Why An Understanding Of DEI Is Critical for Student Success
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- Written by: Wendy MacMillan
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Dr. Derrick Gay led a workshop for the school community on April 25.What does “diversity” mean in our community and how can focusing on diversity and inclusion, help Scarsdale students be better prepared for life after graduation? These are only a few of the questions that Dr. Derrick Gay explored in his thought-provoking and engaging workshop on Tuesday April 25th. The program, hosted by our District’s PTC Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, aimed to help parents better understand how our District’s partnership with DEI expert and consultant Dr. Gay is crucial to the success of our students.
As the PTC DEI co-chairs outlined, “Students are currently navigating a cosmopolitan world composed of individuals from different backgrounds, viewpoints, and experiences. Research finds that intercultural competency-- the ability to communicate and connect with people from different backgrounds with respect and empathy—is critical for success in a globally connected world. Moreover, there are strong correlations between student perception of belonging and maximizing academic attainment.”
While Dr. Gay has worked with our administrators, faculty, and small focus groups since we first began our partnership with him in the 2021-22 school year, this was the first time the larger PTA community was given an opportunity to learn and hear from him firsthand. To begin the workshop, Dr. Gay used his professionalism and humor to connect with the audience and to highlight why language and communication is so important. He also outlined norms for respecting diversity of thought and experience, including:
Be present
Engage in active listening
Speak from the “I” perspective
Accept the speaker’s viewpoint as true for that person
Listen to understand vs. listen to respond
With these norms in mind, Dr. Gay then led the audience in an exercise asking them to consider, “What are your goals for your child’s education?”. Unsurprisingly, many parents want the same things for their children: to be an independent/critical thinker, to love learning and be a life-long learner, to know how to self-advocate, and to find what passions they want to pursue. Dr. Gay made note of the fact that all of these answers go far beyond just wanting our children to be good at math and science and demonstrates the importance of making room for social and emotional learning.
Dr. Gay then related that over one thousand CEOs were asked, “Which qualities will graduates need in the 21st century for success in college, careers, and citizenship?” At the top of the list were qualities that are at the center of DEI work. Qualities like:
-Analytical and Creative Problem Solving
-Complex Communication-Oral and Written
-Leadership and Teamwork
-Digital and Quantitative Literacy
-Adaptability, Initiative, and Risk-Taking
-Integrity and Ethical Decision Making
-Intercultural Competency/Global Perspective
He went on to help the audience reframe their definition of diversity by explaining that diversity goes far beyond constructs like race and socio-economic status, and made the point that in fact, we are all diverse…we all have varying backgrounds and identities that shape how we see and experience the world around us. He suggests that instead of focusing on who is different, we should focus on who has differences…which is everyone.
To drive this point home, Dr. Gay engaged the audience in an inspiring game of “bingo” where each person in the room was given a sheet of paper with statements like: I have been to all five NYC boroughs; I was born outside of New York; I have seen the movie Hidden Figures and so on. The goal was not only to find other people in the room who matched with one of the statements on the sheet…but to also take note of all the (not so obvious) ways we differ right in our own community. Dr. Gay stressed the importance of making all people, with their array of wonderful differences, feel welcomed, respected, and like they have a voice.
For further clarity Dr. Gay shared the definition of DEIB as it is defined by the National Association of Independent Schools:
-Diversity refers to the full range of human differences within overarching similarities.
-Equity means ensuring that everyone has equal access to the opportunities that will help them thrive.
-Inclusion refers to individual and institutional behaviors that show people they are accepted, respected, and valued.
-Belonging refers to the emotional and experiential outcome of inclusion.
So why should schools support DEIB efforts, as Dr. Gay outlines:
-Moral imperative: It is the right thing to do
-Aligned with goals of education: Development of the whole child
-Students deserve an inclusive learning environment
-Prepares students for thoughtful engagement in a multicultural and global society
-Correlation between positive sense of belonging and academic attainment: Students get better grades when they feel like they are seen and heard.
And if these reasons weren’t enough, Dr. Gay shared some of the many research and data resources which prove that diversity actually helps to make us smarter by encouraging us to think creatively and to remain more open minded.
