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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Diversity, equity and inclusion are integral to Country School's mission, history and forward-thinking practices. We believe learning is at its best when students are exposed to stories and events that are both similar to and different from their own.
Conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion introduce healthy discourse and increase our communication skills. When coupled with action, a focus on DEI ultimately leads to a productive and enlightened school environment.
At Country School, we practice mindful learning and sharing as a means to connect and grow as an institution. We value the diverse experiences our families bring to our school community and work to provide a space in which all voices can be heard. We practice an ethic of listening for greater understanding. Our professional growth and development programs for the adult community supports an expectation that we will seek both national conferences and workshops, as well as leverage the resources that we are fortunate to employ from our talented faculty and staff.
 
Our professional community believes that there is always something to learn. Our ongoing engagement with outside professional development facilitates a network of informed people and perspectives with a global lens. In addition, our internal teams offer a broad range of expertise including our Diversity Equity & Inclusion Facilitators; Student Advisors; Service Learning committees; Learning Resources team. We access the special interests and talents of our family community, most directly through a partnership with our Parent DEI Task Force. 
Country School offers a number of vehicles to support a culture of inclusion. Some of the initiatives we have in place include:
  • Annual participation in the CAIS, Student Diversity Leadership Conference (Grades 7-9)
  • Annually selected delegation to the NAIS People of Color Conference for faculty & staff and the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (Grade 9)
  • Parents' Association Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force focused on understanding and responding to the needs of our family community, while supporting education around topics of inclusion for our families. 
  • Upper School: Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) clubs
  • Renowned speaker opportunities
  • Ongoing faculty & staff training 
  • Formal and informal teachable moment platforms for adults and students
  • Partnership  programs with Horizons
  • Integration of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion with broader Wellness initiatives  
  • Application of Restorative Practice principles in building a positive climate
  • Donor support in ensuring representation of diverse groups
  • Student-led classroom Buddies program 
We welcome ideas and thoughts as we work to build a vibrant, equitable, inclusive and diverse school culture.

List of 1 members.

  • Photo of Kojo Clarke

    Kojo Clarke 

    Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    Bio



Diversity Facilitators

In order to make diversity, equity and inclusion part of the school’s overall fabric, a Diversity Facilitators group was formed with representatives from the schools’ divisions, the staff and Horizons. Much of the group’s role revolves around peer leadership, facilitation and support. 

This group includes: Kindergarten Teacher Jessica McKinney, Upper School Teacher Nika Skvir-Maliakal, Second Grade Teacher Abigail Newport, Sixth Grade Teacher Brayden Henry, Fifth Grade Teacher Andrew Bevan, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Kojo Clarke and Horizons Family and Program Director Nehemie Moise

Parents' Association Contact

Sonya Mital
PA Executive Council
VP, Community, Diversity & Inclusion
 
 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion News

  • PA DEI Summer Book Read Conversation - "The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together"

    Kojo Clarke, Director Diversity Equity and Inclusion and the Parents Association Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force recently led our first community conversation about the insights and ideas presented in the summer book read The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee.

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  • Alumna-Parent Launches Faculty Diversity Fund

    by Meaghan Mancini '03; P'30
    I began my diversity, equity and inclusion work as an educator at White Plains High School in New York a few years ago with the initial focus on strengthening an appreciation for diversity among my students and school community. This coincided with my daughter beginning her first years at NCCS, and so I did my best to bring home many new inclusive books and began very important conversations around DEI with Ella at an early age.
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  • Apprentice Teacher Reflects on Identity

    by Olivia Mao, Fifth Grade Apprentice
    “Where are you from?”

    I’ve heard the question millions of times. It's the kind of question I've grown used to hearing and it took a while for me to realize that most people don’t want to hear that I am from Connecticut. 

    “No, where are you really from?” 

    It wasn’t until I was in college that I realized the truth behind the question of where I was from. Being an Asian American, I often struggled with understanding my identity and that I was different from others. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to understand that my identity as an Asian is an important facet of who I am and I hope to further share that heritage with my students.


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  • Board President: Belonging is a Continuous Act of Community

    by Sarah Irwin; P'25, P'25

    When I’m asked what makes Country School special, I often point first to our deeply held value of community. 
     
    At the heart of the NCCS mission is a belief that children learn and grow best when they are rooted in an unshakeable sense of belonging. Country School students are fully seen and known, valued for all they are and can become, and surrounded by adults who inspire them to reach their highest potential.
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  • Ninth Grader Leads Discussions in Upper School

    by Julia Cooper
    I have a vivid memory of when I learned about the Student Diversity Leadership Conference for the first time. I was in seventh grade and six ninth graders gave a presentation on the eight identifiers - religion, age, ethnicity, socio-economic-status, race, sexual orientation, ability, and gender. As much information as they shared in that presentation, I still had so many questions:
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  • Dillon Mims ‘18 Releases History Podcast, "Precedented Times"

    Dillon Mims ‘18 has released a 6-episode history podcast, Precedented Times. The weekly podcast aims to debunk the notion we are living through “unprecedented times."

    “We may not be able to control that history will repeat itself, but we can know what to do when it happens.”

    Read More
  • Grandparents Chien and Taina Chao at Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day

    $2.5 Million Gift from the Jefferson Family will Support Diversity and Financial Accessibility

    New Canaan Country School parents Cathy and Brett Jefferson have made one of the largest gifts in NCCS history, recently pledging $2.5 million to support diversity and financial accessibility for students. 
     
