Experts at the Edmund Burke School provide key insights on how to create an inclusive learning environment for students
Arlington, Va., May 8, 2023 – Eagle Hill Consulting has released the latest episode of its podcast, cultur(ED),which helps leaders create organizational cultures that drive performance. The latest episode features two guests from the Edmund Burke School, an independent middle and high school in Washington, D.C. founded in 1968.
During the podcast, Steve McManus, Head of School, and Sharielle Applewhite, Director of Equity Inclusion and Civic Engagement, share how diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are at the core of the school’s approach to education.
The Edmund Burke School is considered ahead of its time when it comes to DEI. More than fifty years ago, the founders focused on creating a school environment that was egalitarian and participatory to foster curious and creative students. Today, the school consciously brings together students who are different from one another in many ways, and it provides an inclusive teaching environment to cultivate learning, integrity, moral reasoning, and social responsibility.
“Government and corporate leaders can learn so much from how the Edmund Burke School intentionally creates an inclusive environment where people can thrive,” says Melissa Jezior, the host of culture(ED) and CEO of Eagle Hill Consulting. “One of the school’s mottos is, ‘You don’t have to leave any part of yourself outside on the sidewalk when you enter Burke.’ We often hear similar words from companies about their workers, but we know that delivering deep inclusivity is much easier said than done. But Burke’s been doing it for decades by cultivating a culture with inclusivity at its core,” Jezior said.
“A key part of a Burke education is that we want students to develop a full understanding of themselves, along with an appreciation and fluency for navigating diverse spaces. That’s the world they live in, and they will have to navigate that landscape successfully and compassionately,” McManus said.
Burke also places a heavy focus on affinity groups, an approach more corporate and government organizations are exploring.
“Affinity groups are an example of how to show commitment to equity and inclusion,” Applewhite said. “At Burke, affinity groups are a safe space to just be. There doesn’t need to be an objective. Many of our students are standing at the margin, and they sometimes just need a place where they can feel comfortable being with people who look like them, who have similar experiences, or who are grappling with issues and disagreements.”
Listen to the interview and subscribe to the podcast here.
cultur(ED) features conversations with culturemakers in the world today from a variety of industries and backgrounds to unpack the visible and not-so-visible forces that make up this often overlooked super power of an organization.
Season One provided insight on how business leaders apply culture and mindset practices implemented by top athletes and coaches, and included interviews with two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Abby Wambach, along with Victoria Blake, Anson Dorrance, Lindsay Henson and Cathy Reese. Season Two focused on the challenges facing the restaurant industry, especially during COVID-19, and included interviews with Virginia Ali, founder of the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl, and award-winning chefs Amy Brandwein and Kelly Fields, Charlie Foster and Rebecca Reed. Season Three examined how leaders in the arts address culture issues, including Paul Siefken, president and chief executive officer of Fred Rogers Productions, award-winning film producer, writer and director Hugh Schulze, and Dave McKee, the legendary band director of Virginia Tech’s Marching Virginians.
Eagle Hill Consulting LLC is a woman-owned business that provides unconventional management consulting services in the areas of Strategy & Performance, Talent, and Change. The company’s expertise in delivering innovative solutions to unique challenges spans across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. A leading authority on employee sentiment, Eagle Hill is headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with employees across the U.S. and offices in Boston and Seattle. More information is available at www.eaglehillconsulting.com.
Media Contact: Susan Nealon | 703.229.8600 | snealon@eaglehillconsulting.com
