“The Equity Exchange provided a tremendous opportunity to not only reflect on and discuss issues facing equity in education today, but engage with other thought partners to create plans of action going back into schools and districts. I found the Equity Exchange to be intellectually challenging, but also thought provoking as a professional in ways that will impact my professional practice for years to come.
-Dr. Tyler Archer,
Principal
Saint Louis Public Schools”

The Equity Exchange was conceived through numerous conversations with educators around the nation who expressed the need to advance our work beyond "Diversity 101."

Colleagues in both public and private schools would talk fondly about all of the conferences, workshops, and institutes for individuals and schools, all of which began important diversity, inclusivity, equity, and social justice work. However, educators in this work 5, 10, and 15+ years have had limited access to the next levels of discussion and strategy. A clarion call emerged for an opportunity to deepen and sharpen our skills in a think-tank atmosphere.

In July 2014, we assembled a design team of independent, private, and public school educators and professionals for a retreat in St. Louis. After two days of intensive workshopping, we settled in on many of the core principles that would guide our concept. Whether in person or virtually, we are forever grateful for the contributions each made toward the launching of The Equity Exchange in July 2015.

Since 2015, The Exchange has welcomed more than 275 participants from 16 states representing 60+ different independent, private, public, and charter schools, school districts, or organizations.

“This is the only public / private partnership I’ve seen around diversity. The Equity Exchange was an amazing opportunity to wed two sectors of schools around an issue that is of extreme importance.  I look forward to seeing the outcomes of this partnership in coming months and years!
-Brian L. Johnson,
Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Children’s Literacy Inititative”

The mission of The Equity Exchange turns on four key commitments to:

Explore Research

that informs now and next practices while testing their value for public and private school environments.

Advance Principles

the formative ideas and methods that strengthen our ability to champion vital work in our school communities.

Construct Practices

that can be replicated in our schools and districts, leveraging the wisdom in the room while receiving personal coaching from our facilitants,

Extend Relationships

and expand our networks by collaborating well beyond the institute week via quarterly “Cohort Connections” and ongoing engagements.

Embracing the dynamic nature of our work, we understand that change is the only constant in social, cultural, and global progress. This understanding fuels The Equity Exchange (TEE) to constantly seek and deliver new research and topics every year, ensuring that our approach and curriculum are always evolving and never static.

So, we continue our pursuit of the next level of excellence as we welcome our 11th cohort of The Equity Exchange.

2025 TEE Planning Team

Our Original Design Team

  • Caroline Blackwell- NAIS Vice President, Equity & Justice; 2015-21 planning team & facilitator

  • Charlotte Blessing - Director of Global Education, Lakeside School

  • Lewis Bryant - Director of Multicultural Services, Buckingham, Brown & Nichols

  • Dion Crushshon - Director of International & Off-Campus Programs, The Blake School; 2015 presenter

  • Haliday Douglas - Director of Talent Strategy & Management, Saint Louis Public Schools; 2015-19 planning team

  • David Harris - Private Practice/LCSW; 2015 - 2023 planning team & facilitatant

  • Christopher Hinshaw - Director of Sustainability, John Burroughs School

  • Ulric Johnson - Founder & Director, Teens Advocating a Global Vision

  • Rosetta Lee - Profesional Outreach, Seattle Girls' School; 2015-23 planning team & facilitation leader

  • Christel McGuigan - Director of Equity and Instruction, Lakeside School

  • Marie Michael - Chair for Equity and Instruction, The Blake School

  • Eddie Moore, Jr. - Executive Director, The Privilege Institute

  • Matt Nink - Executive Director, Global Youth Leadership Institute

  • Brittany Packnett Cunningham - Activist, Educator, Writer, Leader; 2015-23 contributor

  • Charles Pearson - Former Superintendent, Normandy Schools; CEO/Lead Trainer, Innovative Education Solutions, LLC

  • Mark Smith - Former History Department Chair, John Burroughs School

  • Rita Starr - Founder & Program Designer, Healing Our Nation

  • Steven Tejada - Director of Upper School, Maret School

  • Chris Thinnes - Director, Center for the Future of Education & Democracy & veteran independent school administrator; 2015-19 & 2021-23 planning team & facilitant

  • Carla Young - Director of Community and Multicultural Programs, Cranbrook Schools

Our Local Planning Team

  • Daniel Harris - John Burroughs School

  • Ellen Bremner - John Burroughs School

  • Pablo Flinn - University City Public Schools

  • Tammy Taylor - John Burroughs School