Diversity. We hear the word used so often, but what does it actually mean? I sat down with Mrs. Wright to learn more about what diversity means to her, as well as some of the upcoming diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives here at Chaminade.

So, tell me about yourself.

I’m Mrs. Wright, I’m the Director of Diversity. So, prior to this, I worked at the South Springs Middle School in Eureka as a social worker. I’m a social worker first, always. And I’m a bleeding heart. I care about people for who they are, and I care about everyone.

What’s one thing you want students to know about you?

I want students to know what I do. […] It’s a plethora of things. And I’m here for all students. When you think of diversity, you think of black and white, and that’s not all that diversity is. Diversity is a host of things, and that includes everyone here at Chaminade. 

How would you describe your responsibilities here at Chaminade?

I’m responsible for developing and planning [professional development] for not only students but staff. I’m responsible for teaching and coaching staff on issues of diversity. I’m responsible for holding staff accountable for our diversity efforts. Last year, we had a huge diversity effort after we had just completed our ISACS survey as well as our panorama survey which measured a sense of belonging at Chaminade. And what we found out from that survey was that less than half of our students believe that they belong here at Chaminade. And that’s a problem. So, a lot of my diversity efforts went toward creating a sense of belonging here at Chaminade and figuring out what that takes. And how our teachers can show up more for our students.

Have you noticed any significant changes since you started working here?

Last year in January, we had our first implicit bias training. That’s the first time that Chaminade has ever taken part as an entire faculty and staff in something such as that. From there, we had two guest speakers come in and talk about not only implicit bias but also a sense of belonging and how that ties into our Marianist traditions. Why DEI is important and how that ties into being Catholic and being Marianist, and how we bring our charisms together with the work that I do.

Is there anything you’re currently working on?

Right now, we’re still in a little bit of a planning process, but what I will say is that I want our teachers and students to know that DEI doesn’t go away. This isn’t a one-and-done. We don’t check a box and then say okay, we did that and we’re moving on. This is a continuous effort. I still have to work and educate myself on different issues and become more aware every day, and I’m gonna push our staff to do the same. So I’m looking at more training for our staff this year. I’m looking at more push-ins to middle school and high school classrooms because, I mean, I have to get myself out there. I’ve got to let everyone at Chaminade know that it doesn’t matter who you are, how you pray, how you love. When you walk through these doors, you belong here. 

What’s the most difficult part of your job?

Sometimes it’s buy-in. Teachers have a lot of responsibility, and so sometimes the work can feel like one more thing. And it’s not. […] Being able to know who you’re teaching and being able to connect to someone’s heart is not one more thing. That’s just a part of being a person and being a good person. And so, buy-in is difficult, but when our teachers realize that it’s not a task to know who you’re teaching and love who you’re teaching, then buy-in won’t be a problem.

How do you feel about the future of Chaminade?

I definitely feel hopeful. I will say that Chaminade is a great place, and what I want to do is make it a great place for everyone. […] Administration is very supportive in figuring out where we’ve come from and where we need to go. The steps are not always as fast as I would like for them to be, but they are very consistent, and we do have very good advocates in administration.

After hearing from Mrs. Wright, I gained a deeper appreciation for the incredible work she does as an advocate for all students at Chaminade. Now more than ever, it’s essential for us to acknowledge the privilege of having a Director of Diversity—a role many schools take for granted. Fostering an environment that welcomes diversity is part of our duty as a Marianist school, and I feel confident that Mrs. Wright is making strides to create positive change within the Chaminade community.