About Us

Inclusiveness + Diversity

The art of education is to provide our students with the richest and most diverse exposure to subjects, ideas, philosophies, and lives. Because a reasoned search for truth and wisdom is informed by multiple perspectives, our diversity as a community is the common ground upon which we seek to make this school and its opportunities equitable, just, and affirming. 

Diversity is an umbrella term that includes race, gender, age, ethnicity, culture, nationality, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, family structure, religion, physical abilities, and learning differences. Additionally, diversity may consist of any other characteristic that contributes to one’s individuality. 

We propose to make Canterbury School a model of inclusiveness: to understand, support, celebrate, and promote the value of different opinions, traditions, and experiences. 

At Canterbury School, we actively seek students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds in the belief that a broad range of experiences and viewpoints enhances our learning, enriches life on campus, and better prepares us all for full participation in the global community. We are encouraged, challenged, and inspired by the diversity of our community. 

We want our students to learn to understand, respect, and value multiple perspectives, to identify and reject stereotypes and prejudices, and to work for equity and justice within our school and our community. Our goal is that the opinions, ideas, practices, and beliefs of each member of the Canterbury community be treated with dignity, respect, and honor. 

Canterbury School strives to create an environment of acceptance where each person may bring his or her whole self to school each day, comfortable that each individual will be honored and protected. We hope that our students will leave Canterbury feeling rooted in their unique identities, with a profound appreciation for both diversity and inclusiveness. 

Through this philosophy of inclusiveness and diversity, we look to reinforce our Mission Statement that the Canterbury School is dedicated to academic excellence within a caring and supportive community emphasizing character, leadership, and service.  

2021-2022 School Year

Canterbury School takes pride in the work our community has done to appreciate diversity and inclusiveness. A list of many initiatives we have accomplished this academic year includes, but is not limited to: 
 
  • showcasing a broad range of viewpoints and experiences through guest speakers from throughout our community with our Leadership Institute for Tomorrow (LIFT) initiative
  • utilizing student speakers through our Mental Health Monday program to help our Upper School Division better appreciate the diversity of our community
  • our Lower School Character Council, composed of student leaders in our fourth grade, provides various initiatives throughout the year for students to understand and support each other
  • celebrating different cultures and traditions with special events through our World Languages Department such as our Hispanic Heritage Week
  • a newly formed Sunshine Club in our Upper School where students learn about our diverse community through internal and external service projects
  • providing students with the opportunity to learn about different cultures and aspects of our community through field trips such as traveling to Immokalee to learn about the lives of migrant farmers
  • Middle School students exploring the Civil Rights Movement through a special research project on key figures during that time period

Plans for the Future

 
  • Our Counseling and Wellness Department will grow for the 2022-2023 school year with a new Director of Counseling and Wellness, Dr. Shannon Sweitzer, along with a new Middle School Guidance Counselor, Liz Corrente. 
  • Julie DiBenedetto will join us as Assistant Head of Student Life for the 2022-2023 school year. This new position will work with our Counseling and Wellness Department to make sure our students are known and supported.
  • We are reviewing our discipline protocols for the 2022-2023 school year to better support the well-being of our students.  
  • We are exploring opportunities for our Upper School students to engage in a meaningful service-learning overnight trip that would allow them to gain a deeper understanding of themselves as well as empathy for others.  

Canterbury School