TEA embraces Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) as vital for developing the whole child from a place of gratitude and joy. Students at TEA are supported in bringing their diverse cultures, experiences and perspectives into our learning community. Additionally, they are supported in building empathy, collaborating with and learning from others, and developing the strength of character to speak up and advocate passionately for themselves and others. We strive to create a learning environment that encourages students to grapple with real-world challenges and build their capacity to engage in constructive discourse about complex problems.

We believe that the intellectual, emotional, social, and psychological development of our students happens most effectively in a community that embraces and values diversity, whether based on cultural and ethnic background, nationality, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion or creed, ability/disability, political orientation, learning style, age, or generation.

Inspired by a group of passionate student leaders (Diego Martinez ‘22, Bella Auerbach ‘22, Summer LaFleur ‘24, Nico Bolen ‘24 and Isha Vedock 25), Tahoe Expedition Academy embarked upon a guided strategic planning process dedicated to DEIB. In the spring of 2022, parents, staff, faculty, students and board members from Tahoe Expedition Academy (TEA) met over 3 days to create a five year strategic plan, spending 19 hours in highly participatory collaboration, reflecting, sharing and establishing priorities to guide the school’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging efforts. The process began with an education session. Acknowledging that we all enter this work with varying experiences and knowledge, the education session was an opportunity to establish a baseline of shared knowledge. The group co-constructed TEA’s history via a History Wall, reviewed key concepts and vocabulary, and shared important resources. We then collaborated to create a shared vision of what we wanted to see in place in 5 years at TEA. After creating the shared vision, the group named the blocks that prevent the vision from becoming a reality. Four strategies were created to deal with the blocks and move the communiTEA towards the practical vision.

In the next five years, how do we ensure DEIB is at the core of
TEA’s mission, vision and educational practices
and shows up in the lived experiences of our students, faculty, staff, and parents

by interrupting and repairing harm created by harmful and oppressive cultures
(white supremacy, sexism, xenophobia, transphobia, ableism, etc.)

and connecting as a school with the larger community (i.e., sharing lessons learned,
responding to community issues, collaborating with community organizations)

so that TEA becomes a school where you know that you belong and do not need to
question if there is a commitment to being a place of belonging?

Each year, students, parents, staff and faculty come together in implementation groups in order to work towards creating our DEIB vision. They begin each year identifying specific goals/targets for the year and then work in small groups throughout the year to achieve their objections. A few of their noteworthy accomplishments in each of the four strategic directives are listed below. If you are interested in learning more, or joining one of our implementation teams, please reach out to Courtenay Wallpe at cwallpe@tahoeexpeditionacademy.org

1. Developed and implemented DEIB TEAching Rubrics
2. Provided microaggression and implicit bias trainings for students, staff and faculty
3. Launched a Banned Book Bookclub for Parents/Students
4. Provided training for faculty on the Pollyanna Curriculum, which can be used Pre-K to 12th Grade
5. Selected the edited collection, “Allies, Real Talk about Showing Up, Screwing Up and Trying Again” and Divergent Mind by Jenara Nerenberg as all staff summer readings

1. Anti-Discrimination Policy and Statement of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
2. Developed a more Culturally Responsive school calendar, particularly with respect to fieldwork.
3. Sent participants to the National Association of Independent School’s People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership Conference
4. Implemented the Sandy Hook “Say Something” anonymous reporting system
5. Implemented annual Authentic Connections Belonging Survey for students, faculty and staff
6. Created a part-time DEIB Coordinator position to help facilitate implementation progress
7. Launched an Equity in Education Committee focused on supporting our neurodiverse students and families

1. Participated in Truckee’s First PRIDE week (June 2024) and hosting the inaugural Rainbow Run, Rock and Roll, a family fun run and music/information festival
2. Secured funding to hire a part-time Service Learning Coordinator to support our Pre-K through 12th grade teachers organize service work in the community
3. Developed a beloved annual All School Olympics event to bring our entire community of students together, allowing them to work across grade levels Pre-K – 12th grade

1. Conducted a historical analysis to understand our spending trends with respect to DEIB
2. Actively exploring options for increasing non-tuition income sources