About Us

From the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Portledge School’s mission to provide a competitive college-preparatory program in a warm, inclusive community is evident in our academic approach, extracurricular offerings, and commitment to belonging. At Portledge, students are at the center of the learning process, and all school policies, instructional practices, and extracurricular activities are created, developed, and implemented to meet the needs of each student where they are and where they want to go.
 
At Portledge, our student body includes writers, historians, scientists, mathematicians, athletes, musicians, actors, and artists of different races, ethnicities, religions, and geographic backgrounds. We strive to maintain a school community that recognizes each student beyond their cultural identifiers.  We validate and celebrate each student in and outside of the classroom, and we intentionally and consistently engage students in activities that develop their character, leadership, and connection to each other and our larger community.
 
High-quality instruction, top-notch arts, athletic programs, and a variety of community service opportunities emphasize our Portledge Pillars of kindness, honor, purpose, and respect. That is our vision, and we execute on it every day. We also consider the individualized needs of our students and meet them equitably. We recognize that different students require different supports academically, socially, emotionally, and financially.
 
At Portledge, that sense of belonging is everything, and it is such a personal feeling. It is about acceptance, safety, and being a valued member of the community. An inclusive school environment is defined by the student experience. Every administrator, teacher, and coach at Portledge is responsible for cultivating purposeful student engagement in response to ongoing student feedback.  

As the Director of Global Engagement and Community, I work collaboratively with the Board, faculty, staff, students, and families of Portledge to further the school’s mission and vision. It is my responsibility to cultivate relationships across cultures and perspectives. And, working together, in keeping with our IB mission, I believe that we can continue to build a community that encourages an open mind, welcomes meaningful conversations, and grounds itself in "intercultural understanding and respect.”
 
Traci L. Douglas
Director of Global Engagement and Community

Parent Association DEI Workshop - January 2021

DEI Resources for the Portledge Community

Portledge DEI Student Club Opportunities

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  • DEI Club - Upper School

    Students strive to raise awareness in our community and empower all of our members to know that they have something to contribute to our community through their voices and through service to others. We do all we can to be positive role models who appreciate and respect each other. We value and treat everyone equally. Through our weekly gatherings, we continue to realize that our differences will always link us in our most common bond - that of our humanity.

  • Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA) Club - Upper School

    Gender and Sexuality Diversity Club mission statement:
    The students have defined the group as one that promotes understanding, knowledge, and acceptance of the GSD community in order to provide a safe, non-judgemental space for everyone as a support network in Portledge School.

  • Upstander Club - Middle School

    The Upstander Club is designed to promote kindness within and beyond the Portledge community. It raises awareness about issues of injustice and then brainstorms and enacts ways to combat them. The club members are advocates for tolerance and understanding. The Upstander Club also emphasizes the importance of community service and the celebration of differences.  We have screened Soul Surfer for Disability Awareness Month and Remember the Titans to raise awareness of social justice and equity issues.

  • World Cultures Elective - Middle School

    Students in the World Cultures elective explore celebrations and holidays of different cultures through research and hands-on activities in alignment with when the events fall on the calendar. Special foods are sometimes sampled to enhance the learning experience.

Portledge School DEI Statement

Portledge strives to celebrate the diversity of our school community by embracing our differences and highlighting our shared experiences. We look at the individualized needs of our students and then meet those needs in an equitable way. We support our faculty and staff in identifying resources and professional development to build their cultural competencies and deliver culturally relevant instruction. We plan strategically on the Board level to advance our DEI initiatives in keeping with the school's mission and vision. We ground ourselves in our four pillars of kindness, purpose, honor, and respect to ensure that there is a common understanding and unifying language to strengthen our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Traci L. Douglas

DEI Consultants


“My vision is a world where schools and organizations are built upon and operating from strong foundations for equity and justice, and where the people in them are inspired to be their best selves.” - Martha Haakmat

    • Molly Davis

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DEI Committee Mission

Our mission is to bring together faculty and staff to develop programming that raises awareness as well as promotes respect and appreciation for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Portledge.  This is accomplished through multicultural curriculum, student-led clubs, faculty professional development, school-wide activities, and parent engagement events.
*NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
Portledge School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to, but is not limited to, educational policies, admission, financial aid, hiring and employment practices, use of school facilities, athletics, and other school-administered programs.