Towards the end of his workshop, Dr. Gay mentioned that too often parents are preparing their kids for the world they grew up in and not for the world their child is experiencing today. The landscape has shifted and younger students are more exposed to diversity of identity and background, and increasingly have questions. He encourages parents to:
-Continue to educate yourself about these issues
-Continue to explore your own background and perspective, and how it influences how you understand and interact with others
-Model open communication with your children. They are talking about these issues amongst themselves.
-And remember, you don’t have to have all the answers! If you don’t know something, suggest you do a little research together.
Before opening the program to questions from the audience, Dr. Gay finished his workshop by sharing a quote from Maya Angelou:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
During the Q and A portion of the program, DEI Co-Chair Diksha Mudbhary Sitaula asked if Dr. Gay could describe some of the insights he has about our district after working with us for the past couple of years. Dr. Gay responded by highlighting some of the incredible attributes he has noticed including our District’s superb reputation. He also noted the District’s thoughtful approach to teaching the “whole child” and that he could clearly see the intent and care put forth to ensure that all students are learning. Among other things. Dr. Gay was also impressed with how the District searches out continued support around DEIB efforts but is not forcing the conversation to happen. Instead, he admires how the District is asking questions like, “How do we do this?” and “How can I do more?”.
As for some of the challenges, Dr. Gay related that since the Scarsdale School District isn’t “broken”, DEIB efforts might not feel as urgent…some in our community might not see the challenges and may not understand the need to do the work, but there is definitely work to be done. He noted for example, that some students in middle school take offense when friends joke about their accents, or cultural or physical differences. Many of these kids recognize that their friends are saying things “in jest”, but it still has a hurtful impact. He also spoke about the incidents where hate language was found in the bathroom at the high school and how some kids at SHS feel excluded because of their socio-economic status from joining things like band and choir trips. Dr. Gay assured the audience that these are global issues that require local solutions and he is encouraged by the work we are doing in our district.
These are only a few of the memorable moments of Dr. Gay’s workshop. For more about DEI in the Scarsdale School District please click here. And to learn more about Dr. Derrick Gay here.
Gratitude for Scarsdale Teachers
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This letter was submitted by the PTC Executive Committee:
Dear Editor: As we approach Teacher Appreciation Week in early May, the Scarsdale Parent Teacher Council Executive Committee wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for the incredible work of the faculty and staff at the seven Scarsdale Schools. Our community’s teachers and staff members devote so much time and effort to support the learning and enrichment of our children. After a couple of very unusual years, we are so grateful to be back to a "normal" school experience filled with author visits, field trips, assemblies, school celebrations and much more. It has been great to see our teachers and staff return to the classroom with their regular curriculum, enhanced by some of the lessons learned throughout COVID. We hope that the entire school community knows how appreciative we are of the Scarsdale Schools’ faculty and staff – and we look forward to celebrating them during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Sincerely,
Lauren Grossberg, PTC President
Leah Dembitzer, PTC President Elect
Meredith Kent, PTC Secretary
Rokaya Hassaballa, PTC Treasurer
Vanessa C. Stoffels, SHS President
Deborah Lichtenstein, SMS President
Andrea Vallenilla and Alicia Bowman, Edgewood PTA Co-Presidents
Berit Berger and Michelle Schwartz, Fox Meadow PTA Co-Presidents
Rachel Krisbergh, Greenacres PTA President
Samantha April, Heathcote PTA President
Dana Hirsch, Quaker Ridge PTA President
Students Hone Their "Power Skills" On Wellness Day at SMS
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Yoga with Colby MulveyWhen it comes to education, many parents might believe that social and emotional learning (SEL) and wellness-related learning should take a backseat to the more traditional, core academic classes. But with psychiatrists warning that teens are experiencing a mental health crisis and some colleges decrying that many students are lacking the “soft” skills needed to succeed at the collegiate level (and beyond), one could also argue that SEL deserves a bigger role in a student’s curriculum.
Luckily for students in Scarsdale, the district is giving SEL more attention and providing students with more opportunities to both learn and practice important “soft” skills (or as the district calls them: “power” skills) like decision making, time management, problem solving, collaborating, and perseverance.
