Archmere Academy | DEI | Private High School in Delaware

Archmere’s Commitment to DEI

As a community, Archmere strives to create a welcoming and inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of the Auk community. Saint Norbert's vision was to give people a "sense of place" and belonging, and the Archmere Academy community seeks to embody that vision. Archmere has been examining its role in the fight to confront racism, promote social justice and deepen our collective understanding, communication, and mutual support. Archmere embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion wholeheartedly, recognizing that what inspires its students most to achieve excellence are the relationships they form while they are here. This commitment to an inclusive identity embracing the school community is reflected today in the school’s mission statement, core values, and everyday operations.

Archmere defines diversity as embracing the wide range of human characteristics used to mark or identify individual and group identities. Our students enter our classrooms with a rich array of identities, including:

Race
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Varying socioeconomic backgrounds
Religion
Cognitive ability
Language proficiency
Physical ability
Family structure.

These dimensions of identity can have a significant impact on how our students learn. When we intentionally understand, honor, and celebrate the dimensions of identity, we can impact teaching, leading, and learning for all.

Establishing Best Practices

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) developed a survey to help schools gather information on school climate. Archmere, along with several other independent schools across the country, partnered with NAIS to conduct the Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM) survey. Read Archmere's survey results.

Data-Driven Outcomes

The AIM survey was administered to 668 members of the Archmere community. All students, trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni were invited to participate. Through an initial review of this survey results, the AIM Steering Committee discovered that members of the Archmere community wanted more DEI-centric programming to help increase the enrollment of diverse students and faculty. Training to increase skills when addressing and discussing DEI topics. We also discovered from the constituents that participated in the survey that members of the Archmere community hold citizenship in 18 different countries besides the United States, which is a great starting point to begin to highlight the richness of diversity of the existing Archmere Community members.

DEI Centric Programming

List of 5 items.

Culture Night

On Friday, May 13, 2022, DEI concluded the year with a culture night celebration on campus where students experienced many different foods, games, dances, and so much more from a variety of cultures represented within the Archmere Community. The following countries were represented during the cultural night event: India, China, Philippines, Trinidad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Greece, Italy, France, Nigeria, and Mexico.
Multicultural Open House

In October 2021, Archmere held its first Multicultural Open House. This event was designed for multicultural students and families to learn more about Archmere and ask questions specific to their needs. Archmere students, alumni, and current parents all participated in a panel during the Multicultural Open House.
Stepping into Black History

On March 2, 2022, The DEI club hosted Coach Jenayah White who presented to a group of students in grades 9-12 about the history of steps in African and Black Cultures. She began the presentation with a brief history lesson, and the remainder of her presentation focused on interactive step exercises to boost the students' esteem and confidence.
Sunday Evening DEI Virtual Training Sessions

The Diversity Equity and Inclusion Club hosted four virtual DEI training sessions during the 2021-22 school year for students and faculty. Two training sessions were in the fall, and two sessions were held in the spring. Allyship and Identity Affirmation, Unconscious Bias, Women Sexism and Gender Equality, and Men’s Mental Health were all covered during these sessions.
YW Leaders
On April 13, 2021, 10 Archmere Students completed a 12-week training to become certified racial and social justice facilitators offered by The YWCA of Delaware. The program trained the students to be able to do the following:
- Develop language and knowledge to accurately and respectfully describe how people (including themselves) are both similar to and different from each other and others in their identity groups.
- Respectfully express curiosity about the history and lived experiences of others and will exchange ideas and beliefs in an open-minded way.
- Respond to diversity by building empathy, respect, understanding, and connection.
- Express comfort with people who are both similar to and different from them and engage respectfully with all people.
- Examine diversity in social, cultural, political, and historical contexts rather than in ways that are superficial or oversimplified.
- Develop the confidence and skills to actively participate and become involved in the local school, and community initiatives relating to racial and social justice
- Learn to facilitate healthy dialogues among peers regarding racial and social justices