Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
SAS DEI COMMITMENT STATEMENT
As a school, the diversity of our community is one of our greatest strengths. That diversity offers extraordinary learning opportunities for our students as well as opportunities to build lasting friendships and relationships across cultures, nationalities, and other aspects of identity. For our diversity to reach its full potential as a strength, it is important that our commitment to equity and inclusion for all members of our community be as strong as our commitment to diversity.
Every student at SAS should feel valued, cared for, and included. Differences in culture, background, ability, identity, and perspective should be respected and celebrated; SAS has no place for racism or any other type of discrimination. It is only by creating a positive climate and inclusive culture that we will meet our vision to cultivate exceptional thinkers who are prepared for the future.
Our Community
Other Student Nationalities: Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, lithuania, macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Kitts and nevis, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Other Staff Nationalities: Belarus, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey
I am an Eagle
DEI is an integral part of SAS. Understanding the importance of our faculty and staff’s identities, while honoring differences, lifts our morale and overall attitudes in our respective roles to support and help one another. SAS provides a robust DEI program that engages every member of our community with professional development allowing for open and honest discussions. We are currently learning from one another through insightful stories and varying degrees of perspective. As we challenge ourselves along this new journey, we continue to learn.
Julie Zhang, third grade Chinese immersion teacher
Stereotypes and the labels we attach to people carry the power to influence how we perceive them in terms of their competence, their behavior, and capability. These stereotypes are growing stronger and choking the global community spirit. DEI initiatives are imperative to create a welcoming community where everyone can be successful, where people feel valued for who they are. The DEI initiative at SAS is encouraging conversations about topics that we may have previously taken for granted. The community is curious to recognize and understand the effects of conscious (and unconscious) biases and that is a great start!
Shruthi Ramesh, Human Resources Assistant Manager
We are living in a time when many people are trying to better the wrongs of the past. We need to know how to properly do that which is where DEI comes in. Not only that, but many people aren’t aware of their subconscious biases, something DEI activities bring to light.
Inara Arora, eleventh grade
SAS has taken a deep dive into what is truly needed to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion, and that work is often messy. It has to be messy to get to the point of being unapologetic about providing a safe environment for all members of our community. That messy work has meant uncomfortable conversations and educating all members of our community from faculty and staff, students and parents, and all those involved in the SAS experience. It will take time and courage to continue to build DEI as a norm but I believe we are ready to do it. It is truly messy, uncomfortable, and exhausting work but it's at the heart of what we need to be about if we are truly preparing our students for the future.
Barbara Harvey, high school visual arts