DEIB Practitioners Cohort

DEIB Practitioners Cohort

The role of a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging practitioner in an independent school is dynamic and multifaceted. You engage with every school constituent—including students, families, faculty and staff, and trustees—to plan and execute strategies that create organizational change. 

AISNE is proud to launch the DEIB Practitioners Cohort, a yearlong program aimed at DEIB leadership development in New England schools. Over a series of virtual and in-person meetings, you will discuss the current opportunities and challenges of the field, share your professional triumphs and tribulations, and receive leadership coaching aimed at creating enduring system change in your community. 

You will learn alongside peers, led by Dr. Gene Batiste, an education leader who specializes in DEIB leadership in independent schools. Gene will lead your cohort through topic presentations, case studies, discussions, and peer problem-solving. Your fellow learners will consist of Directors of DEIB and other similar roles from around the region. It will be a place to forge and fortify deep professional relationships, engage in generative conversations, find support and creative feedback for your ideas, and explore the current and future landscape of the profession.

Topics covered include:

  • Exploring best practices in DEIB leadership
  • Interpreting and using quantitative and qualitative data
  • Strategizing engagement and stakeholder relationships
  • Co-creating the growth of DEIB in independent schools
  • Examining your leadership self-journey

Invest in yourself and your community, and reinvigorate your commitment to the values of DEIB work.

Dates & Registration

The DEIB Practitioners Cohort is an 8-part program, 5 virtual and 3 in-person. Your registration includes admission to all sessions, as well as access to learning materials and resources. 

Cost: $499, open exclusively to AISNE Members. 

This cohort is included in the AISNE DEIB Practitioner Pro Pack, a bundle of professional development events discounted by 20%. Click here to purchase the Pro Pack.

2023-2024 Dates

  • Session 1 | Thursday, 9/21, 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Virtual
  • Session 2 | Thursday, 10/26, Time TBD | In-Person, Sheraton Framingham
  • Session 3 | Thursday, 11/16, 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Virtual
  • Session 4 | Thursday, 12/14, 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Virtual
  • Session 5 | Tuesday, 1/23, 1:00 – 3:00 PM | In-Person, Wentworth by the Sea, New Castle (Portsmouth), NH
  • Session 6 | Thursday, 2/15, 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Virtual
  • Session 7 | Thursday, 4/11, 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Virtual
  • Session 8 | Thursday, 5/9, Time TBD | In-Person, Location TBD

REGISTER HERE

About the Facilitator

Dr. Gene Batiste
Drawing on 30 years of experience and expertise in helping leaders and groups create value, Dr. Gene Batiste’s consulting practice focuses on supporting the visualization and realization of building and sustaining diverse, inclusive, and equitable independent school communities. As a leader in the field, Gene knows the journey firsthand and applies this knowledge to his work with heads of schools, boards of trustees, diversity practitioners, and communities to increase awareness and build support for effective and successful diversity and inclusion initiatives. Whether a school is taking its first steps on a diversity and inclusion journey or exploring new horizons, working with an experienced guide can make all the difference.

Dr. Batiste has most recently served as the Assistant Head of School for Engagement at The Dwight-Englewood School (New Jersey). Dr. Batiste also has a thriving consultancy specializing in engagement, DEIB, leadership, and organizational development in independent schools, higher education, and nonprofits. From  2017 to 2021, Dr. Batiste served as the Chief Diversity Officer at St. John’s School (Texas) following two years of full-time consultancy and leadership coaching based in Washington, D.C. From 2013 to 2015, Gene served as Executive Director at Independent Education (IE), now the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW). From 2000 to 2013, he served as Vice President for Professional Development and School Field Services & Equity and Justice  Initiatives at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

Join Your Peers

Engage with the following peers from across the AISNE membership:

  • Ivy Alphonse-Crean, Director of DEI, Dedham Country Day School
  • Temor Amin-Arsala, DEIJA Chair, Waring School
  • Jaleesa Anselm, Director of DEI, Tenacre Country Day School
  • Jill Anthony, Director of Equity & Inclusion, Fay School
  • Eddie Buggie, Director of Inclusion & Community Life, Cushing Academy
  • Eddie Carson, Dean of Multicultural Education, The Governor’s Academy
  • Nerelly Checo, Asst. Principal, Director of Admissions & DEIA, Nativity School of Worcester
  • Caleb Collins, Director of Community & Diversity, Belmont Hill School
  • Rick DaSilva, Director of Community & Equity Affairs, St. Mark’s School
  • Alejandro Desince, Assistant Head of School for DEIB, Cambridge Friends School
  • Akilah Edgerton, Dean of Diversity & Inclusion, Berkshire School
  • Delonte Egwuatu, Chief Engagement and Inclusion Officer, Beaver Country Day School
  • Magdalena Gilman, Director of DEIB, New Hampton School
  • Laniesha Gray, Director of Equity & Inclusion, Shady Hill School
  • Elizabeth Grumbach, Lower School Faculty & DEI Practitioner, Moses Brown School
  • Kate Henderson, Associate Director of DEI, The Rivers School
  • Dennis Hill, Director of The Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Boston College High School
  • Kerryn Hinds, Director of DEI, The Chestnut Hill School
  • Linda Hughes, Director of DEI, Walnut Hill School for the Arts
  • Shanez’e Johnson, Assistant Upper School Dean for Equity and Inclusion, Bancroft School
  • Craig Jones, Director of DEIB, Bancroft School
  • Paula Lima Jones, Dean of Equity & Inclusion, Miss Hall’s School
  • Mattie Edwards Kemp, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Justice, Pennfield School
  • Jenny Jun-lei Kravitz, Director of DEI, The Rivers School
  • Rachel Nagler, Director of Community, Equity, and Inclusion, Dana Hall School
  • Terri Ofori, Dean of DEIB, Brooks School
  • Orlando Patterson, Associate Director of Community & Equity Affairs, St. Mark’s School
  • RoseMarie Wallace, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, Tabor Academy
  • Ann-Marie White, Director of Diversity & Equity, The Putney School
  • Will Yarbrough, Assistant Director of DEI, Walnut Hill School for the Arts

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations and transfer requests must be sent via email to info@aisne.org. Cancellations received up to 10 days before the start of the event will receive a 100% refund, less a $100 administrative fee. Transfers of registrations from one person to another are permitted up to 3 business days before the start of the event, or the first event of a series of events.

Not an AISNE Member?

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Join today or renew your membership.