Diversity is fundamental to how we teach and to why we teach: our goal is to deepen and to broaden students' understanding about the world. There is no better way to accomplish this than to encourage discussion and exchange of ideas in a community like ours, filled with many differing opinions, backgrounds, ideologies, and experiences. As a community, we are diverse. We come from Europe, Central and South America, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Asia. Our families include a mom and a dad, two moms, two dads, single parents, guardians, and stepparents. We are Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and non-observant. We represent all income levels. What we share is a belief that the education of our children is the foundation of a democratic society. By supporting diversity in all forms—gender, sexuality, religion, race, socio-economic status—Park encourages students to take intellectual risks, to challenge their own assumptions, and to learn to work collaboratively.
