Get to Know SCH’s New DEIB Leader

Maxime Sinal joined the SCH team as the new director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) this past summer. With a strong background in education and diversity, Sinal brings a wealth of experience to the role. Before joining SCH, he served as the diversity coordinator and English department chair at The Wardlaw-Hartridge School and, since 2016, has served as a DEIB facilitator for the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). At NAIS, he collaborated with experts across the country to develop innovative DEIB programs and initiatives. Sinal is working toward his Ed.D. at Rutgers in education, culture, and society.

We sat down with Sinal to discuss his vision for SCH. Read some highlights below and watch the full video to learn more about his goals and how he plans to create a more empathetic, inclusive, and supportive community.
 
On Voice
I play a role in not only providing students the tips and the tools to find their voice and have the autonomy to share their voice out loud but also providing support and tools to both teachers and staff to really help engage and foster that growth with the students that they encounter day to day. As a new member of the community, I want to make sure that I am taking in the voices and perspectives of all the different constituents, so that way, we are making decisions together and more collaboratively. 

On Empathy
Being able to hear the different stories that are being shared across the campus allows me to build not only a great sense of community but also a greater sense of empathy and understanding of how the community appreciates this campus and the school. 

On Support
I want to make sure that [the community] feels that my support and love for this work will offer an avenue, an opportunity for you to connect with me and connect with my office (three different coordinators) because I'm not doing this work alone. 

On Belonging
My hope is that my office will offer the support and tools needed to ensure that DEIB is present in everything that we do, making sure that our students and adults alike feel that sense of belonging and are able to share their stories that really make SCH such a unique place. 

This post is the first of a series that will focus on what happens #InTheseHalls at SCH Academy, where every corner holds a story of innovation, care, and expertise. The faculty and staff are at the heart of this experience, shaping SCH for generations to come.