Luthern Spearheads Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging Committee of California Association of Independent Schools Board and Participates in Panel Advancing this Work for International Accrediting Agency

As Co-chair of the California Association of Independent School’s (CAIS) Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging Committee, Head of School Luthern Williams is leading a statewide initiative to foster inclusive and equitable learning communities where all students have equal opportunities to learn, thrive, and belong. Based on the Antiracism Task Force’s recommendation, this work has been institutionalized into a newly created CAIS’ Board  Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging Committee, which Luthern was a primary architect in developing. This work is informed by New Roads’ approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging that has been shaped by lessons and challenges of building an optimal climate and culture for authentically diverse young people for 27 years. 

Luthern was invited to present this approach at an annual meeting of the International Council for Advancing Independent School Accreditations (ICAISA) in February. ICAISA is a nonprofit organization that establishes and upholds standards for accrediting associations in order to ensure quality and accountability in independent and international schools across the globe.  

Luthern says, “We are always continuing to learn as we lean into the complex, difficult, ongoing, and sometimes painful work of fostering an inclusive and equitable learning community where we bump into each other and give each other grace so that we can all grow in our awareness and consciousness. I don’t know of any other way to learn to live in an authentically diverse community. The work is never done and hard, but we are always striving. And we are grateful to share what we are learning on our journey.”

Pictured: Head of School Luthern Williams