Belonging at Scarsdale Public Schools

Over the past several weeks, I had the privilege of engaging with over 2,000 students in the Scarsdale Public School District through a series of assemblies and conversations on belonging and fostering cultures of dignity and respect.

On January 27th, I spent a full day at the high school, and on March 3rd, I returned for a full day with middle school students.

Across all assemblies—6th, 7th, 8th, and high school—I explored key evidence-based themes: the role of social media and technology in the lives of young people; the prevalence of identity-informed jokes that begin in elementary school, where humor is rooted in stereotypes or unkind remarks about one's background; and the importance of being an upstander. The students engaged thoughtfully, and I was particularly grateful for the opportunity to meet with the 8th Grade Executive Council to learn about their initiatives and hear their reflections on the assembly.

Beyond student engagement, I continued working with principals and administrators to design focus group questions that will help gather additional insights from the most recent Belonging survey. These conversations are essential in shaping meaningful action steps that deepen belonging and foster a culture of dignity and respect.

I look forward to continuing this important work across all seven schools in the district.

Many thanks to Drs. Drew Patrick and Edgar McIntosh for their partnership.