Equity and Inclusion

Dear Lancaster Country Day School Community,

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Director of Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Community Engagement.

My name is Jerrill Adams, and I am originally from Baltimore, Maryland.

I have over two decades of experience in education. My journey began as a fifth grade teacher through the NYC Teaching Fellows program shortly after the events of 9/11. Over the years, I have taken on various leadership roles, including literacy coach, state education department administrator, assistant principal, and principal at both middle and high school levels. Additionally, my family and I had the privilege of living and working abroad for five enriching years in American international schools in Congo-Brazzaville, Ecuador, and Colombia. During this time, I served as a high school principal, instructional coach, and curriculum director. My own children, ages 13 and 16, also attended American International Schools, benefiting greatly from exposure to diverse cultures around the world. My inspiration for this work stems from my experiences as a BIPOC student at Ithaca College, where I attended undergraduate studies. I felt seen, supported, and heard on campus.

Joining Lancaster Country Day School as the Director of Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Community Engagement was a compelling opportunity. The school's welcoming and inclusive environment, coupled with its unwavering commitment to providing the necessary resources for advancing Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EIB) initiatives, immediately resonated with me.

Over the next three years, my focus aligns with our shared vision for a more inclusive and diverse school community. Here are the key areas of my focus:

Increasing BIPOC Representation: My goal is to establish and nurture new pathways and partnerships to enhance the recruitment and retention of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) staff, aiming for measurable growth in representation within our school community.

Increasing BIPOC Student Diversity: We will strategically partner with local organizations and communities to raise awareness of our school. Through active engagement in the recruitment and retention of BIPOC students, we aspire to achieve a quantifiable increase in BIPOC student enrollment and retention.

Enhancing Cultural Competency: Our objective is to develop and implement a comprehensive cultural competency professional development plan, complete with resources. This initiative will empower our faculty and staff with enhanced cultural competence, fostering a stronger sense of belonging within our school community.

Leverage Community Engagement/Partnerships: We will diligently forge strategic partnerships with local community organizations, non-profits, and advocacy groups. This collaboration will facilitate resource sharing, knowledge exchange, and mutual support, all aligned with our school's unwavering commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging.

By prioritizing these areas, we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive school community where every member feels valued, empowered, and deeply connected to one another and to the broader community.

I am genuinely excited to embark on this journey with all of you and eagerly anticipate the collaborative efforts that will guide us toward a more inclusive and equitable future.

Sincerely,
Jerrill Adams 
Director of Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Community Engagement