
Administrators of Color Institute
For: BIPOC Identifying Heads of School and Direct Reports to the Head of School
Monday - Wednesday, August 15 and 17, 2022

Kent Place School
42 Norwood Avenue
Summit, NJ
Independent school leaders have been called upon, with new urgency and inspiration, to transform their diversity, equity, and inclusion work with more effective and authentic practices. This experience welcomes self-identified BIPOC administrators an exploration of antiracism practice, leadership training and learning together. Topics will include investigating institutional culture, developing collaborative leadership, and navigating the needs of multiple constituencies while attending to your own. The program is specifically designed to help participants develop the tools they need to be effective change agents within their schools.
Day One
Navigating Leadership as People of Color
The first day of this experience will engage with reflective questions such as:
How do we take up space as people of color in PWIs?
How will you tell your leadership story?
Day Two
Self-Care and Building Cross-Racial Solidarity
Day two of this experience will explore building solidarity with multiple constituencies. It will build on the previous day’s work as participants reflect upon what kind of school leader you can become, as well as reflecting on your threshold for risk and tolerance while caring for yourself.
Day Three
Structural Changes and Building Accountability Teams
This final morning will support the reimagination of power structures and decision making at your school while also exploring accountability measures and teamwork.
This three-day experience will culminate in a shared convening with participants in the NJAIS White Administrators Institute.
Registrations Before July 15:
$550 per Participant, Member Schools; $700 per Participant, Non-Member Schools
Registrations on and after July 15:
$700 per Participant, Member Schools; $850 per Participant, Non-Member Schools
Registration includes breakfast and lunch daily, all conference materials, and all conference sessions
Program Leaders
Susan Yao
Susan Yao served as the Middle School Head at Friends Academy in Dartmouth, MA until 2021. She began her career in independent schools at St. Luke's School in New York City as a Social Studies teacher. An alumna of Bank Street's leadership program, she is passionate about progressive education, project-based learning, and mindfulness. She is excited to support new administrators of color on their leadership journeys.
Walidah Justice
Walidah Justice is the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Kent Place School. Ms. Justice is a graduate of Villanova University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in communication. She arrived at Kent Place in 2018 from Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, where she served four years as the director of diversity and inclusion and two years as the associate director of admission and multicultural outreach. Before her time at Episcopal Academy, Ms. Justice worked for nine years at Villanova in the Office of Undergraduate Admission, Center for Multicultural Affairs and Student Development. Additionally, she has worked at Temple University and the University of Delaware before entering the independent school world.