TDS is committed to creating awareness, developing cross-cultural competence, and building a diverse and inclusive environment where all persons belong and are valued for their unique qualities.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our time at [TDS] thus far. I have been impressed with the [TK] teachers already taking the opportunity to teach about racism, for example, in age appropriate ways, but not hiding from truth.

Triangle Day School understands that a community is enriched when many different voices, viewpoints, backgrounds, and identities are engaged and celebrated. The school respects, affirms, and protects the worth and dignity of all persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, ability, age, sexual orientation, culture, sex, gender identity, or other personal characteristics.

Additionally, TDS understands that students make the most academic, social and emotional gains when they feel valued, safe and wholly accepted by all members of the school community. Every TDS community member brings unique gifts and capabilities, as well as different life experiences that benefit all individuals at TDS.

The importance of building a school community composed of individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and capabilities is paramount. Numerous studies have shown that a school’s diversity contributes to the quality of education by pushing students to challenge their assumptions, think critically, empathize with people who are different, and work collaboratively to discover creative solutions to real-world problems. TDS strives to graduate students who lead lives of purpose in an increasingly diverse world, and therefore we seek to teach kids to celebrate and respect differences in the broadest sense of the word.

We strive to create a diverse community that reflects our increasingly multicultural world, and we are dedicated to ensuring that everyone feels supported, appreciated, and included.

DEI Leadership Team

Demetrice Via
Demetrice Via

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Director

Alumni Parent ’24

Rachel Casipit
Rachel Casipit

Board of Trustees

DEI Committee Co-Chair

Current Parent ’28, ’30

Aaron Kyle
Aaron Kyle

Board of Trustees

DEI Committee Co-Chair

Current Parent ’30

Kim Sue-Ling
Kim Sue-Ling

Board of Trustees

Current Parent ’29

DEI Committee

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is an action-oriented group open to all parents, faculty, and staff at our school. Our primary goal is to promote and sustain an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment for every member of our school community. The committee works collaboratively to identify areas where we can enhance inclusion, develop initiatives to celebrate diversity, and address any challenges that may arise. By engaging in open dialogue, planning events, and implementing programs, the DEI Committee seeks to foster a supportive school culture where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered. We welcome anyone with a passion for equity and inclusion to join us in making meaningful, positive change.

Empowering Educators for Inclusive Growth

CORE Training

At TDS, fostering equity and inclusion is a vital part of our professional development. Faculty and staff engage in Racial Equity workshops led by Community Organizing for Racial Equity (CORE), which provide essential guidance on advancing racial equity. These workshops empower participants to:

  1. Develop a shared understanding of race, racism, and racial equity.
  2. Explore the historical roots and lasting impacts of structural racism on institutions today.
  3. Analyze the ways structural racism influences systems of power and decision-making.
  4. Recognize the importance of narratives and work toward building a culture centered on equity.

Through this process, TDS deepens its commitment to creating a more just and inclusive environment for all members of our community.

People of Color Conference

TDS proudly supports our faculty and staff of color by providing opportunities to attend the People of Color Conference (PoCC). As the flagship event of the National Association of Independent Schools’ commitment to equity and justice, PoCC offers a transformative experience focused on leadership, professional growth, and community building. The conference creates a safe and supportive space for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools to engage in meaningful learning, share insights, and strengthen connections.

Safe Space Workshop

As part of our commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive community, TDS faculty and staff participate in Safe Space training as part of their professional development. This dynamic, hands-on workshop focuses on creating environments where everyone feels respected and valued, with an emphasis on supporting the LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual) community. Participants examine common challenges, from unintentional language-based exclusion to addressing biases, and explore practical strategies to promote inclusion in classrooms, workplaces, and beyond. By the end of the workshop, our team gains valuable insights and actionable tools to help ensure that TDS remains a safe, welcoming space for all.

