Lakeside School

Lakeside’s community-wide commitment to equity and inclusion work is supported by a robust diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) team. The team works with students, faculty, staff, and parents and guardians on a variety of projects and undertakings.

Here is a rundown of who is on the team and their areas of focus.

• Debbie Bensadon, director of equity and inclusion, leads this work at an institutional level, particularly regarding school-wide policies and practices. She collaborates with other administrators, the Board of Trustees, and the Parents and Guardians Association to implement efforts to make Lakeside a place where each person feels a part of the community. She also supports inclusive hiring at both divisions and represents Lakeside’s DEIB office in the larger educational community.
• Upper School history teacher Nancy Rawles, Middle School languages teacher Omar Rachid Zaim, and Middle School drama teacher Jenny Estill are the faculty equity programs coordinators. The faculty equity coordinators work with faculty on both campuses, providing feedback on academic curricula (what faculty are teaching), assessment practices, and inclusive teaching practices. Additionally, they help faculty identify professional development opportunities and materials specific to teachers’ interests and areas for growth.
• LEEP director/family support liaison Latasia Lanier and Middle School human development and health teacher Yvette Avila are the student equity program coordinators. Lanier advises the Upper School student affinity group leadership team (SALT); recruits, trains, and supports student facilitators that lead Middle School affinity groups; and coordinates and oversees 5-12 community programming. At the Middle School, Avila is the lead for the affinity group program and collaborates with faculty to ensure the affinity curriculum supports and builds on student learning.

Find more information about the team’s work on our diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging webpage. You can reach members of the team at info@lakesideschool.site.