Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Breakwater

We know that learning is the most powerful when it is mission focused and inclusive. Optimal learning takes place in an environment that honors each individual for who they are, meets students where they are, and values multiple perspectives, diversity, and social justice. In this learning environment, diverse perspectives are invited, understood, and respected. 

Breakwater is a community that affirms the dignity of each person. We aspire to reflect the diversity of humanity and to enroll and employ individuals encompassing a variety of social, religious, racial, cultural, gender, and economic orientations and backgrounds.

We value a school community where individuals may share and express a variety of perspectives in ways that enhance the education and experience of everyone within the community. 

We are committed to an environment of equality, dignity, care and respect. As a faculty and staff, we take advantage of professional development opportunities that center around diversity, equity and inclusion, share experiences and conversations that come up in classrooms, and review and apply best educational practices.

Demographics

48% of Students Receive Financial Aid
11% of students receive a Sibling Discount
18.6% of student body identifies as BIPOC
144 of students
14 Towns and Cities Represented

Ethnic Diversity of Breakwater
18.6% BIPOC
81.4% Caucasian

Population of Greater Portland
18.4% BIPOC
81.6% Caucasian

Breakwater reflects the diversity of Portland and that is a good foundation. That said, 50% of the Portland Public Schools are BIPOC students, so we have a ways to go. With the creation of the Community Fund and continued focus on professional development and building community relationships, Breakwater will continue to make diversity, equity, and inclusion a priority for the future.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Action

Below is a small sample of the ways we celebrate diversity and continually strive for a more equitable and inclusive world

Steward of Inclusion Position

During the 2021-2022 school year, Breakwater added a new Steward of Inclusion position to our faculty. As part of our organization's continued Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, this role focuses on taking what has been learned and discussed amongst our community of teachers, parents and guardians, and administrators in order to spearhead action steps and create community connections for both Breakwater School and Enrichment Center. The Steward of Inclusion primarily focuses on connecting Breakwater to various groups and resources in the greater Portland community that focus on workplace diversity, support of refugee and asylum seeking New Mainers, advocacy for people with various physical mobility needs, support for the LGBTQ+ community, and the well-being of Portland's long-standing African American and Latinx community.

Professional Development

During the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years, the entire Breakwater faculty and staff were immersed in full day workshops and trainings focused on cultural and intercultural competency. Faculty and staff members learned from lectures, small group discussions, and large group discussions led by the founders of Maine Intercultural Communications Consultants. The overarching goal of the series was to really get curious about our own culture as individuals and as a school and further explore how that culture shapes the lense through which we view the world and the assumptions we make. While digging into this work, faculty and staff investigated how biases and privileges that we have (even those we are unaware of) can impact our work as educators and community members. Read the full article in our school newsletter here

DEI efforts continue to be the focus of several faculty Professional Development days at Breakwater through group discussion, guest speakers, reading groups, and curriculum expansion.

Exploring World Cultures in Preschool

When a classmate moved across the world during the school year, preschool students started to get curious about where their friend was going, what his new home might look like, and how far from Maine he was moving to. The questions and curiosities sparked by their friend's move drove a rich study of world cultures that spanned over several months in our preschool classrooms. This immersion into world cultures inspired art and sensory projects, ignited conversations with 3rd and 4th grade learning buddies, and brought in parent visitors who shared stories of their native countries and or travels around the world!

Learning About Civil Rights and Social Movements

During this 5th and 6th grade unit, classes are working to understand the concept of a “movement”- how and why social movements form and what contributes to their success or relative effectiveness. Students have learned about lightning rods (individuals in a social movement that attract a lot of attention and energy), how different media impact social movements, and why it’s important to notice whose voices we hear when we study history and to ask whose voices are missing. During their learning, 5th and 6th graders added quotes, biographies, images, and other information to a bulletin board outside of their classrooms that highlight the Voices, Media, and Lightning Rods in this movement, and any other social movement they are curious about or find interesting. Read the full blog post

Supporting Community Through Financial Aid

We strongly believe enrolling a varied and talented group of children and their families benefits all in our school community. We also recognize that paying independent school tuition is a significant financial commitment. In the interest of extending a Breakwater education to as many children as possible, and benefiting all students by increasing socioeconomic diversity within our school, we provide financial assistance to qualified kindergarten through grade 8 students whose families cannot afford the full charges. In fact, over half of our students at Breakwater receive some sort of financial aid.

Parent Education and Virtual Connections

During a time of masking and social distancing, Breakwater Parent Education and Professional Development expanded their reach by offering virtual discussions and presentations. The virtual conversation series connected parents/guardians and community members to Breakwater faculty and experts in a variety of fields. These forums held space for discussion, presentation, sharing, and a rich sharing of resources. Topics of these virtual discussions and presentations included racism, social justice, disability, learning differences and more. See the recordings and learn more by clicking here

Gender/ Sexuality Alliance

GSA is a club open to 6th-8th grade students that was started in 2016 after many students voiced a desire to have such a club at Breakwater. The mission of the group is to create a safe and inclusive school climate for all students while promoting equality and representation for the LGBTQ+ community. Club members claim a new title each year based on their members - such titles have included RAINBOW and PRIDE CLUB. The club meets weekly during lunch and organizes events such as “GLSEN’s No Name Calling Week,” Rainbow Dance, Be True to You Talent and Drag Show and organizes school community members to march with them in the annual Pride! Portland parade. Students partake in meetings and conversations that teach them to value diversity and practice tolerance and acceptance.

Global Human Rights Bike Ride

Middle school students are able to better connect with the greater Portland community by traveling through the city by bike. Former 7th/8th grade teacher Jesse shares, “exploring and learning by bike allows students to experience the community in especially unique ways, in part because we can cover a lot of ground while still interacting easily with people and points of interest along the way. The bicycle empowers students, both physically and academically.” Read the full blog post by clicking here