Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Dexter Southfield is committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community where all members are valued and respected for their individual differences and unique talents.

We welcome and celebrate diversity of all kinds, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religious practice, socio-economic status, physical ability, and cultural identity.

We believe that a range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experience enriches the learning experience for all members of our community. We encourage our students to be their authentic selves and to cultivate empathy and compassion for others. We believe that an appreciation for differences is woven into the hallmarks of a Dexter Southfield student—character, confidence, and compassion—and is an intrinsic trait of future leaders.

At Dexter Southfield, our work is always guided by the School's motto, 'Our Best Today, Better Tomorrow.' I apply this same lens to our diversity, equity, and inclusion conversations and initiatives. We will never be complacent, and we will always want to do our best, with the understanding that this critical work should never stop.

Jemmel Billingslea, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Campus Initiatives

Academic Program & Curriculum

Dexter Southfield continually reviews and augments its curriculum to reflect multi-cultural and global perspectives across disciplines and divisions.
Recent examples of this work include:

Added new texts and materials to the English and social studies curricula and introduced more pioneers from diverse backgrounds to the science and math curricula within all divisions.
Added new titles to classroom libraries in the Lower School and Middle School and to the Reading and Learning Center in the Lower School.
Incorporated more historical civil rights leaders and Hispanic cultural icons, and added Spanish language into the lower and middle school public speaking programs, including presentations on:
- Cesar Chavez
- Wangari Maathai
- Ruby Bridges
Introduced conversations in advisory groups at the Middle School and Upper School.

Faculty and Staff Recruiting/Hiring

At Dexter Southfield, we promote a culture of excellence that extends beyond academics, athletics, and the arts. We value a diverse and inclusive community in which identities and perspectives are accepted and respected to create a sense of belonging for all.

We seek team members who create and contribute to an engaging and inclusive learning environment and workplace and who actively support an inclusive school community based on cultural competence, diverse identities and perspectives, and respect for all voices.

To learn more about available positions at Dexter Southfield, please visit our Careers page.

Conferences

Events

Parent Engagement

The Dexter Southfield Families of Color Affinity Group is intended to provide fellowship and build stronger connections among our families of color across divisions. Group meetings are held monthly during the school year in conjunction with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This group meets on the last Tuesday of each month. Please log in to the parent portal to access information on the next meeting.

Partnerships & Community Engagement

Professional Development

School-wide Celebrations

Each year, Dexter Southfield students and faculty participate in both division-wide and school-wide celebrations and educational days to recognize a range of holidays, historical movements, and important cultural milestones. Recent examples include:

Hispanic Heritage Month (September/October)
Día de los Muertos (November)
Diwali (November)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January)
Lunar New Year (January/February)
Black History Month (February)

Student Clubs & Activities

Student clubs and organizations provide students with a valuable outlet to embrace new freedoms, explore new responsibilities, and develop important leadership skills. For the 2020-2021 school year, students clubs related to diversity, equity, and inclusions include:

DEIAJ Task Force: A group of upper school students and faculty dedicated to leading conversations on diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and justice. Members are trained in leading and moderating conversations with peers.
LEAD (Leaders Emphatically Affecting Diversity): Dexter Southfield’s diversity leadership club, dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all students and faculty to discuss important topics of diversity in our society and how they affect our school community.
Students of Color: The affinity group for students of color. Club members discuss a range of topics impacting school, local, and national communities and use the time to connect with one another and faculty representatives.
Rainbow Café: Dexter Southfield’s GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance), creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ students. Allies and non-members of the LGBTQ+ community are welcome.
Challah-lujah: A student-run club to discuss the Jewish community and holidays and the history of Judaism; open to students of all religious backgrounds.

View the Student Clubs and Activities page of our website for more information.

Contact

Jemmel Billingslea

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, PreK-Class 12

School: 617-751-3488

Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Formed in the summer of 2020, the Ad Hoc Committee meets frequently to understand and discuss issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to make recommendations to the School. The Committee is a subset of the Board of Trustees that includes alumni, current and past parents, and administrators—several of whom are persons of color.