From the Cultural Climate Committee - Update

As the chair of the Cultural Climate Committee, I am happy to report on our successes thus far this school year.

We set the following three goals for the year:

1) Monthly assist in an outreach effort to recruit faculty and staff;

2) Monthly assist in an outreach effort to recruit diverse students; and

3) Monthly communicate to the St. Paul's community.

Our first goal - recruit faculty and staff - has been led by Liz Barnes (our head of school) and Michelle Johnson (diversity coordinator).  They have each ensured that the relatively small numbers of openings on our faculty and staff have been publicized far and wide.  We have also met with the professionals at the UMKC Institute for Urban Education.  They had many wonderful ideas on not only recruiting, but also assisting our community in becoming more culturally competent.

The second goal - recruit more diverse students - has also been a tag team effort.  Thanks to Jill McGee (admissions director), along with Liz and Michelle, St. Paul's has been more active in reaching out to old friends and new friends in our community.  We have done several lunches with businesses in our community and Jill and Michelle have attended events at various day cares in the community.  We have been more thoughtful and deliberate in making sure everyone in our community knows that he/she is welcome at St. Paul's.

As to the third goal - communication - we have made great strides.  The entire website has been revamped and our committee has a much greater presence on the web.  Additionally, various members of the committee have on a monthly basis shared their personal experiences with the beauty of our diverse world through our blog.  Michelle Johnson has also contributed to the blog on a monthly basis.  Please consider joining our blog so you can get these monthly updates.

Our committee has a couple more meetings during this school year and we look forward to continuing to explore how to better achieve the St. Paul's Vision Statement for Diversity. 

Stephen Bough

Chairperson