Speaking Up, Speaking Out & Standing Together

As an educator and the head of Sanford School, I ask the broader questions: What does this mean for our kids? How does this impact our alumni? How should Sanford respond to what is happening in our greater society?

The protests we are seeing are not just about the tragic murder of Mr. Floyd. The list of unarmed black people killed in our country has filled the news for the last several years. To name just but a few: Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Freddie Gray, Philando Castile, Walter Scott, Tamir Rice, Eric Harris, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Trayvon Martin all lost their lives—and that is just a partial list. America has a racial intolerance problem, and the pattern of deaths to our African American citizens is clear.

Sanford’s history of inclusion predates my tenure at the school by many decades, and our rich commitment to diversity continues today at Sanford. Our current strategic direction document names Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) as one of our four core areas for focus. Over the past two years, led by Sanford parent and trustee Lisa Lloyd Washington, our growth in DEI programming has greatly increased. I know that the answers to these societal problems are much bigger than what an independent school in Hockessin, Delaware can affect. However, a pebble in the pond creates many ripples.

Most importantly, I want all members of our community to clearly hear where Sanford stands on matters of racism. Sanford values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and anything that stands in the way of or in opposition to our values is a threat to our Sanford community.

Our Sanford and Wilmington communities need to continue this honest dialogue about systemic racism. For all of our families, during this difficult time, especially our African American families, please know we are here for you. Our division heads—Libbie Zimmer, Emily Amendum, and Abbi Smith—school counselors Skye Rashkind, Courtney Gregor, and Sarah Satinsky, and I want to be a resource for you and your family.

As you talk to your children about the current unrest, here are some resources you might find helpful:
"Talking Race with Young Children" (NPR)
"Raising Race-Conscious Children" (A Cup of Jo)
"Seeing White" (Scene on Radio)
"Race & Ethnicity" (Teaching Tolerance)
"George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. What do we tell our children?" (USA Today)
"Talking to Children After Racial Incidents" (Penn GSE News)
"Helping Children Cope with Frightening News" (Child Mind Institute)

In the meantime, as events unfold, please know that we share in this pain and grief. As a community, when one of us hurts, we all hurt. Let’s stand up for and with one another in order to help make our world a safer and kinder place for our children.