Diversity Conference 2025 at Browne

Led by Sky Wright, Director of DEIB, and facilitated by the DEIB Committee, the conference brought faculty and staff together to revisit our all-community read, The Identity-Conscious Educator, with a focus on Chapter 2: “The Shift From Avoiding Conflict to Inviting Challenge.” We didn’t stay at surface level. We named the moments we tend to sidestep, sat with the discomfort, and looked at what it takes to step in—calmly, clearly, and with care—when tension shows up in classrooms or among colleagues. A theme that kept surfacing throughout the morning was simple and steady: growth rarely happens in comfort. That reminder shaped the way we talked about our own habits, how we listen, and how we model courage for students.

From there, we moved into Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP) and what it looks like in our day-to-day work. We anchored on the three pillars—academic success, cultural competence, and critical consciousness—and translated them into concrete moves: building in more student voice during daily routines, offering meaningful choice in assessments, and selecting materials that help every student see themselves and stretch their thinking. Teams compared what’s working now, where we can push further, and how to keep rigor and relevance side by side.

By the end of the session, each grade-band identified one small, specific practice to pilot this spring. For some, that’s a discussion routine that makes space for multiple perspectives. For others, it’s shifting an assessment so students can demonstrate learning in more than one way, or revisiting a text set so representation and challenge live together. We also set up quick feedback loops—try it, gather a few data points, reflect, and share back—so the learning travels across classrooms.

This work does not begin or end with a conference. It’s part of how Browne grows: steady reflection, clear action, and a willingness to invite challenge because that’s where learning lives. Thank you to Sky Wright and the DEIB Committee for designing a day that kept us focused on what matters most—creating classrooms where every student is seen, engaged, and pushed to do their best thinking.