Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Since its founding in 1981, Step One has been dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in our admissions, hiring, and curricular approach. We are intentional in our enrollment and classroom configurations and always mindful of identity and family representation, especially for those identities that are often underrepresented in private preschools. In addition to striving for representation of families of color, LGBTQ+, and diverse family structures in our community, we also make sure that our curriculum and program include a myriad of opportunities for children to learn about different identities and experiences, whether through books and lessons, family sharing, field trips, and/or all school events.

THE anti bias commitment at step one

At Step One, families have a unique opportunity to help their children develop awareness of and respect for the diversity of human experience. The Step One staff works to examine the nature of bias and its effects on young children, on themselves and on our community, and to respond to bias in their daily work with children. Throughout the school year, parents are encouraged to learn more about the evolving anti-bias perspective at Step One and share their own views through our the curriculum, school and classroom newsletters and parent education events. Here are our anti-bias goals:  

Goal 1-Identity:  Learning about self and social identity: the idea that each child deserves to see themselves reflected in the classroom. Teachers nurture each child’s construction of knowledgeable, confident, personal, and social identities. Children demonstrate self-awareness, confidence, family pride, and positive social identities.  

Goal 2-Diversity:  Developing awareness, empathy, and enjoyment of diversity: the idea that we are all similar and different in many ways, and the importance of respecting differences teachers promote each child’s comfortable, empathetic interaction with people from diverse backgrounds. Children express comfort and joy with human diversity, use accurate language for human differences, and form deep, caring connections across all dimensions of human diversity. 

Goal 3-Justice: Learning to identify and question misinformation and unfairness: the idea that we must protect the positive identity of those threatened by stereotypes, among other injustices. Teachers foster each child’s capacity to critically identify bias and nurture each child’s empathy for the hurt bias causes. Children increasingly recognize unfairness (injustice), have language to describe unfairness, and understand that unfairness hurts. 

Goal 4-Activism: Developing the skills to act when facing unfairness: the idea that we must stand up against injustice when we see it. Teachers cultivate each child’s ability and confidence to stand up for oneself and for others in the face of bias. Children demonstrate a sense of empowerment and the skills to act, with others or alone, against prejudice and/or discriminatory actions.