Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

To nurture a diverse community in the Episcopal tradition, St. Andrew’s strives to create a safe and inclusive environment where individuals learn to respect the dignity of every human being and to live and lead in a complex world.

St. Andrew’s is a close-knit community of students, parents, and teachers of many faiths, cultures, races, and economic backgrounds. Founded in the Episcopal tradition, St. Andrew’s is inclusive and supportive of the beliefs of others. Diversity is celebrated, and students are accepting, open to befriending people of all backgrounds. Through fostering spiritual growth, moral responsibility, academic excellence, and artistic and athletic pursuits, our mission is to prepare generations of Saints for a life of service to our community and the world

Non-Discrimination Policies

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Non-Discrimination Statement for Faculty and Staff

St. Andrew’s is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and to providing employment, compensation, promotion, transfer, and unrestricted access to training at all occupational levels. St. Andrew’s prohibits discrimination and harassment due to an applicant’s or employee’s membership in a protected category.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School does not discriminate in violation of the law on the basis of the protected categories of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender, and sexual orientation), age, disability, genetic information, or military/veteran status in its employment practices or hiring practices. The school encourages applications from all qualified candidates and especially encourages applications from members of traditionally underrepresented groups in independent schools. St. Andrew’s also offers a competitive benefits package, including extensive professional development and travel opportunities.
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Non-Discrimination Statement for Students and Families

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School admits qualified applicants of any race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, or sex (including gender and sexual orientation), to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate in violation of the law on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, or sex (including gender and sexual orientation), in administration of its educational and admission policies, offers of scholarship and financial aid, and execution of athletic or any other school administered programs.
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Sarah Spann

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator, Girls Basketball Assistant Coach, Middle School Girls

(601) 853-6039

Programming for Students

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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Student Committee

Student Names
Affinity Groups and Clubs
An affinity group is a group of people who share a similar identity. Although members of the group may have a common identity, it does not mean that everyone in the group has had the same experience. Rather, the group is a place for reflection, dialogue, and support, and it ultimately strengthens ties within the community. Facilitating positive identity exploration is central to creating an inclusive and thriving community. The following groups meet periodically throughout the year to plan and organize events for students:
- Asian Student Union
- Black Student Union
- LGBTQ+IA
Cultural Celebrations
At St. Andrew’s, we recognize different cultures throughout the year with the hope of gaining a deeper understanding of the cultures and traditions represented within our community. We use a number of resources to celebrate cultural heritage months and holidays such as emails, classroom and community activities, and parent involvement. Celebrations include:
- Black History Month
- Chinese New Year
- Holi
- Asian Islander Pacific Month
- Rosh Hashanah
- Yom Kippur
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- Diwali
- Native American Heritage Month
- Hanukkah
- Kwanzaa
- Unity Day
Guest Artists, Authors, and Alumni
Past visitors include:
- Trenton Lee Stewart – Spoke to Middle Schoolers about his book series The Mysterious Benedict Society
- Jessie Sima – Author and illustrator
Guest Speakers
Past speakers include:
- Welty Presentation by Ebony Lumumba and Suzanne Mars
- Alex Dmezcak spoke to the Upper School on the Power of Positive Leadership.

Programming for Faculty

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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Associates
Four faculty members — two per campus — are selected each year as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Associates to assist the office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with planning for and executing programming for the year. This year's associates are:
- Marcia Poole
- Margaret Clark
- Julie Rust
Train the Trainers
Train the Trainers is a program offered by the William Winter Institute through which faculty will become a certified facilitators qualified to lead the The Welcome Table — a program that assists organizations to:
- Understand the importance of listening, storytelling, and relationship building as prerequisites for producing real and measurable change.
- Understand the consequences of the systems we have inherited, in order to develop, together, community-specific initiatives to redress inequities.
- Become equipped with the communications tools to accomplish the goals stakeholders identify together to improve their communities.
- Share the process with members of their own community and other communities.
Four faculty members have been selected to participate in the Train the Trainers program on behalf of St. Andrew's. They are:
- Lauren Powell
- Shea Egger
- Emmi Sprayberry
- Dean Julius
New Teacher Mentoring Program

First year faculty, staff, and administrators are given peer mentors to help them navigate the first week of school with regards to teaching and advisory responsibilities.
Professional Development
Past opportunities include:
- Unconscious Bias in the Learning Environment presented by Shirley Pandolifi, UMMC Cultural Competency and Education Manager
- The Power of Being – An open dialogue and discussion that will continue to help us all move forward: The purpose was to discuss and express our thoughts in terms of your authentic self and your role.