Hill Community,
Over the last two weeks, we have been laser-focused on finishing our sprint to the end of the school year. At the same time, we have been acutely aware of the heartrending developments in our country – as the number of deaths from COVID-19 surpassed 100,000; as more and more data surfaced showing the disproportionate impact of the virus on marginalized communities; and as seemingly endless days and nights of protests and violence continued in response to the horrific killings of black people.
These events, and especially the unjust and senseless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, have been traumatic and painful for us all. Our hearts and heads are heavy, especially for black people within and beyond the Hill community, whose experience we can try to empathize with but never fully understand.
As white leaders and educators, we are upset, angry, and heartbroken, and we are also called to move beyond words and emotions to action – to become better listeners, learners, advocates, and allies.
To this end, and in support of Hill’s vision that ALL students with learning differences and attention challenges receive the instruction and support they need, we share the following commitments to our community:
- We stand in solidarity with our black students, families, alumni, colleagues, peer educators, partners, supporters, and friends. Hill is a place where Black Lives Matter, and where the voices and presence of all people of color will be heard and affirmed.
- We are redoubling our long-term commitment to reaching and empowering more students, educators, schools, and communities that are systematically marginalized and oppressed. This has been a board and organizational priority that has now taken on even greater urgency.
- Under the leadership of our Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee, we are engaging in professional development, sharing resources, and creating spaces for our educators, staff, and board to come together as white allies, as people of color, and as a collective community to learn, to process, to support each other, and to do more to listen to, be led by, and act alongside those who suffer from systemic injustice and inequities in our country.
These are challenging times, but our resolve and commitment to creating learning spaces, work environments, and partnerships where everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or difference, can thrive has never been stronger.
We thank you for being a part of our community and hope you will reach out with resources, reactions, or recommendations as we seek to play our part in dismantling racism and inequality in our country while maintaining focus on our mission to transform the 1 in 5 students with learning differences into confident, independent learners.
With gratitude, hope, grief, and determination,
Beth Anderson, Executive Director
Bryan Brander, Head of School
Lisa Guckian, Co-Chair, Board of Directors
Stacy Parker-Fisher, Co-Chair, Board of Directors