Groundwater Approach

At TDS, new members of the Board of Trustees are required to complete the Racial Equity Institute’s Groundwater Approach Training Program as part of their onboarding. This impactful workshop uses the Groundwater metaphor to illustrate how racial inequity is embedded within our systems and institutions. This metaphor is based on three observations:

  1. racial inequity looks the same across systems,
  2. socio-economic difference does not explain the racial inequity; and,
  3. inequities are caused by systems, regardless of people’s culture or behavior.

By confronting these truths, leaders gain a deeper understanding of how racial hierarchies shape institutional outcomes and learn to advocate for systemic solutions that foster meaningful, transformative change.

Racial Literacy Curriculum

At Triangle Day School, we are committed to fostering empathy, understanding, and critical thinking in our students. To support this mission, we adopted the Pollyanna Racial Literacy Curriculum, which empowers students to explore race as it has been constructed in the United States, develop an awareness of their own racial socialization, and build skills for engaging in productive conversations about race and racism.

This thoughtfully designed curriculum uses a rich array of media — including picture books, primary sources, historical articles, and current events — as a springboard for classroom discussions. Lessons are tailored to meet students where they are developmentally: younger students engage in activities like read-aloud sessions and small group discussions, while older students dive into more complex topics through elective or advisory periods, often complementing their humanities courses. Goals evolve by grade level, from encouraging kindness, bravery, and empathy to analyzing the social constructs and myths of race. Ultimately, the curriculum nurtures a more inclusive perspective of self and others, fostering both cultural competence and a global mindset.

By embracing the Pollyanna Racial Literacy Curriculum, TDS aims to cultivate a community of learners who recognize similarities across lines of race, celebrate diversity, and approach the world with curiosity and compassion. Through this program, we plant seeds of racial literacy and cultural awareness, preparing students to lead responsibly in an increasingly interconnected world.

Community Gatherings

Student Equity Groups

Students of Color Alliance

The Students Of Color Alliance (SOCA) is an affinity group for students in grades 5-8th, meant to cultivate a safe space and community where students who identify as persons of color can discuss their own experiences, challenges, and issues that they confront as people and students of color. The mission of SOCA is to support and advocate on behalf of students of color in order to enhance Triangle Day School academically, socially, and culturally. The Students of Color Alliance serves the purpose of representing the interests of marginalized groups at TDS. SOCA works in coordination with various other student groups to develop programs and help educate the TDS community. SOCA aims to enrich students, staff, TDS families, and friends by living and breathing the TDS DEI mission.

Gender & Sexuality Alliance

The Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) at Triangle Day School is a next-generation LGBTQ+ racial and gender justice organization that empowers and trains trans, queer, and allied youth leaders to advocate, organize, and mobilize a movement for safer schools and healthier communities. The TDS GSA is a Support GSA — one that works to create a non-judgmental, safe, and nurturing place where students can share their experiences, learn about resources in their school and off campus, connect with others like them, and build peer support.

Safe Spaces for Community

DEI Community Council

A safe space for all TDS community members to explore ways to strengthen their knowledge, support, and understanding of why DEI is an important and essential part of the school. Our shared human experience makes us strong. Accepting and appreciating differences makes us stronger.

A place where we take on the work of anti-racism together as a community but also personally, as individuals. We, as parents, need to practice having these discussions with each other so we can be ready to have these conversations with our children.

DEI Community Council meeting topics have included:
  • When do kids first notice race?
  • The history and significance of BLM
  • Understanding microaggressions
  • The dangers of colorblindness
  • Microaggressions toward LGBTQ individuals
  • Anti-Asian Racism and the Model-Minority Myth
  • Gender Identity
  • Antisemitism: The world’s oldest hatred
  • Neurodiversity
  • Truth-telling in the educational system

Parents of Students of Color

The Parents of Students of Color (POSOC) Parent Affinity Group is a safe space to come together and have open, meaningful dialogue. If you have a student of color at TDS, regardless of whether you are a person of color, you are welcome to participate. We hope to foster the exploration and celebration of one’s identity, offer advice and guidance on supporting our children in a racially charged climate, provide opportunities to discuss any challenges or issues at the school, and identify potential solutions.

Anti-Racism Parent Book Club

Titles discussed have included: