Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

An intentional curriculum in each grade level promotes age and developmentally appropriate content to stimulate learning in the areas of identity, diversity, justice, and action. We believe that children thrive when they are given opportunities to see themselves reflected in the literature they read, the projects they create, and the problems they solve. Additionally, children increase their capacity for empathy and collaboration when they are offered a diversity of perspectives and ideas. This belief informs the curriculum across all content areas.

As equity-focused educators, we focus not just on exposing students to multiple perspectives but also raising students’ awareness of their role as change makers. Moving from compassion to action happens on the playground, in classroom projects, and in spontaneous teachable moments. Bertschi students learn that their voices matter and that their actions can make a difference.

Explore Our Curriculum

Our board of trustees leads a DEI Committee to guide continued strategic work. In addition, our Director of Community and Belonging leads Bertschi FAM (see below) that regularly hosts events that educate, build community, and celebrate our diverse cultural backgrounds. The school also hosts affinity spaces for families to bring people together in their common experiences and in their differences.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work is one of three strategic pillars of our current strategic plan. All members of the Bertschi community are committed to ensure our commitments are achieved and move the work forward. Our Director of Community and Belonging, in partnership with our DEI Committee, oversees capacity-building opportunities throughout each year. Our faculty/staff and families work with local and national experts on topics such as media literacy, gender diversity, multicultural education, cultural competency, culturally-responsive teaching, race and privilege, and anti-bias awareness. 

Bertschi School offers a full-time teaching associate job and up to $10,000 each year toward tuition for an equity-minded educator. This fellowship affirms our continued commitment to equity and belonging by ensuring we have educators who are deeply committed to anti-bias, equity-centered work.

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The Antiracist Parent Education group is open to Bertschi School parents and caregivers. Members endeavor to understand their own racial identity, expand their awareness of individual, institutional, and systemic racism, and encourage antiracism through empathy and action. Meetings will focus on discussions of topics relevant to the group.

Meeting dates: Meetings generally follow the DEI speaker series events that happen monthly and other Bertschi parent education events throughout the school year. To receive group information including upcoming meetings, contact Amina Loftin.

This space is open to parents, children, faculty, and staff who identify as Asian, Asian American, and Asian Pacific Islander, as well as parents who do not identify with the affinity group but have children who do identify with the affinity group.

The Asian@Bertschi affinity group meets monthly and plans events periodically, such as the Lunar New Year Celebration. To receive group information including upcoming meetings, contact Amina Loftin.

The purpose of Black@Bertschi is to create a nurturing and empowering space where Black students and their families can gather, connect, and thrive as a community. Our mission is to foster a sense of belonging, pride and advocacy among families, where Black voices are amplified, experiences are honored, and cultural heritage is celebrated.

The Black@Bertschi group meets monthly and plans events periodically throughout the year, such as the Black@Bertschi Cookout. To receive group information including upcoming meetings, contact Amina Loftin.

The Hispanic/Latine@Bertschi group meets monthly and plans events periodically throughout the year, such as the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Celebration. To receive group information including upcoming meetings, contact Amina Loftin.

Judaism teaches that human beings need to be together, and being together creates a sense of community and completeness in oneself. The Jewish Parent group aims to help create a Jewish community within Bertschi, as well as teach our larger Bertschi community about some of our Jewish traditions and values. In a time when antisemitic incidents were up 34% in 2021, and antisemitic sentiments are being shared by people in power more often, the group will be a safe space for Jewish community members to share their lived experiences. The group also hopes to provide a Jewish community for the Jewish families who are new to Seattle, as a Jewish community is harder to find in Seattle than other cities.

In addition to creating a safe space for Jewish families, we will host events throughout the school year. 

To receive group information including upcoming meetings, contact Amina Loftin.

The Pride@Bertschi group is where queer-identifying and/or gender diverse parents, children, faculty, and staff can connect and help organize social and educational events. Our space is open to parents who do not identify as LGBTQIA+ but have children who do identify. Other allies are welcome to attend certain meetings specifically designated as open-to-all and may be asked to volunteer when help is needed.

This group meets monthly and plans events like the quarterly LGBTQIA+ Storytime (open to all). To receive group information including upcoming meetings, contact Amina Loftin.

This group is open to any family with a neurodiverse child or who has wonderings about their child. The intent is for families to support each other and to share challenges, opportunities, and triumphs. For questions please contact associate head of school, Jennie Bloch Garcia.

BIPOC Voices Fall Summit
Thursday, October 23, 2025
9:00 AM-2:00 PM at Villa Academy

BIPOC Voices is a program, created by POCIS Northwest, that brings together educators working in our member schools. In BIPOC Voices, educators share ideas, offer support and encouragement, and discuss ways for our respective schools to implement the ideas and approaches shared by guest speakers.  RSVP to save your spot!

Virtual Speaker Series: Nic Stone
Wednesday, November 12
11:00 AM-12:30 PM on Zoom

Using a combination of history, anthropological findings, and personal experiences, in this talk, Nic will walk the audience through the role of story in human beings coming—and continuing—to dominate the earth and will explain how even the most minute of our present experiences are impacted by the stories we believe and spread, both consciously and unconsciously… All with the aim of encouraging audience members to own their story-making, story-shifting, and story-sharing powers, and to become conscious and active participants in both the stories of their individual lives and in the collective story we’re all living. Free and open to the public. RSVP to save your spot!

Virtual Speaker Series: Embodied STEAM and/as Liberation: Science, Imagination, and the Right to Be Free in Learning
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
5:00-6:15 on Zoom

Please help us welcome Dr.Christopher Emdin, a writer and professor at Columbia University’s teacher college who holds a Phd in Urban Education with a concentration in Mathematics, Science, and Technology.  He will be speaking to us about his writings, Hip Hop, and much more! This event is free and open to the public, hosted by POCIS Northwest. Please RSVP to get the Zoom Link.