Our Commitment to Belonging
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging at Langley
At Langley, we believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are central to educational excellence and essential to our mission. We recognize that all students, families, faculty, and staff members bring unique experiences, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives that enrich our community when recognized and celebrated as part of our program. We intentionally cultivate a culture of belonging, pride, and respect for every member of our community while building the skills necessary for understanding and connection.
Developed in 2019, Langley’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) framework serves as a guide for our community as we cultivate a culture of belonging in our classrooms and offices, at school-wide events, and in our everyday interactions with one another.
LaToya Needham
Our Practices
- Responsive curriculum and instruction, including our signature REACH curriculum
- Activities and discussions that celebrate numerous holidays and cultural observances in assemblies and classrooms
- Affinity and alliance groups
- Professional and personal development (DEIB conferences and workshops for faculty, staff, and students)
- Recruitment, support, and retention of faculty and staff
Responsive curriculum and instruction, including our signature REACH curriculum
Activities and discussions that celebrate numerous holidays and cultural observances in assemblies and classrooms
Affinity and alliance groups
Professional and personal development (DEIB conferences and workshops for faculty, staff, and students)
Recruitment, support, and retention of faculty and staff
Langley’s REACH Curriculum Supports the DEIB Program
Self-awareness, connection, understanding, and respect are primary tenets of Langley’s custom-built social-emotional learning curriculum, called REACH (Raising Emotional Acuity, Cultural Responsiveness, and Healthy Behaviors). The REACH curriculum supports Langley’s DEIB program by incorporating the following concepts in appropriate ways across the Arc of Development:
- Healthy identity formation
- Empathy, openness, and respect across lines of difference
- Inquiry over ideology
- Perspective-taking
- Social-emotional learning
- Finding common ground
Our Community
40% of students identify as a person of color
28% of faculty and staff identify as a person of color
5 affinity and alliance groups
17% of students receive financial aid
24 cultural observances and holidays recognized
Langley’s DEIB Committee
Composed of faculty and staff from all three academic divisions, a variety of roles, departments, and backgrounds, Langley’s DEIB Committee is charged with supporting the DEIB program elements of curriculum review, professional development, communications, parent involvement, and student engagement. The committee also gathers input and critical feedback on school-wide DEIB initiatives, especially professional development content, and outlines key diversity and inclusion goals and actionable steps to achieve them. The DEIB Committee strives to promote a culture of belonging and a climate in which all members of the community feel valued and empowered to do the work.