To promote equity and cultivate an inclusive community of children, teachers and families where all cultures, backgrounds and perspectives are valued, embraced and celebrated. The Suzuki School cultivates a community where all can learn, love, thrive, be their true self and reach their full potential.
The commitment to be a diverse, equitable and inclusive school is not only the right thing to do, it’s integral to the parent partnerships and each child developing a lifelong love of learning. It also rings true in Maria Montessori’s commitment to the cause of peace and the brotherhood of nations—work that she received a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for in 1951. While many decades have passed, our commitment to her legacy continues. This effort requires a deep and intentional undertaking. We are humbled by the complexity and difficulty of living this commitment, and please know that we believe we will always be a “work in process”: flawed, but fully committed to becoming stronger and better over time to achieve our DEI vision.
We actively work to dismantle disparate treatment and strive to create a sense of belonging in our community through affirming one another’s identities and creating connections.
We seek out diverse community members with a shared vision for our mission. We actively teach children to be supportive advocates and friends through empathy and perspective-taking.
We maintain a deep obligation to teaching practices that are culturally competent, responsive and supportive, void of applying intent or making assumptions when situations emerge. We commit to maintaining an active posture in learning, understanding and accounting for cultural differences amongst our community members.
We cultivate a community committed to growth in all things and recognize this work as a journey, not a destination. We are committed to expanding our knowledge of others and place value on diverse thoughts and opinions while pushing through possible discomfort for the good of the community as a whole.
We believe that all faculty, parents and children should both know and feel that they are a part of the inner circle of our community as their authentic selves—with differences seen and celebrated and knowledge that the school community is strengthened by these ties. We believe that the vision of Maria Montessori to reach each child and help them reach their full potential cannot be achieved unless all the adults in our community create a safe environment that acknowledges, respects and supports their unique identities.
As adults in the community, it is our responsibility to support this important work. The expectations we have of our community members include:
Support, lead and model the DEI vision, encouraging each unique child and knowing how to reach those who are different. Teachers also know how to work effectively and respectfully with their team of teachers to create and model the values of a positive and peaceful, diverse and inclusive learning environment.
Support the students to grow up with a positive identity development, to embrace others different than them and to develop the ability to take the perspective of others.
Encourage exploration and celebrate not just their own identities, but those of different backgrounds, explore issues of fairness and promote healthy caring connections with others.