Institutional Diversity and Belonging at Saint Ann’s

Saint Ann’s school strives to be a great school; no school is great unless it is diverse. We joyfully embrace the deliberate work of building a community that is richly diverse by every measure including race, ethnicity, religion, culture, socio-economic class, gender, family structure, sexual orientation, and all identities.

As part of our mission, we strive to see every child flourish, to equip them with the skills they need to explore and question the world, to be a school where they can share their dreams with us. Keeping the student experience at the center of our vision and decision-making, we seek to draw out authentic, exceptional work from our students. We offer them our profound sense of humanity as the foundation of our relationship with them. For these and many other reasons we believe ongoing efforts to increase diversity within our community and enact change across every dimension of our school toward making Saint Ann’s a more equitable place to learn and work are essential to who we are.

Part of equipping our students with the skills and knowledge they need to explore and question the world includes understanding how individual and group identities have shaped and continue to shape society. This has happened most saliently in the United States around the construct of race. Therefore, the work of creating a more equitable school focuses on race and racism, while incorporating many other aspects of identity that contribute to disparity, inequity, or injustice. Recognition of this intersection of identities is a feature of the work as we approach it at Saint Ann’s.

At Saint Ann’s:

  • Diversity means embracing the full range of human experiences and identities.
  • Equity means ensuring each person has the access and support they need to succeed.
  • Inclusion is the active creation of a culture where everyone can contribute fully and meaningfully.
  • Belonging is the result: a community where each member feels essential, welcomed, and valued.

We strive to be a school where diversity is celebrated, equity is ensured, inclusion is expected, and belonging is felt by all. These values align with our mission to create a community rooted in trust and equity. In that spirit, we are committed to fostering a school environment where everyone is supported, empowered, and respected.

We affirm and honor the wide range of identities within our community including race, color, religion, creed, gender identity and expression, dis/ability, national or ethnic origin, and sexual orientation. We recognize the importance of both our differences and our shared humanity, and we believe our collective strength lies in embracing all of who we are.

When individuals feel respected, valued, and included, creativity and innovation flourish. A diverse, equitable, and inclusive school is not only enriching; it is essential to the growth of our students as artists, scholars, and compassionate global citizens.

These commitments form the foundation of a thriving educational community—one that imparts the best of human traditions and discoveries while nurturing intellectual adventure. To fully realize this vision, Saint Ann’s must continue to invest in sustainable, systemic structures that embed DEIB into every facet of school life from curriculum and pedagogy, to culture and community. We do not view DEIB priorities as a separate endeavor, but rather as the foundation upon which our School operates every day.