On Friday March 31st, SMS hosted a Wellness Day which allowed students to de-stress, focus on their mental health, and to connect with others in the SMS community. But the incredible event, organized by faculty members Megan Lahey and Mike Pincus, also provided students with an opportunity to practice power skills in real time. As an example, while creating homemade “stress balls” might seem to focus primarily on a student’s mental well-being, students who joined Ms. Pecora for this fun activity also practiced listening effectively, planning and organizing, problem solving, and persevering when things weren’t quite as easy as they seemed.
Power skills such as decision making, were needed right from the start when students got to choose from a long list of 
Baking Irish Soda Breadremarkable classes to take.. Eighth graders were given the privilege of signing up for classes first and Mr. Pincus, who set a date and time when the link to the sign-up sheet would go live, said many of the classes were filling up within the first hours. Some of the amazing classes students were able to select from from included: Tik Tok Dancing with Mr. Maignan, Finding Calm Through A Musical Tool with Susie Sands, Sustainability and Wellness Walk with Elyse Tenzer, Bracelet Making with Ms. Rosamond, Peaceful Puzzles with Mrs. Salvatori, Games and Wordle with Mrs. Warren and so many more.
Since on the day before vacation, many students leave a bit early for their travels, SMS is often a little quiet on that day. This year however, with Wellness Day scheduled on the day before spring break, the school was buzzing with energy and excitement. Students were thrilled to be connecting with friends from all grade levels, visiting with teachers they don’t normally get to see, and engaging in thought-provoking and meaningful activities.
In Ms. Layey’s class, students were met with Irish music which set the mood for baking Irish Soda Bread. After learning about Ms. Lahey’s own Irish roots, students worked with partners and in small groups to bake their own mini soda breads. While baking and working with dough certainly has its own therapeutic effects, students also benefited from listening to and following instructions, working collaboratively, and communicating with one another in order to complete a task and enjoy the fruits of their own labor.
Sun CatcherFollowing the sound of music and laughter down the hall, students in another class belted out Abba’s Dancing Queen during a lively session of karaoke. While it was obvious the students were having a blast, they also learned that music and laughter are wonderful tools to combat stress and anxiety.
Just across the hall, yoga teacher Colby Mulvey led a group of boys through several difficult yoga poses. While working through the various poses, the boys were also encouraged to pay attention to their breathing and to center their minds on the task at hand. Ms. Mulvey created a sense of calm in the room which hopefully stayed with the boys throughout the rest of their day.
In Ms. Nista’s Wellness Day class, students created suncatchers using a “flower of life” pattern. With soothing music playing in the background, students worked diligently while mindfully coloring their works of art and honing skills like focus and concentration.
Over in Ms. Kelly’s class titled Nail Art, students indulged not only in a creative outlet but also in a little self care. While the students in this class were chatting excitedly and helping each other paint and decorate their nails, Ms. Kelly described how the process of painting your nails can be meditative and how it can lift your mood when you perform little acts of kindness for yourself.
In the incredibly popular “Teach the Teacher'' class, students were provided an opportunity to share their expertise about smartphone use and social media. Though the middle schoolers thought it was fun to use their phones at school and reveled in showing their teachers how to take a good “selfie”, Ms. Hiller explained that she chose this class as an occasion to meet kids where they are at and welcomed the chance to build a sense of connection and trust with her students. It was plain to see that Ms. Hiller met her goal of creating a space for the students to feel “seen” and “listened to” while also quietly encouraging them to practice leadership and communication skills.
The elements of spring in a bottle
With uplifting music playing in the background, in Mr. DeBerry’s “Found Poetry” class students chatted away while sifting through pop culture magazines looking for words and phrases to create found poetry. While Mr. DeBerry appreciated that this form of art was stress-free and encouraged students to think outside the box, he was especially thankful that the day provided a chance for students and teachers to connect and build a stronger community.
Ms. Browne helped her students to slow down, take note of the beauty around them, and connect with nature. Her “Spring in a Bottle” class started with a mindful walk through nature where students collected moss, flowers, and other signs of spring to create their own miniature “spring in a bottle". While patiently and delicately designing a landscape in a small bottle, Ms. Browne asked her students to think about what spring means to them and to take note of the feelings the season inspired.
Throughout the day, teachers in each SMS house led dozens of other thoughtful and creative classes allowing students to focus on their mental well-being and practice a multitude of important skills.
-Classes like Dr. Garay’s “Let’s Get Organized” taught students to better organize their binders and backpacks in order to foster “the right mental state” for learning.
