin this research and review.

Mr. Schorr has a long, successful history working with schools, companies and institutions to discover truths, analyze facts and help communities move forward. He has more than 20 years of legal and investigative experience managing a variety of complex assignments at the university and secondary school level. Mr. Schorr received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Harvard Law School and his master’s and bachelor’s degrees are from the University of Pennsylvania. We look forward to working with him and know his expert guidance will assist our School become a better place. Mr. Schorr will be tasked with reviewing the @BlackAtBolles Instagram posts and speaking with concerned parties in order to identify major themes for the School to address. This work will begin immediately. Throughout this process, we support our entire community—students, faculty/staff and alumni and continue to look for ways to improve our great school.

Racist thoughts and behaviors exist in communities across the world, and the Bolles community has not been immune. Our goal is healing and learning from these painful experiences. We want to address hurt feelings on all sides of this complex issue. To everyone feeling this pain—our faculty, staff, families and students past and present—we acknowledge your feelings and shared experiences and are working toward community recovery. We are taking multiple steps to help ensure that racism of any kind plays no role in our environment and are connecting with students, parents and faculty and staff to better support our Black students and move forward together. We have complete faith in our faculty and staff as we collectively work to make Bolles a more inclusive and supportive environment.

Bolles will continue its long-term commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and while this will take time, we are tackling it with urgency. (Please click HERE to learn more about our ongoing efforts.) We will share updates with you as we continue to make progress in this area to create a more inclusive and welcoming Bolles. We encourage you to contact us directly with any questions, feedback or concerns. Together, we're going to make Bolles an even better place.

Respectfully,

Dear Bolles Community:

We are touching base to update you after today's Board of Trustees call.

The key output of today's positive and constructive Board conversation was our decision to seek out an independent, expert resource to conduct a comprehensive and objective review of all allegations that have been made concerning diversity and inclusion at Bolles. The Board formed a search committee for that purpose and will be moving quickly to identify the right organization and initiate the review. The committee's members are:

• Preeti Swani
• Brittany L. Groover
• Michael Meyers
• Tatiana R. Salvador '86
• Fernando Acosta-Rua '85, Board of Trustees Chair
• Tyler Hodges, President/Head of School

Also proceeding, on a separate track, is the work that has been underway for some time under the leadership of Twyla Ashman, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

• A review of the School's Parent-Student Handbook, with a focus on campus language guidelines (a meeting is already set for early July).
• 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.

These ongoing efforts reflect our shared commitment to continue listening and to welcome constructive dialogue with anyone who would like to be part of this important conversation.

This process reflects Bolles' long-term commitment to diversity and inclusion. As it unfolds, we will be providing regular updates during this process. As always, we encourage you to contact us directly if you have questions or would like to share your views. Together, we're going to make Bolles an even better place.

Respectfully,

Fernando Acosta-Rua '85                      Tyler Hodges
Chair, Board of Trustees                        President and Head of School

To The Bolles School Family:

As you know, our school and other schools across the country have been the focus of social media accounts created to share the stories of black students, alumni and their parents. There is no doubt that this is a national issue and that Bolles can do more to advance our own conversation and actions around diversity and inclusion. At the same time, the social media accounts make accusations that are certifiably false and deeply hurtful.

While we can always and will do better, I am proud of the actions we have taken to advance diversity, inclusion and opportunity with our faculty and student body. Three years ago, we appointed Twyla Ashman, one of our esteemed faculty members to the role of Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Earlier this year, we expanded her responsibilities to oversee these efforts across grades Pre-K through 12.

In the face of these current challenges, my team and I have engaged in a concerted effort to listen to many voices and engage in direct dialogue that reflects our school's values and aspirations. I am confident this effort will lead to even greater understanding and unity within our community.

Part of that process will be an effort to engage you, your children, our faculty/staff and alumni in a meaningful conversation rooted in our love for the School, respect for one another and desire to be the best community possible. In addition, we have formed a task force which will look at ways for us to further advance our diversity and inclusion initiatives. We also plan to engage a reputable outside resource to objectively assess the accusations that have been made and to assure any false claims are investigated.  We are committed to pursuing truth in a transparent and open manner. We are deeply supportive of our dedicated and committed faculty and the excellent teaching they provide our students.

