Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Harborlight Montessori actively seeks qualified students, faculty, and staff to reflect the diverse backgrounds of our community. Harborlight strives to provide an enriching curriculum and educational experience for all students, recognizing that global teaching and learning help form strong, positive self-concepts and develop respect for human differences. Harborlight’s curriculum and philosophy encourage understanding and respect for these differences while affirming the fundamental similarities of humankind. Our cooperative community protects and encourages the exploration of new concepts. It also honors and nurtures the curiosity of each child.

All members of the Harborlight community are valued for their contributions, talents, and opinions. The philosophy, curriculum, and administration of our programs aim to create an inclusive learning environment with respect to economic background, gender, gender identity and expression, race, national and ethnic origin, cultural heritage, religion, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, and political beliefs. Harborlight integrates diversity and character education into each learning opportunity to empower students to actively approach each new experience with courtesy and acceptance.

+ DEI Committee

The Harborlight DEI committee consists of a group of Harborlight community members (board members, parents, teachers, and administrators). The DEI committee assists in advocating, supporting, addressing, and encouraging Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the Harborlight community. We work voluntarily to ensure everyone feels included, respected, and supported.

+ Harborlight Montessori Inclusivity Framework

The Harborlight DEI committee created an Inclusivity Framework in 2020. This document is a policy statement outlining the approach used by teachers at Harborlight Montessori when talking to students about race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and other types of differences and identities. The purpose of this document is to develop a consensus about how to approach these topics in the classroom. We believe that all people are worthy of respect and kindness. All of us have things that make us similar to each other and things that make us different from each other. We each deserve to feel valued and appreciated for who we are and how we identify. We all deserve to be treated with respect and kindness, no matter what makes us similar to, or different from each other. Our work to build an inclusive community includes implementing strategies to help children understand their own identities, building an appreciation of diversity, and equipping children with the skills they need to address injustice.

Below you will find the most recent version of Harborlight's Inclusivity Framework as a downloadable PDF.

+ Harborlight Inclusivity Framework

Contact

243 Essex Street
Beverly, Massachusetts, 01915
Phone: (978) 922-1008
Fax: (978) 922-0594

About Harborlight

Harborlight Montessori is an independent, co-educational, day school for children from infant-toddler through grade 8 that is committed to innovative teaching and learning.