“Pollyanna is transformative. You’ll talk the talk, you’ll walk the walk, and you’ll see the world–and your work–in a new light.”

“It is an incredibly moving and inspiring experience to see students strategize with senior administrators, trustees, and their current or former teachers about ways to make a better school.”

“This conference is my beacon of hope while we are going through a difficult time in our country.”

St. Andrew’s welcomed its community to the first intra-conference. Building Community Through Inquiry: Culturally Responsive Teaching, Culturally Caring Community tackled building a more inclusive multicultural school community and involved conversations with administrators, alumni, faculty, parents and students. Dr. Ali Michael opened and closed the day with personal reflections and concrete steps. Director of Diversity Kendall Evans and his team along with Pollyanna Project Managers Kathy Chan and Claire Hannan-Radomisli planned a meaningful and productive day.

Joining over 7,000 people for an amazing few days in Seattle. Pollyanna was a sponsor, exhibitor and presenter at this year’s NAIS People of Color Conference. Titled 1619. 2019. Before. Beyond. Amplifying Our Intelligence to Liberate, Co-create, and Thrive, the mission of this conference is to provide a safe space for school leadership, as well as professional development and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools.

This was our first year presenting at NAIS PoCC and Monique Vogelsang, lead curriculum creator, spoke before a full house of attendees! Our workshop, Self-Knowledge is Power! A New Racial Literacy Toolkit for K-8 Faculty, was an overview of our curriculum. We are working with schools across the country offering PD sessions that run from 2 hours to 2+ days.

Harvard-Westlake’s third conference focused on examining current structures, biases, and privileges at schools around gender and sexual orientation as it pertains to students as well as how schools might adapt their policies to be more inclusive. Rodney Glasgow opened the conference, spoke from the heart and set the tone to create change.

The conversations that took place at Far Brook’s 4th Pollyanna Conference considered the extent to which there is a need to adapt policies, programs and curricula to create environments that provide access and representation, and ones that value students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Anthony Jack talked about the challenges he faced in independent schools.

As our first school in Canada, St. Clement’s tackled building a more inclusive community. Schools were excited to have this space to have these much-needed conversations. Keynote Ahahid Dashtgard discussed the importance of keeping true to oneself and one’s heritage when entering a new community.

Having sent several administrators and faculty members to a Pollyanna Professional Development session in NY, Roland Park asked Lead Curriculum Creator Monique Vogelsang to come to Baltimore so the entire faculty could benefit from the presentation. 

Casper Caldarola sat down to chat with Gina Parker Collins, Founder of RIISE – Resources In Independent School Education – to discuss racial literacy and Pollyanna’s K-8 Curriculum. Click here to watch. 

“Thank you for providing such an opportunity for all of our schools, not only to work among the many fine schools represented but also within our own walls.”

“The seeds for many of our diversity initiatives have been planted at this conference.”

“We enjoyed sharing resources, strategies, ideas and challenging moments we have overcome.”