IDEA at Altamont

IDEA at Altamont (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access)

Altamont has built a collaborative, safe space for work to be accelerated in the following priorities listed below.

Also, we have created an online resource where we can update our community on our current state of affairs and answer questions that have been raised in our ongoing dialogue with our students, alumni, faculty, staff and families.

The mission of the IDEA Task Force is to create immediate and long-term recommendations for the improvement of equity at Altamont by creating a more inclusive, equitable and respectful culture where all individuals feel welcomed and valued. The IDEA Task Force was initiated due to requests for racial equity; however, the work of this group encompasses the creation of an inclusive and equitable community where individuals regardless of race, gender, class, religion, sexual orientation or any other aspect of their identity are able to contribute and fully participate in the Altamont community. We seek to create a culture that actively works to gain a deeper understanding of difference and how we can live our values of truth, knowledge and honor.

IDEA Priorities

Commit to creating incident reporting mechanisms

This working group will create and implement an anonymous incident reporting mechanism.

Projected Completion Timeline: December 2020

Working Group Chairs: Alex Melonas (Faculty) and Camille Underwood (Trustee)
Action Steps:
--Student survey asking for preferred reporting method
--Considering widely used application for anonymously reporting incidents
--Create step-by-step guide for process
--Train points-of-contact for students (advisors, teachers, staff)

Commit to improving the student handbook

This working group will review existing student handbook language around harassment, racism, and bullying and recommend revisions to the task force, faculty, administration and Board of Trustees.

Projected Completion Timeline: December 2020

Working Group Chairs: Danielle Wattleton-Anderson (Dean of Upper School, Black Student Union (BSU) Sponsor and Alum) and Brian Karuki (Alum)
Action Steps:
--Define process for addressing student issues surrounding diversity and inclusion
--Define and explicitly state a zero tolerance policy
--Review all parts of handbook
--Review restorative processes around discipline
--Determine how we ensure that social and emotional learning are a part of all of the policies

Commit to increasing diverse representation among faculty and administration

This working group will explore ways to broaden the potential talent pool by recruiting from national associations and organizations; establishing and building meaningful relationships with HBCUs nationwide and researching search firms focused on hiring experienced faculty and leadership positions. This group will also explore the feasibility of creating an Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the school.

Working Group Chairs: Chris Durst (Head of School) and Rita Goyal (Trustee)

Action Steps:
--Research possibility of hiring diversity coordinator
--Implement a student teaching program. Partner with schools in the area
--Begin a new teacher institute

Commit to developing an inclusive curriculum

This working group will review the existing English and History curriculum to ensure that authors from a wide range of identities are included. It will also look for ways to include content related to current events and social climate, issues of justice, civil rights movements, and white privilege, as well as various interpretive frames and international perspectives in the humanities curriculum.

Working Group Chairs: JP Hemingway (Assistant Head of School for Curriculum) and Andrew Nelson (Chair of the History Department)

Action Steps:
--Assess the school’s curriculum and teaching practices
--Generate ideas for improvement
--Make recommendations to the academic team
--Primary areas of focus: course content and student engagement; curricular and teaching assessment; faculty buy-in and evaluation; and faculty training

Commit to diverse representation among the student body

This working group will research ways to increase diversity in the student body. Research will include talking with other independent schools about their existing recruitment programs and researching how to form partnerships with diverse feeder schools. One, three- and five-year goals will be established.

Working Group Chairs: Thomas Goldsmith (Admissions Director) and Katisha Vance (Parent)
Action Steps:
--Identify and make contact with two new mission-appropriate diverse markets
--Research and hone effective value proposition
--Assist with the formation of diverse support networks for both students and parents
--Form partnerships with diverse feeder schools

Commit to create mentorship support for diverse students

This working group will create a robust system of support for diverse students from entry to graduation.

Working Group Chairs: Lisa Daniels (BSU Sponsor, Faculty) and Steve Mitchell (BSU Sponsor, Athletics Director)
Action Steps:
--Create teams for diverse students with affinity group channels
--Create social calendar that allows us to support diverse cultural events
--Internal support: Altamont’s Black Student Union and Big Sib/Little Sib Program; alumni mentors for current students
--External support: Jack and Jill; Top Teens of America; Kappa League; Young Musical Geniuses of Birmingham

Commit to board, faculty and staff, student and parent training

The working group will work to provide implicit bias training, bystander training and other relevant training to the Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, students and parents on a regular basis.

Working Group Chairs: Liz Edwards (Board of Trustees Chair) and Chris Durst (Head of School)

Action Steps:
--Document what training we are currently doing
--Research other training opportunities
--T. Marie King will conduct training with IDEA task force

Board of Trustee Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access

This sub-committee will work with the recently formed IDEA Committee of the Board of Trustee to ensure the Board is focused on best IDEA practices for current operations and strategic planning, and to make recommendations to the Board for the funding of these initiatives.

Working Group Chairs: Camille Underwood (Trustee, Committee Chair), Emily Schultz (Trustee, Alum), and Dottie Pak (Trustee, Committee Chair)

Action Steps:
--Evaluate options for board IDEA-focused training
--Reflect on board recruitment strategies
--Survey current board policies and by-laws and identify possible changes
--Explore opportunities for regular board communication to Altamont community
--Research data that other NAIS/SAIS schools review in board meetings that speaks directly to IDEA issues (i.e. financial aid, discipline data, etc.)

Alumni Association Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access

This sub-committee will explore ways to increase diversity on the Alumni Association Board and to engage alumni in mentoring students. Through a bylaw revision, the Alumni Association plans to improve structure and communication around the nominating process for members and around the inclusivity to join meetings. Term limits will also be addressed, and more definition/purpose behind the Annual Meeting will be determined.
Working Group Chairs: Charlotte Russ (Advancement Director) and Donald Robinson (Alumni Board President)
Action Steps:
--Revive a large and inactive membership
--Initiate growth of more diverse directors
--Elevate engagement of the Alumni Association
--Engage alumni in mentoring current students

Parents’ Association Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access

This sub-committee will explore ways to ensure that the Parents’ Association has inclusion, diversity, equity and access as a foundational role within its various structures.

Working Group Chairs: Anne Lynn Langloh (Trustee and President of APA) and Katherine Berdy (Miree Center)
Action Steps:
--Understand what committee members think about the current culture of the APA
--Assess in what ways we succeed at and where we fall short of IDEA fundamentals
--Recruit parents to serve on this working group

Altamont's Non-Discrimination Statement

The Altamont School admits students of any race, disability, color, creed, national, or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, disability, color, creed, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions practices, and athletic and other school-administered programs.