-In Ms. Casitello’s “Mindful Coloring” class, students were able to let go of stress while they relaxed their minds and colored pictures of monuments from around the world.
-Mr. Fisher’s “Healing Haiku” class encouraged students to focus their attention on the present moment, observe their emotions and world around them, and to capture that moment in the form of a haiku.
Whether it was creating glitter jars, drawing mandalas, or planting an herb garden, teachers repeatedly expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to give their students a break, remind them of the importance of taking care of their mental health, and for the chance to listen and connect with students in a way that cultivates a strong sense of community. At the end of the day it was abundantly clear that the teachers and faculty at SMS are willing to go the extra mile to take care of our children today, while preparing them for the world of tomorrow.
Board Completes Budget Talks and Appoints New Ass't Superintendent for Business
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Andrew Lennon was appointed Assistant Superintendent for BusinessThe Board reached closure on discussions around the 2023-24 school budget and a separate bond offering to fund a $4.75 mm renovation of the high school auditorium at their final budget study session on March 27, 2023.
The proposed $177,774,187 budget represents a 2.59% budget to budget increase and a 1.93% increase in the tax levy. By moving the expense of the auditorium to a bond, the district avoided a tax increase that would have exceeded the tax cap.
The budget and bond votes will be held on Tuesday May 16, 2023.
The PTC Executive Committee and the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale both presented extensive analyses and comments on the budget and you can see the PTC statement here and the LWVS statement here.
Several others also commented on the budget, all voicing their support.
Rachel Krisbergh commented for the Greenacres PTA who “strongly supports the 2023-24 school budget.” She said they stand behind expanding mental health initiatives and funding the high school auditorium. She said, “We encourage the board to engage and educate the community on the importance of this project.”
President Elect of the SHS PTA Beth Cukier spoke for the PTA Executive Committee. They endorsed the separate bond proposition for the auditorium to “to spread the cost over several years to match the useful life of the auditorium.” She said, “This has been a priority for over a decade and addresses needed repairs, acoustic and lighting improvements, seating, dressing rooms and accessibility.” She said the auditorium will be utilized by all students, as well as parents, alumni and community members and will provide a “significant benefit to our students and community in the years to come.” The PTA also support the repair of the leaking band room roof and funding for the high school deans to travel to colleges and conferences.
Cukier said that in the future the PTA would like to see funding for the following:
-Improved wi-fi and cell phone signals
-A study and remediation of flooding at Butler Field, the storage room near auditorium and the parking lots near the creek.
-Upgraded furniture for instructional spaces in classrooms and the library
-Funding for student clubs and activities
-An addition of 1.0 FTE custodian for afternoons and Saturdays to supplement the cleaning staff.
SMS Treasurer Erika Rublin spoke on behalf of the SMS Executive Committee and budget chairs in support of the budget and the bond. She said, “The broader community will benefit from the improved SHS auditorium, including acoustics, rigging, aesthetics and water mitigation. They also support the SMS staffing proposal, (.6 increase) and 113.6 total FTE’s as well as funding for DEI initiatives, social and emotional support of students, advances in-district opportunities for students with disabilities, accounting and human resources software, upgrades facilities, funds a transportation study, and maintains the SMS house system.
Commenting, Board President Amber Yusuf said she would like to look at the flooding in the parking lot in the future. Board Member Jim Dugan said he was grateful for the process this year, and hoped the Board would be able to stay below the tax cap in the future and be mindful of the choices that tax cap forces on the district.
In other news, the Board appointed Andrew Lennon as Assistant Superintendent for Business, replacing Stuart Mattey who will retire at the end of the school year. Lennon now works in Chappaqua and attended the Board of Education meeting and thanked the Board for his appointment.
Accomplished Scarsdalians Share Their Stories at the Middle School
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Considering that women couldn’t apply for a credit card until 1974 when Congress passed the Equal Credit Opportunity Act or that until 1978 a woman could still be fired from a job for being pregnant, it is easy to see why we celebrate women’s history during the month of March. To showcase how much progress has been made over the last few decades and how much women have contributed to their communities and to society at large, Scarsdale Middle School hosted their first annual Women’s Symposium on Monday March 20th. The symposium, which came together in large part due to the efforts of co-chairs Mayra Kirkendall-Rodriguez, Esthela Lecuona, and Rachana Singh and faculty members Meghan Troy, Meghan Lacey and Janay Moss, brought over 50 parent volunteers to the middle school to share their stories.
