Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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Dyann Connor Named Director of Social Justice


Lower School Reading Coordinator Dyann Connor has been appointed Tower Hill’s Director of Social Justice, in addition to her teaching duties. This new position will lead school-wide diversity initiatives, joined by a team of students and faculty.
 
“Diversity work most definitely is not the job of one person alone,” Head of School Bessie Speers said. “All of us will be engaged in the breadth and depth of this important work. It is part and parcel of what strong school communities do to educate, prepare and support our students for a diverse and global world.”

As a Lower School diversity coordinator, Dyann has led faculty meeting discussions about diversity issues, the facets of which encompass gender, race, religion, ability, language, citizenship, sexual identity, age and socioeconomics. For Lower School students, she has incorporated age-appropriate multicultural literature into reading groups and facilitated student research projects about African-American scientists. She attends the NAIS People of Color Conference with Tower Hill students and faculty, and she has been involved with student clubs and the annual International Dinner.
 
Moving forward, Dyann is looking to collaborate with diversity practitioners from other local schools and explore new opportunities for faculty, students and parents to benefit from invited speakers and activities on campus. She is piloting a cross-divisional buddy program for students and will serve as a school-wide point person for social justice initiatives from Tower Tots through 12th Grade. The position will involve partnership with parent groups such as PAATH (Parents of African-Americans at Tower Hill) and the Upper School Diversity Club.
 
Dyann earned her B.A. in anthropology from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and worked in the business sector for several years before teaching middle school science at Friends Central School in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. She earned her M.Ed. and Reading Specialist Certification from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia and joined Tower Hill as a Lower School reading specialist in 2008.
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