In these challenging times, we can all take pride in our progress and our commitment to the continual pursuit of a diverse and inclusive learning environment for our community.

I know that you are deeply concerned about this and that you are being asked about these events by your friends, family and the community, so I have offered a few thoughts below.  I am also sharing some questions we have received, along with our answers in case this is helpful to you personally and for questions you also may be receiving. (CLICK HERE FOR Q & A) As always, please call or email if you have any questions or concerns that need immediate attention.

Respectfully,
Tyler Hodges
President and Head of School

1. We are 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.
2. We have a strong commitment and track record of progress. 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 and faculty/staff from the past and present to build an even more just, diverse and inclusive future for all.
3. We are listening with intent. While anonymous outside voices abound, these challenging conversations must be advanced by The Bolles School community in the spirit of candor and mutual respect to ensure the changes we pursue will make our school stronger.

Dear Bolles Community:

As the @BlackAtBolles Instagram account and other social media forums have displayed, the Bolles community needs to do better, to be better and to make change. We have been listening, and we are fully committed to be a better Bolles. But most importantly, we are committed to act — now. Racism of any kind will not be tolerated in our community. As communities and organizations around the world are challenged to account for painful histories of systemic racism and inequities, schools in particular must work to ensure an environment of true equity and inclusion.

While we have already begun the important work of creating a more diverse, inclusive Bolles community through the establishment of significant strategies and programs, we are moving forward immediately with critical action:

• First, we are having important conversations with alumni, parents and other members of our community to broaden our understanding of places Bolles falls short. Our process of listening, monitoring and convening for dialogue is ongoing and fundamental.
• We will continue to follow the @BlackAtBolles Instagram account as we look for ways to take immediate action and implement change. We also will stay vigilant in our awareness of other social media accounts to best monitor the discussion and feedback.
• We are making changes to the curriculum for the 2020-21 school year that will broaden cultural and racial competencies in all levels of Bolles study, including a recently added 20th and 21st Century Journeys in African American Literature class.
• Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Twyla Ashman is assembling a diversity, equity and inclusion task force and two auxiliary groups — one with alumni and one with parents — to help identify strategies and tactics necessary to realize diversity and inclusion efforts in the School's five-year strategic plan, which was endorsed this May by the Bolles Board of Trustees. The groups include representatives from all four campuses, parents, faculty/staff, administrators and Trustees.
• We will continue to focus on hiring more black and other people of color faculty members and seek ways to increase this effort in order to be more representative of our population.
• We are expanding diversity and inclusion programming for faculty, students and parents in all grade levels and will promote community discussion once we are back on campus this fall.
• We are raising additional funds and resources to support the educational experience of black students and people of color on campus.
• We are planning additional convocations and workshops in the 2020-21 school year for faculty, staff and students to sharpen our collective cultural competencies.
• We are reviewing all areas of School life, from disciplinary protocols to dorm life, to ensure we can make our community a safer, equitable and inclusive environment for students of all backgrounds.

We have said this once and it bears repeating: we know we have an important responsibility in the moment to act. We will continue to listen, but we are committed to a process of change. We hear you. We are aware of the inequities. We will act. Please join us as we work together to hold up our Bolles mission of pursuing excellence through courage, integrity and compassion.

Respectfully,

We invite you to review this list of resources to learn more about becoming antiracist, historical and modern-day racism and social justice. Contact us if you have suggestions for additional titles.

Books

• White Fragility  (Robin Diangelo)
• How to be an Antiracist  (Ibram X Kendi)
• Whistling Vivaldi  (Claude Steele)
• Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria  (Beverly Daniel Tatum)
• I'm Still Here  (Austin Channing Brown)
• White Awake  (Daniel Hill)
• So You Want to Talk About Race  (Ijeoma Oluo)
• Why I No Longer Talk to White People about Race  (Reni Eddo-Loge)
• The Hate U Give  (Angie Thomas)
• Just Mercy  (Brian Stevenson)

Documentaries

• 13th (Ava Duvernay)
• Emanuel (Brian Ivie)

Movies

• Just Mercy
• The Hate U Give
• When They See Us

Statement to the Bolles Community:

On June 1, The Bolles School posted this message to our official Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages:

"Like so many people around the country have been feeling during the past week, The Bolles School community is horrified by the tragic death of George Floyd and other victims of systemic racism. As a school family, we are not only suffering and grieving but also seeking in earnest ways we can influence real change and stand together for the humanity of all people — at Bolles, in the United States and around the world. In troubling times, we must unite and live out our very important mission at The Bolles School: Pursuing excellence through courage, integrity and compassion. Today, we ask everyone in our Bolles family to live out courage by engaging in meaningful conversations about race and racism; to demonstrate your integrity by showing intolerance for hate and injustice; and to exude compassion by listening, understanding and embracing peace. The Bolles community is deeply committed to this mission and equity for all people."

