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Director of Diversity, Equity and Engagement

Durham Academy
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Reporting directly to the Head of School, the Director of Diversity, Equity and

Engagement (DEE) leads Durham Academy’s efforts (as set forth by the Board of

Trustees in our DEE Mission Statement) to help “all members of our community feel

welcomed, empowered, responsible and safe.” The Director of DEE acts as a resource, catalyst, guide, and strategic planner - engaging individually and collectively with students, faculty, staff, families, alumni, the Board of Trustees, and the greater external community. The new Director will begin July 1, 2025.


 

Desired Traits and Skills Include:


 

  • Proactive positivity. The ability to motivate and inspire others with energy and enthusiasm, a collaborative approach and a focus on results.
  • An earnest, active, and ongoing commitment to increasing their cultural competencies.
  • The ability to listen compassionately, nurture dialogue, think critically and solve problems.
  • Experience providing strategic direction on developing relationships with underserved/ underrepresented communities. 
  • Demonstrated leadership, facilitation, mentorship and coaching skills. 
  • Experience building and sustaining a collaborative and cohesive team. 
  • Substantive experience in planning and leading professional development experiences for PK-12 educators, students, and families. 
  • Broad knowledge about inclusive curriculum development across several academic areas.
  • 5+ years of diversity, equity, inclusion leadership experience in a diverse organizational setting. 
  • A bachelor’s degree is required; a master’s degree or commensurate academic or professional training is highly desired.


 

Key Responsibilities:


 

  • Assist the Head of School, Associate Head of School and Board of Trustees in monitoring the progress of all specific initiatives connected to the strategic vision and the school’s commitment for an inclusive learning environment.
  • Implement Durham Academy’s current DEE Action Plan and lead the project of updating it in 2027-28. 
  • Support the Head of School, Associate Head of School, Division Directors and the Office of Enrollment Management to recruit, welcome, retain and support students, families, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.
  • Work with the Associate Head of School and Division Directors to ensure that the school’s curriculum and instructional practices reflect the diversity of our local and global communities, promote cultural competence and support all learners.
  • Lead and manage a team composed of an Assistant DEE Director, a DEE Curriculum Coordinator and ten divisional DEE Coordinators as they carry out educational programming and community-building initiatives.
  • Coordinate programs for educating students, faculty, staff, families and alumni about issues related to diversity, equity and engagement.
  • Coordinate and support student, faculty/staff and parent affinity groups as they gather and network for personal and professional support and learning.
  • Cultivate relationships with peer and feeder schools and strengthen DA’s community outreach initiatives.
  • Collaborate with a trustee to lead the Diversity, Equity and Engagement Committee of the Board of Trustees. Report annually to the Board of Trustees on DEE trends and progress toward identified goals. Attend monthly board meetings. 
  • Coordinate with the Office of Marketing and Communications to develop materials and mechanisms that provide current and prospective families with information about the school’s DEE work.
  • Collaborate with the Office of Philanthropy to support initiatives for diverse alumni and expand the inclusivity of our philanthropic culture.


 

The Director of DEE serves on Durham Academy’s Leadership Team, which aspires to the following core habits:


 

  • Serve humbly, remembering that teacher-student interactions remain the heart of our school.
  • Be honest and courageous in addressing issues directly — recognizing that conflict and its resolution can be healthy for the group.
  • Strengthen our team with mutual vulnerability, diverse perspectives and disciplined confidentiality.
  • Balance 
    • transparency and trust 
    • patient reflection with the responsibility to make timely decisions
    • active representation of our specific constituencies with the responsibility to serve Durham Academy as a whole school and community
    • the daily work of the school with our long-range goals and large-scale purpose
    • service to our many constituents and respect for personal time
  • Inspire, communicate and collaborate.
  • Work hard — with dedication, optimism, generosity and joy.


 

DA Teachers, Administrators and Staff

  • Are culturally competent and believe in the central importance of diversity and equity in the life of the school.
  • Model a student-centered approach to teaching in an active classroom. 
  • Possess a command of pedagogical best practices, eagerly seek feedback on all aspects of their professional life, and are committed to lifelong professional growth.
  • Collaborate authentically and actively while building and maintaining collegial relationships with colleagues.
  • Are eager to build supportive relationships with students and understand that student wellness is central to the student learning experience.
  • Use technology thoughtfully and creatively to enhance teaching and learning.
  • Innovate and experiment to discover the most compelling learning experiences for students.

 

Our School

Founded in 1933, Durham Academy is an all-gender, independent day school with 1,252 students in Pre-kindergarten through grade 12 on two campuses. The purpose of a Durham Academy education is to prepare each student to live a moral, happy and productive life. DA’s Strategic Vision commits to preparing students for life, meeting the needs of our learners and innovating more boldly, with a foundation broadening and deepening our work with diversity, equity and engagement. DA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. 

 

Diversity, Equity and Engagement Mission Statement
Diversity enlivens, improves and enriches the intellectual and social environment of an academic community and encompasses all aspects of humanity including racial identity, sex, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, age and gender identity. We are committed to an ongoing process to increase the diversity of our community and to implement policies, programs and practices under which all members of our community feel welcomed, empowered, responsible and safe. Amidst our diversity we stand united in the pursuit of academic excellence and development of individual capabilities. (Adopted by the Durham Academy Board of Trustees in 2004 and updated in 2008)


 

Our Employment Policy

Durham Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.


 

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.