Diversity, Inclusion, and Learning Differences at the Carroll School
“We wanted to open up the conversation to talk about how the students’ learning differences intersect with the differences of identity and history that exist among them. … Essential Partners gave us tools to talk about race in a way that’s brave and authentic.”
Osamagbe Osagie, Director of Equity and Inclusion
The Carroll School, MA
The Carroll School is an independent school in Massachusetts dedicated to serving and educating children with language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia. Their mission is to empower young people with learning differences so they can excel in their educations and in their lives.
With more than 400 students, the Carroll School enrolls a diverse student body from across the region. Striving to achieve a balance of inclusion, connection, and empowerment alongside educational excellence led the School leadership to contact Essential Partners.
Intersectional Understandings
“We wanted to open up the conversation,” said Osamagbe Osagie, Director of Equity and Inclusion, “to talk about how the students’ learning differences intersect with the differences of identity and history that exist among them.”
Essential Partners led two trainings for 200 staff and faculty, investing them with tools to engage in deeper, more meaningful conversations across difference.
Senior administrators and educational leaders then collaborated with two Essential Partners associates, working to understand the dynamics of racial difference at the Carroll School. They co-created a plan to foster a more inviting, inclusive community culture.
That same senior team facilitated a dialogue about the book You Can’t Teach What You Don’t Know among all 200 staff and teachers. Then the staff and faculty met again for a dialogue about race and racial differences, facilitated by the same senior team plus twelve additional staff members.
“Essential Partners gave us tools to talk about race in a way that’s brave and authentic,” said Osagie.
Tangible Results
These institution-wide dialogues about race and identity have resonated throughout the school.
It led, for example, to a review of syllabi and bibliographies, to ensure that students are able to recognize themselves in the texts and lessons while also getting a glimpse into different identities and histories. Math and science curricula now intentionally foreground women and non-European thinkers. History classes have integrated more non-Eurocentric lessons as well.
These changes to that curriculum offer opportunities to tackle intersectional differences head-on with dialogue.
“The students have been able to broaden their own understanding of themselves,” said Osagie. “We want them to embrace and share all their lived experiences, and not be defined solely by their learning differences.”
Outside the classroom, instructors have begun using dialogue tools with one another. They’ve implemented dialogic structures and norms in peer support and advisory scenarios.
Across the Carroll School, teachers and administrators have been able to use Essential Partners’ dialogue skills to navigate complex differences in a way that fosters trust, understanding, and cohesion.
Related Impact Stories
Testimonials
Teresa Grettano, Associate Professor and Director of the First-Year Writing program"Facilitated dialogue creates a classroom atmosphere in which exploring uncomfortable issues and asking difficult questions is an expected part of the process, and it allows students space to engage each other without fear of the vitriol common in our public discourse."
University of Scranton (PA)
Kim Davidson, OmbudsI’ve gained not only confidence but tools. The Essential Partners training was worth every penny.
Oberlin College, Ohio
Program ParticipantI felt an amazing sense of accomplishment when the Essential Partners training ended; that I'd done something important for my community and something important for me.
Massachusetts
Cricket Fuller, The Christian Science MonitorThis wasn’t a policy debate [about guns]. Instead, two people whose backgrounds and views diverged in almost every way possible shared a moment of honesty that struck at the heart of the matter.
Boston, Massachusetts
Misty Stoll, School Board TrusteeI ran for my local school board in 2018 and was elected. I use the skills in our meetings, whether I’m chairing the meeting or not. This makes the meetings much more productive. We don’t go over the same topics over and over again.
Wyoming
Parent, Cary AcademyEssential Partners's dialogue initiative is, literally, the best forum I have attended during my time at Cary Academy. The openness and sharing in our group led to genuine connections. I’m not sure words can express how meaningful this event was to me. Truly priceless.
Cary, North Carolina
Program ParticipantThis is the best adult learning experience I have had in the past five years. I wanted to learn new skills—I did!
Bob Bordone, Expert and AuthorEssential Partners does the best work in the field of dialogue and communication.
Harvard Negotiation & Mediation Clinical Program, Co-Founder
Megan DeFranzaHere safe space was created for pastors and church leaders to wrestle with topics like evolution which are all too often “off limits” or believed to be antagonistic to the faith.
Gordon College, Massachusetts
Secondary School Teacher"EP's approach allows all the students in the room to speak and be heard, to think about different perspectives on the issue without getting into arguments or fights.”
San Diego, CA
Nicki Glasser, Policy CoordinatorWhat surprised me was how much you could transform a relationship during a three-hour conversation.
Transformation Center, Massachusetts
Secondary School Teacher“I’m a world history teacher… now I feel I’m more empowered about how to make connections across differences. I have a better skill set to facilitate connections.”
New York City
Program ParticipantI did not anticipate having as many concrete takeaways as I do. I feel there is an immense practical application.
Belle AbayaTogether, we married our ideas to create a dialogue model that took into consideration our young people’s particular needs, and our culture.
The Conflict Resolution Group Foundation, Philippines
Linda Gryczan, MediatorInstead of demonizing and dehumanizing the other, we built a deeper connection. The fact that we disagree matters much less. It matters much more that we are neighbors in this community.
Montana Mediation Association
Secondary School Teacher"EP's approach has given me some tools to deal with what comes up in my classroom. I teach classes about charged topics. As I’m thinking about and exploring ways to broach these conversations with students, I use this.”
New Jersey