The list of impressive volunteers presented on topics ranging from Women in Veterinary Medicine, to 
Women in Banking, to Women in Biochemistry, and everything in between. Seventh grade students in Mr. Raff’s homeroom class were treated to a discussion about criminal law, politics, and media with Westcher District Attorney Mimi Rocah and Executive Assistant District Attorney for Policy and Strategic Initiatives, and Chief Ethics Officer Berit Berger. Ms. Rocah began the presentation by detailing her journey from a prosecutor to her decision to run for District Attorney of Westchester County. When Rocah was elected as DA in November of 2020, she became only the third woman in Westchester’s history to hold this important position. While Rocah and Berger engaged their audience in a discussion about the responsibilities of the DA’s office, they also outlined how the DA’s office works to protect women, what it is like to be a female prosecutor, and the importance of having women in law enforcement. When asked about the Women’s Symposium, 7th grader Tessa Berger said, “it is a really good educational opportunity for us, and fun to see what all our moms do.”
In another Popham homeroom, students explored the life of women in the military when US Army combat veteran Liz McNally talked about her personal experience serving in the US Army for eight years during combat with Iraq. Ms. McNally highlighted many of the amazing experiences afforded to members of the armed forces including traveling the world, jumping out of airplanes (which Ms. McNally has done 5 times!), protecting ports, writing speeches, leading soldiers and so much more. In addition to these experiences, Ms. McNally emphasized the ever-evolving roles of women in the armed forces describing how the first war women were allowed to participate in was the Revolutionary War and how now, all jobs in the military are open to women. She shined a spotlight on Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt, the first woman to lead a carrier in US Navy history. It was clear that the class of 7th grade students was impressed with Ms. McNally’s accomplishments as well as enamored with her engaging energy. Ms. McNally’s son James happened to be one of those students and when asked, he said, “It is great that my mom and the other moms can be here to share their experiences and hopefully inspire all the students.”
Another presenter, Jenny Simon Tabak, spoke about being a professional volunteer and all the different ways she is involved with, and contributes to our community. Tabak drew attention to the important role volunteers play in society and how many places and organizations would not be what they are without the time and effort of hard working volunteers. She also described how volunteering provides an opportunity for people to explore their options and find their passions.
In another class, Jeannie Rosenthal spoke about social entrepreneurship and her experience starting a non-profit as a teenager. Ms. Rosenthal also took the opportunity to encourage her audience to try to look beyond the walls of SMS to the broader world where they will have the opportunities and agency to be, and to do so many different things and express themselves in so many ways.
Art Historian (and PTC Vice President) Leah Dembitzer spoke to a class about self-portraits and identity. During the presentation students examined the self-portraits of several female artists and how their work exemplified self-expression. Dembitzer compared these self-portraits to the modern “selfie” and encouraged the students to consider how selfies shape and explore identity and individual expression. 
As the morning drew to a close, both the faculty members and the event's co-chairs, expressed appreciation for the volunteers who graciously carved out time to take part in SMS’s first annual Women’s Symposium. In the words of co-chair Mayra Kirkendall-Rodriguez, “We really wanted to celebrate Women's History Month and showcase the many women globally who have contributed so much in different fields; many of those women are right here in Scarsdale, too. We have been so impressed with the number and diversity of parents who volunteered. We even have a few parents and teachers who do not have kids at SMS; it is especially nice that they volunteered.” Co-chair Esthela Lecuona added, “"It was a dream come true, organizing this event at SMS. There were a lot of different parts involved: teachers, staff and parents worked hard and put a lot of love into this. I hope that the students, especially girls, see themselves getting inspired by all these amazing presenters." Showcased in this article are only a few of the many remarkable volunteers, for a complete list of presenters please click here.
Photo captions:
(Top) Rachana Singh, Esthela Lecuona and Mayra Kirkendall Rodriguez with Edgar McIntosh
Mimi Rocah and Berit Berger
Liz McNally
Jeannie Rosenthal, Melissa Eisenberg and Deborah Lichtenstein
(Bottom) All the volunteers
