Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Benefits

• Paid time off

The Co-op School was founded in 2003 by a group of parents who saw the need for a high-quality and affordable preschool option in the Clinton Hill and Fort Greene neighborhoods. Since then, the Co-op School has matured from a small, parent-run playgroup to a fully staffed and licensed non-profit school.

After residing in two prior homes in Clinton Hill, The Co-op School moved into 87 Irving Place in the fall of 2009. In 2011, The Co-op School launched the first kindergarten class of its elementary program at 40 Brevoort Place. In 2019, we opened our doors at 644 Gates Avenue in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood—in a 3,500-square-foot building with a double-height gym, a rooftop library, and two playgrounds—housing our preschool, lower school, and middle school students under one roof.

The mission of The Co-op School is to inspire passion and teach children to become protagonists in their own educational journey by fostering their innate sense of curiosity and creativity. The Co-op School facilitates joyful learning through a unique and rigorous constructivist approach that listens to and honors the individual interests and strengths of each child. The Co-op School doesn’t just belong to the students and educators but extends to the family community as a whole.

It belongs to those who participate in it and is a more resilient and creative place because of it.

• Support in the design and implementation of school-wide programming and diversity-focused professional development for various constituencies that strengthens inclusive pedagogy, equitable practices, and cross-disciplinary DEIB integration.
• Recognize and centralize the work that is being done across the school.
• Serve as a liaison in supporting student affinity groups by advising groups directly and/or providing ongoing professional development and logistical support to the advisors and facilitators who lead them.
• Maintain a strong, visible presence at school meetings, division gatherings, student activities, and external events to actively support staff and students, reinforce leadership engagement, and strengthen connections across the entire school community.
• Act as a resource and a support for teaching a culturally responsive and equitable Preschool - 8 curriculum, supporting community members where they are in their DEIB and Anti-Racist learning and journey.
• Continue to build partnerships with community-based organizations.
• Ensure that activities, communications, and programs reflect The Co-op School’s character as a diverse and inclusive community.
• Coordinate the teamwork for developing sensitive working relationships with students, faculty and staff, and parents, and for managing the personal, political, and institutional dynamics related to diversity issues in the school.
• Work with the Head of School, Division Heads, Director of Student Life and any other appropriate staff members to resolve any violation of The Co-op School’s Hate Speech Policy.
• Assume administrative, teaching, advising, and/or student supervision duties as appropriate.
• Represent the school in various internal and external capacities when needed, including conferences, hiring fairs, and independent school events.
• Support initiatives for the recruitment, hiring, and retention of an inclusive faculty and staff.

• A Bachelor’s degree is required. A master's degree is preferred.
• Demonstrable experience in DEIB-related roles.
• An ability to embrace hopes and opportunities and to work collaboratively with others to shape and define the role.
• An entrepreneurial ability to identify needs, take initiative, and engage partners in strategic change.
• Knowledge of best practices in equity and belonging work and demonstrated experience in presenting and leading such work with community members whose understanding and journeys span a range.
• Demonstrated experience in developing equity and belonging strategy and effecting change.
• Ability to co-create, articulate, and move toward a bold vision while thoughtfully pacing change and engaging a wide range of stakeholders collaboratively and empathetically.
• Highly effective communication skills:…