The Browning School fosters growth of courageous and compassionate men of intellect and integrity who aspire to contribute meaningfully to our world. The Browning gentleman develops amid a community that upholds our core values: honesty, dignity, curiosity and purpose. 

The Browning School strives to create a diverse community in which all members are safe, respected and valued. We believe that in actively promoting a diverse learning environment, we are fostering intellectual, social and emotional growth for all. Recognizing and pursuing diversity, however, are not enough; we seek to transcend mere tolerance of differences and aspire to a celebration of the varied appearances, abilities, perspectives and values that characterize our community.

In pursuit of these values, The Browning School seeks a Director of Equitable Practices and Social Impact, reporting directly to the Head of School. The Director of Equitable Practices and Social Impact will lead in creating the conditions necessary for Browning to live its mission more fully by becoming a more equitable, inclusive and just institution. The Director of Equitable Practices and Social Impact is accountable for providing the research, data, professional development and personal coaching and counsel necessary for faculty, staff, and administration, students, the board of trustees and families to move the school towards more anti-racist, anti-bias principles and practices. 

The Director of Equitable Practices and Social Impact will:

• Use both quantitative and qualitative methods to continually assess school climate, policy, practices and pedagogy as relates to diversity, equity, inclusion and social responsibility in all of its forms.

• Foster a culture where all constituents will have a growth mindset that acknowledges the systemic and substantive change required to become a community where all members feel a sense of belonging.

• Create a culture where service learning is understood to be a reciprocal relationship between the school community and the communities and people with whom they are providing support, where both parties have something to give and something to receive. 

• Seek and promote targeted solutions to increase participation of traditionally marginalized groups in the School, particularly in the areas of hiring, admissions, governance, advancement and student and faculty retention.

• Work with academic leaders, to advise and support teaching faculty on improving culturally responsive classroom practices, discipline, assessment and curriculum.

• Seek and recommend targeted professional development opportunities for senior School leaders to help them promote greater equity in their areas of responsibility. 

• Collaborate with the Dean of Student Life to coordinate student affinity and alliance groups  activities, including their participation in organizations and conferences such as SDLC and DAIS.

• Support faculty and staff in their work with employee affinity groups and on division-specific equity and inclusion issues.

• Work with Parents Association, Parent Equity Council and advancement and special events administrators to increase belonging among all families and to promote ideas for greater inclusivity in community-building and social impact activities.

• Collaborate with the strategic communications group on messaging that accurately conveys the School’s commitment to equitable practice and social impact.

• Support the Panther Mentors, (a Black alumni group that works with students) specifically and alumni broadly in creating inclusive alumni efforts that support the School and its students.

• Working with appropriate faculty and administrators, lead all aspects of the Panther Purpose initiative.

• Work with the wellness team to support inclusive counseling and health practices.

• Champion the needs of traditionally marginalized community members, and aid them with tools and support that also empower them to advocate for themselves and others similarly situated.

• Build strong relationships between the School and other institutions that are thought leaders in equity and service learning.

• Counsel the Board of Trustees in best diversity and inclusion practices in independent school governance, including board composition and training opportunities. 

• Create an atmosphere where all community members feel safe and supported in asking questions or expressing misunderstandings about inclusive practices or social impact. 

• Act as ‘bridge builder’ to create greater trust and rapport between traditionally marginalized community members and others at School. 

• Maintain a budget for programming and professional development; and

• Attend meetings of the department heads and administrative team.

Candidates with a deep understanding of the ways in which a focus on equity and service is imperative for a school where education is based on relationships are encouraged to apply. Candidates must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, a strong desire to be part of a collaborative environment and feel comfortable both leading and following. A strategically minded self-starter with a contemporary understanding of equity and service learning, an ability to persuade others, and a desire to embed deeply into a welcoming community are encouraged to apply. This 12-month position will begin on July 1, 2021. Direct, meaningful experience in equity and inclusion work and a bachelor’s degree is required. Queries and applications should be directed to Jan Abernathy, Director of Strategic Communications (jabernathy@browning.edu) and/or Jenna Montemayor, Assistant to the Head of School (jmontemayor@browning.edu) by February 19, 2021.