French International Community Members Engage in DEI Trainings and Discussions

On September 16 and 17, French International hosted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) trainings with Tiwana Merrit. The trainings focused on belonging, bias, and intercultural understanding.

Tiwana began by meeting with all fifth through eighth-grade students. She engaged the students in a discussion about what it means to belong, when they felt like they belonged, and how they can help others feel welcome. She met with the leadership team, IB Coordinators, and administrative staff. With each group, Tiwana led the staff through interactive activities and discussion to help build understanding amongst the groups. Tiwana also met with French International parents to explore their own perspectives and develop strategies for modeling empathy, equity, and respect at home and in the school community. 

Tiwana is an international educator currently based in South Africa. She works with schools to design learning experiences that foster cultural competency, critical service learning, and inclusive environments. 

This training is part of the Strategic Plan commitment to create an inclusive community of people and is part of the ongoing work by the DEI Committee. The DEI Committee is made up of trustees, faculty, and staff, and will continue to develop opportunities for French International community members to participate in DEI efforts. We want to create an environment of belonging and intercultural understanding.