    “Our vision is to identify and support outstanding students who do not have the economic means to attend NCCS and afford them the opportunity to pursue the American Dream. We hope that there will be many outstanding Chao Scholars that will benefit from our gift and we are also hopeful that NCCS will benefit from the diversity this program will offer,” said Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson in a letter to Head of School Aaron Cooper.
     
    The gift will create the Chien and Taina Chao Scholarship Fund, named in honor of Mrs. Jefferson’s parents who came to the U.S. to pursue their advanced education, both earning PhDs in chemistry and building successful careers in science. The gift is being made through The Catherine Jefferson Foundation, which Brett and Cathy founded, and, in part, by Hildene Capital Management.
     
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  • Mancini Family Establishes Faculty Diversity Fund

    In 2020, Country School grandparent and parent of alumni Bob Mancini reached out to NCCS to express his family’s interest in supporting the school’s commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI). 

    The family has a deep legacy of support here at Country School. They established a separate endowed fund to support the school’s sports program several years ago. In conversations with Head of School Aaron Cooper, Bob shared the family’s intent to shift the scope and focus of the fund - and add additional funds - to directly support Country School’s dedication to being a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, with the goal of becoming a leader among independent schools.
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  • Advancing Our Climate of Belonging

    A group of 15 NCCS administrators, trustees, parents, faculty, students and alumni participated as a “pod” in the inaugural Pollyanna Conference in Connecticut on April 10. The conference, which was entitled, “Climate of Belonging: Challenging Our Past to Reimagine Our Future,” was hosted virtually by Westover School with the intent to “allow us to think about and examine the current structures, biases, and privileges in place at our schools as well as how we might adapt our schools and policies to be more inclusive.”
    Read More

  • The Experience of the Student Diversity Leadership Conference

    by Annie Nichols '21
    Six Country School ninth graders attended the national Student Diversity Leadership (SDLC) conference held Nov. 30-Dec. 4, which allowed them to connect with students from across the country virtually. Read the experience of one student, Annie Nichols.
    Read More

  • American Indian Unit Prompts Self-Reflection

    by John Hastings
    To teach any subject well, you must have a passion for it. Children can almost smell a teacher’s attitude towards their subject, and students value what their teachers value. So when it became clear that I would be teaching social studies to the entire fourth grade, I knew I had to immerse myself in the topic.
    Read More

  • Perspective: DEI Work Gets Personal

    By Maija Judelson 
    Truth be told, I joined the NCCS DEI Parent Task Force for a very selfish reason – I wanted to learn. I wanted to advance my knowledge of issues surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion and how these were impacting my children’s experience at NCCS. What I didn’t know was how personal the work would be and how it would impact me so profoundly.
    Read More

  • DEI Task Force Reads Anti-Racism Book

    DEI Task Force
    Dear NCCS Parents & Guardians,

    Thank you to the 30+ participants in our most recent DEI Community Meeting, where we discussed a follow-up to the virtual visit from Daryl Davis, musician and race relations expert, and the first half of Ibram X. Kendi’s “How To Be An Antiracist”. Here are some notes from the conversation, and some resources to explore:
    Read More

  • Daryl Davis, Race Relations Expert, Emphasizes Dialogue

    In commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, New Canaan Country School hosted Daryl Davis, a race relations expert and a celebrated American R&B musician, on Jan. 19 and 21.
    Read More

  • Lower School Remembers Dr. King's Life and Legacy

    Country School’s Lower School (Grades 1-4) celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with curricular activities, reflections and gatherings culminating in an assembly, Jan.15, held using online platforms.
    Read More

  • Ninth Grader Leaders Attend Virtual Diversity Conference

    Six Country School ninth graders attended the national Student Diversity Leadership (SDLC) conference held Nov. 30-Dec. 4, which allowed them to connect with students from across the country virtually.
    Read More

  • Upper School Student Reflects on Hispanic Heritage

    Although Hispanic Heritage Month is officially behind us, we had one more reflection to share, this time from a student on his Hispanic identity and its importance to him and his family. We will continue to periodically publish pieces that invite you all to “see” our community fully. Please enjoy this piece from Daniel Marin in 8th grade. - Kojo Clarke, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

    Read More

  • Eric Woolworth ’80 to Receive New Canaan Country School’s 2020 Alumni Award

    New Canaan Country School is pleased to announce that Eric Woolworth ’80 will be presented with the 2020 Alumni Award. Eric is scheduled to accept the honor and share with students, alumni and guests highlights of his career in professional basketball and as a leader in diversity and inclusion initiatives Friday, Oct. 30, live via an online platform.
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  • What Does Hispanic Heritage Mean to Me?

    Isadora Machado, a staff member, reflects on the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month. Isadora Machado is a very familiar face to Country School, having worked at Country School from 2003-2010 in many roles including Kindergarten Apprentice and Art Teacher, and Lower and Middle School Spanish Teacher. She also continues to be an integral member of the Horizons teaching team since 2003. This year, Isadora joins us as a Plus Program Assistant primarily working with Beginners 4/5.
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  • Country School Holds Virtual Sixth Annual Kyle A. Markes Day of Service

    Members of the New Canaan Country School and Horizons at NCCS communities served the wide-ranging needs of more than 10 local non-profit organizations April 3 and 4. Students and their families were participating in the sixth annual Kyle A. Markes Day of Service in honor of an NCCS classmate who passed away in 2013. In a unique twist, this year volunteers performed their service virtually, online or in their own homes. View photos.
     
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New Canaan Country School

635 Frogtown Road, New Canaan, CT 06840
Phone: (203) 972-0771
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.