Diversity | Washington Episcopal School in Bethesda MD

Celebrating and cultivating diversity and cultural proficiency

WES Diversity Mission Statement
Washington Episcopal School welcomes and embraces everyone’s unique identity and values individuality within our community. WES nurtures the growth of the whole child and cultivates their cultural proficiency to enter the wider world as a kind, confident, and prepared global citizen.

Diversity in Bethesda Maryland Private Schools

WES believes in and strives to:

Embody the Episcopal mission to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.”
Celebrate our similarities and differences to build understanding and empathy.
Understand that diversity includes but is in no way limited to one ethnicity, culture, age, learning style, neurodiversity, physical ability, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, and/or socioeconomic status.
Engage students, families, and faculty/staff in ongoing dialogue that increases awareness and respect.

Our Program

Classroom Experiences

Students participate in a variety of rich and engaging learning experiences to help them better understand who they are and the world around them.

Diversity Clubs

Kaleidoscope and Kaleidoscope Jr. are diversity clubs for students in Grades 4-8. Students use the space to learn about diversity in our community and beyond.

Committees

Parents and Staff can participate in diversity committees to help inform and establish DEI initiatives for the school. Both committees meet monthly.

Professional Development

All WES employees are encouraged to participate in DEI training. Opportunities are internal workshops are regularly provided and many seek external programs to attend during the school year and each summer.

Speaker Series

In collaboration with the Parent Association and Family Diversity committee monthly workshops are held with guest speakers on a variety of DEI and general family support topics.

Resources

Want to learn more about different DEI topics? Click here to access a number of resources on social identity topics.

Our Staff

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Courtney Clark
Courtney Clark is an experienced educator with more than 18 years of classroom teaching experience and many years in various school leadership roles. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College in Iowa and her Master of Science Administration in nonprofit management from Trinity Washington University. Courtney will coordinate the Faculty and Parent Diversity Committees, and help us maintain a focus on recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining faculty and professional staff who reflect and support a diverse and inclusive school community. She will also work closely with Dr. Dibinga to collaborate with the administrative team and faculty in our efforts to ensure our curriculum reflects multiple perspectives as well as content centered on respecting and embracing differences and acting against bias and injustice.

DEI Facilitator (In-Residence): Dr. Omékongo Dibinga
Dr. Omékongo Dibinga is a professor of cross-cultural communication at American University. He has studied at Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Georgetown, Morehouse, and The Fletcher School, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Law & Diplomacy. He holds a Ph.D. in International Education Policy from the University of Maryland. Dr. Dibinga’s work at WES this year will include curriculum reviews, ongoing diversity education, leadership work with the students, and parental engagement. Read more about Dr. Dibinga HERE.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion