Equity & Inclusion

As an Episcopal school, we are rooted in the values of compassion for our human family, the strength of dialogue to promote understanding, and a commitment to inclusion. Our Episcopal roots further challenge us to create an environment—both within and beyond our school—that recognizes and values each person’s lived experiences and where everyone thrives and is known.

To be an inclusive institution, however, we need to become both individually and institutionally culturally competent by:

• Building self-awareness: understanding who we are in relationships to those around us.
• Developing intercultural communication skills: understanding how culture impacts communication and developing skills to communicate effectively with people of many cultures.
• Cultivating cultural knowledge: listening and learning about the experiences and dynamics of cultures that are not our own.
• Acting to be inclusive: acting on an individual and institutional level by reflecting and evaluating our individual actions as well as our institutional structures and systems.

This work takes on a number of forms, all of which are rooted in our Essential Competencies of Explore, Create, Connect, Commit, and Reflect.

OES’s DEIA efforts are inclusive and are not intended to exclude or disadvantage any legally protected group. OES does not consider race, color, religion, disability that can be reasonably accommodated, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, or other legally protected status in admission or employment. OES encourages diversity of thought and critical inquiry while respecting each person’s identity and perspective.