Equity & Inclusion Commitment

Equity and Inclusion Plan

In keeping with the principles set forth in our mission and strategic vision, and to meet the needs of all our students, the Germantown Academy Board of Trustees approved an Equity and Inclusion Plan in 2018. These goals reflect the state of the school and most pressing issues and will be evaluated, updated, and revised on an annual basis to meet the ever-evolving needs of our community.
 
The Head of School, Assistant Head of School, Associate Director of Equity and Inclusion, Assistant Director of Equity & Inclusion, Division Heads, Diversity & Community Life Coordinators, Board of Trustees, and Equity and Inclusion Leadership Team will be responsible for overseeing this work.

Administrators, faculty, and staff have eagerly participated in the following educational programs:

Race Institute

Anti-Bias Education - Dr. Vanessa Santiago-Schwarz

NAIS People of Color Conference

CHOP Gender and Sexuality Development Program

Throughout the year, GA offers faculty, staff and student affinity group opportunities to support and affirm the positive identity development of underrepresented community members. Affinity groups are spaces for people with common identifiers to participate in discussions and activities that build connection, resilience, and a sense of belonging.

The term affinity group is used as a bringing together of people who have an identifier in common, e.g. race, gender, religion, family status, etc. Affinity groups are for individuals who identify as members of the group and can speak to the experience of being a member of the group from the "I" perspective. 
-  Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee

Student Affinity Groups:
African American/Black
Asian American
Jewish
Hispanic/Latino   
SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African)
LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and more)

Faculty Affinity Groups:
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)
LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and more)

Alumni Interest/Affinity Groups

Our alumni affinity groups offer opportunities for graduates to come together based on shared interests and identities to make meaningful connections with each other and the school. Below are three of our current groups, with new ones forming each year.

Alumni Community Service Organization

Launched in 2009, the Alumni Community Service Council connects GA alumni with opportunities to be involved in community service projects both in the Philadelphia area and in other regions across the country. Alumni can support the school’s Community Service Organization initiatives on and around campus, as well as elsewhere in their own communities, including at colleges.

Black Alumni Alliance

The Black Alumni Alliance (BAA) was formed in 2020 to foster inter-generational relationships between Black alumni, highlight and celebrate professional and personal contributions, and create meaningful engagement opportunities between members. The BAA also builds purposeful connections to faculty, students, and the life of the school, enhancing Black alumni pride, participation, and philanthropic commitment to Germantown Academy.

Women’s Networking Group

Founded by alumna, Laura Brewer ’80, with the motto “Women Network Differently,” the Women’s Networking Group is an inspiring and supportive community of GA women who want to connect with each other on professional and personal levels. The group gathers monthly to network, learn about a wide variety of career and life/work balance topics, match mentors, and share in the experience of GA women helping and encouraging one another.

Family Alliance Groups

The term alliance group is used as a bringing together of people who have a common commitment to an identifier group, e.g. race, gender, religion, family status, etc. Alliance groups are for individuals who identify as members of the group and/or as people who support and stand in solidarity with that group.
 - Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee

Black Family Alliance

The mission of the African American Affinity Group is to celebrate the values of the black community by building student and family connections with the faculty and administration in our school. We aim to infuse open and honest communication, collaboration, and education within Germantown Academy regarding our culture. We will be intentional in action, driven in spirit, and collaborative in approach. We will provide a platform to display pride, celebrate individuality, and grow in understanding through direct experiences.

Please note:
The percentages above are based on self-selected data.
Multiracial identities are included in the percentages of White, Black/African American, AAPI, and Hispanic/LatinX when specific races were indicated.

Gender Identity and Gender Expression at Germantown Academy

Germantown Academy is committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all students, one that is free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

• Transgender and gender nonconforming people have the right to discuss and express their gender identity and its expression openly and to decide when, with whom, and how much to share private information.
• Every person has the right to be addressed by a name and pronoun that corresponds to the person’s gender identity. A court-ordered name or gender change is not required, and the person need not change their official records.
• GA maintains separate bathrooms for males and females. Transgender or gender nonconforming people may use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity asserted at school. All bathrooms have stalls for privacy.
• GA maintains separate locker and shower rooms for males and females. For physical education and athletics, transgender and gender nonconforming students may use the locker room and shower that corresponds to their gender identity asserted at school. All locker rooms have changing stalls and showers with curtains for privacy. People who desire increased privacy may use any of the single stall, gender neutral restrooms for changing, as well as our gender-neutral dressing rooms.
• All students will be permitted to participate in physical education classes and athletics in a manner consistent with their gender identity. Furthermore, all students may participate in interscholastic athletics in a manner consistent with their gender identity.

Anti-Racism For Kids 101: Starting To Talk About Race

Talking to Children after Racial Incidents

Coming Out Resources

NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC)- PoCC - (nais.org)

SCHout- http://www.sch.org/school/diversity/schout-conference

Pan Asian Conference- http://www.friendscentral.org/news/article/~board/homepage/post/recent-pan-asian-conference-inspires-dialogue-solidarity-and-pride