Embracing Our Differences: JEDI and DEI - New Groups Formed to Promote Inclusivity at TAS

By Sabrina C. ('21), The Blue & Gold

The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) faculty committee and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) student group are newly formed initiatives focused on fostering open discussions about social issues in the TAS community and beyond, serving as a platform to create change and improvement. 

The initial idea of the JEDI Committee was sent out to the faculty body via email and met with wide enthusiasm, with many volunteering to be part of the program across all school divisions. The committee has already had a series of meetings, featuring divisional check-ins, collaborative conversations with the TAS administration and discussions about issues at TAS. 

Improving the diversity and inclusivity of the TAS community and curriculum is a large task to tackle, thus the committee only recently solidified its official mission statement. 

“Before you can make any plans for anything, you have to figure out what the issues are,” said upper school history teacher and representative of the JEDI Committee Dr. Erika Soublet. “What I am focusing on right now is collecting data to understand what concerns people may have right now.” 

Mr. Ryan Haynes, an upper school representative of JEDI, recently facilitated an open dialogue discussion for seniors, with about 20 students showing up. The conversation progressed quickly, with seniors readily speaking about uncomfortable yet necessary topics and school events.

“I was pleased that people felt safe and comfortable in that setting to speak up on a variety of topics,” Director of Upper School Academic and Personal Counseling Mr. Haynes said. 

The seniors who attended were very passionate about their thoughts on issues such as racial slurs and the lacking sex education at TAS. 

“It was a great opportunity to widen topics beyond what we talk about in classes and advisory,” said Sofia L. (‘21), one of the seniors who attended. “Hearing everyone’s opinions really captivated me.” 

The DEI is an upper school-specific student group formed by Mr. Haynes, with students of all upper school grade levels invited to join. The goal is similar to JEDI, but with a greater focus on students voicing their opinions and creating effective discourse. The group had their first few meetings recently, hosted by Mr. Haynes and Dr. Soublet. 

“I was impressed that there was a mix of ethnicities, genders and grades [within the students who attended the meeting],” Dr. Soublet said. “I was also impressed with the willingness of everyone to share their reason for attending and how they felt about the issues being discussed.” 

The teacher sponsors hope that the group continues to expand, giving more students the opportunity to express their thoughts and opinions and feel included. 

“I hope we can turn it into a club in the future and get more involvement,” Mr. Haynes said. “We really want the discussion topics to come from the students.” 

The TAS community is making great strides to become a more inclusive environment for everyone, and students play a big role in that ultimate goal. 

“I want students to know that they have a voice,” Dr. Soublet said. “History teaches us that students are some of the greatest agents of change.”