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Diversity and Inclusion

 

A school community that honors difference, Penn Charter seeks to be a place where diversity is understood, represented and valued. Statement of Philosophy

A Multifaceted Understanding of Diversity

Penn Charter seeks to build a community representing diversity in race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, gender, sexual orientation — as well as learning style, opinion and hometown.

When you walk through Penn Charter's red doors, there is a reason our formal-looking school suddently feels down to earth: the people. Penn Charter was founded not for some people, but for all people. That is as true today as it was in 1689. Penn Charter was one of the first school's to open to children of all religions and races, among the first to educate girls and to offer financial aid.

The "Big 8"

The "Big 8" Core Social Identifiers as defined by the National Association of Independent Schools:

  • Age: the amount of time during which a person has lived
  • Ability: the quality or state of being physically or mentally able, competence in doing
  • Ethnicity: affiliation with a group that shares a national, cultural and/or linguistic heritage
  • Gender: the state of being male/masculine or female/feminine
  • Race: a category of people that share distinctive physical traits, a group that is socially defined
  • Religion: an institutionalized or personal belief system and practices relating to a God or Gods
  • Sexual Orientation: sexual attraction toward people of the same, opposite or both sexes
  • Socioeconomic Status: social standing based on income or position in society

Get Involved

"You have to join every other movement for the freedom of people."
Bayard Rustin

Use the Diversity Calendar on this page and attend an event. And, below, consider these other ways to engage.

Meet Staff

Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Antonio Williams, Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Lower School

Naveena Bembry, Lower School Diversity Coordinator, Fifth Grade Teacher
Jessica Stusnick, Lower School Diversity Coordinator, First Grade teacher

Middle School

Bryan Skelly, Middle School Diversity Coordinator, English and Social Studies Teacher
La Sripanawongsa, Middle School Diversity Coordinator, Mandarin Chinese Teacher

Upper School

Ruth McGee, Upper School Diversity Coordinator, Visual Arts and Design Teacher

 

Join Groups

Student Groups

Coming soon.

Parent Groups

Stay tuned for groups.

Tap Resources

Coming soon.

Attend Events

Calendar

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The Treaty Elm

In front of the school stands a tree that is a direct descendent of the great elm tree under which William Penn is said to have signed a treaty of friendship with the Lenni Lenape.

Just like that tree, we are deeply rooted in time-honored human values of mutual respect, equality and community that are not open for compromise. This is who we are.

As one of our teachers has said, "That's what I like about coming to school every day. I know that there are some things here that will always be open for improving, but there are some things here that will never change."