Many of you responded to this post with painful reflections about personal experiences with racism at Bolles, stories of incidents that occurred in our classrooms or to your friends, challenges to our community to stir real change, and, overwhelmingly, a desire to hear more from Bolles administrators about what concrete actions we will take to make equity and inclusion a priority on our campuses. We are humbly regretful these events occurred in our history and reject racism in all forms. We are listening closely to these conversations, however, as they will help shape our future. We are working on ways we can continue important dialogue, move our community forward and make the tangible, system-wide changes necessary to better address concerns you shared with us online, in-person and through email.

This important work already has begun. We will continue our efforts to promote a diverse and inclusive student body and a faculty that mirrors that diversity, including the refinement and addition of new strategies and programs that promote inclusion. The Student Diversity Committee has actively shared important observations and suggestions. In 2015, math teacher Twyla Ashman was appointed to Director of Cultural Competence for the upper school. Her work has helped bring highly regarded experts to campus for change-making workshops with faculty, students and parents on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus. Recognizing the importance of this role, Bolles administrators expanded her position in the spring of 2020 to Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, an administrative position focused on school-wide programming for faculty, students and families in Pre-K through Grade 12. Our Black Student Union is active, respected and supported. Designs on change have been occurring on broader planning levels as well. In the School's most recent five-year strategic plan, endorsed this past May by the Bolles Board of Trustees, diversity and inclusion play a major role. This summer, we plan to put together a task force, led by Mrs. Ashman, to help identify the strategies and tactics necessary to realize this portion of the plan. We will begin new columns in our faculty and staff and alumni newsletters about diversity and inclusion. We know there is much work ahead — and we will need your support to approach and manage it.

Our work will be framed by the vision and experience of our Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, administration and feedback from our community. Planning will address long-term themes of understanding our community's cultures and blind spots, enhancing Bolles' faculty and student diversity and better communicating cultural competencies within our curriculum. We will continue to seek ways Bolles can be a safer and more inclusive environment for students of all backgrounds and dedicate financial resources toward these efforts.

We know we have an important responsibility in the moment to act. We can do better when it comes to making Bolles a more inclusive place for all students, particularly black students and people of color. We are committed to a process of change and to producing student leaders who live each day with the highest ideals of courage, integrity and compassion as their compass. I invite you to add to this important conversation by sharing your insights and ideas. You may contact me at headofschool@Bolles.org or Twyla at AshmanT@Bolles.org. We want to make our community stronger by taking these steps together. Thank you for being part of this important work, I look forward to hearing from you and making change together.

Respectfully,
Tyler Hodges
President and Head of School

We are listening and look forward to continuing these important conversations. We are so grateful to our alumni, students and families who have shared their experiences for the benefit of our reflection, progress and action. To continue a more personal conversation, please email headofschool@bolles.org Your perspective and feedback are important to us as we seek to contribute to making our communities more inclusive and welcoming for all.

Dear Bolles Community:

Like so many people around the country have been feeling during the past week, The Bolles School community is horrified by the tragic death of George Floyd and other victims of systemic racism. As a school family, we are not only suffering and grieving but also seeking in earnest ways we can influence real change and stand together for the humanity of all people – at Bolles, in the United States and around the world. In troubling times, we must unite and live out our very important mission at The Bolles School: Pursuing excellence through courage, integrity and compassion.

Today, we ask everyone in our Bolles family to live out courage by engaging in meaningful conversations about race and racism; to demonstrate integrity by showing intolerance for hate and injustice; and to exude compassion by listening, understanding and embracing peace. The Bolles community is deeply committed to this mission and equity for all people.

Be well,
Tyler J. Hodges
President and Head of School