The San Francisco Equity Leaders (SFEL) is a cohort of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) practitioners. SFEL’s members, Aaron Mullen, Anthony Witte, Betsy Brody, Flora Mugambi-Mutunga, Josephine Saunders, Loren Moyé, and Quise Rodriguez, came together in response to an ongoing need for strength in numbers in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging work. They began to reach out to one another with questions, concerns, and resources, while all working in San Francisco independent schools. They soon realized that although each school was different, each served similar populations, with similar challenges. Recognizing patterns in core elements and challenges of DEIB work, the team began to broaden their engagements to include schools, non-profit, and for-profit organizations around the Bay Area and beyond.
San Francisco Equity Leaders
Betsy Brody
Betsy worked in educational institutions for 30 years, both in the classroom and as an administrator. She worked as Director of Admissions at International High School and is the former Director of High School Counseling and Co-Director of DEIB at San Francisco Day School where she worked for 9 years.
Betsy worked in educational institutions for 30 years, both in the classroom and as an administrator. She worked as Director of Admissions at International High School and is the former Director of High School Counseling and Co-Director of DEIB at San Francisco Day School where she worked for 9 years.
Loren Moye
Loren has been teaching for 29 years, 21 of those years at San Francisco Day School. Prior to SF Day, he taught in the San Francisco Unified School District. He was formerly a co-director of Aim High, a free summer program for low-income middle school youth in the Bay Area. He is the former Director of Diversity and Dean of Faculty at SF Day and the current DEIB Director at The Hawken School.
Loren has been teaching for 29 years, 21 of those years at San Francisco Day School. Prior to SF Day, he taught in the San Francisco Unified School District. He was formerly a co-director of Aim High, a free summer program for low-income middle school youth in the Bay Area. He is the former Director of Diversity and Dean of Faculty at SF Day and the current DEIB Director at The Hawken School.
Flora Mugambi-Mutunga
Flora grew up in Kenya and relished being around children and their families. With an ongoing interest in understanding how embracing diversity in all its forms can be value-adding to individuals, communities, and organizations, she became a member of Town School, where she is the current Director of Community Building.
Flora grew up in Kenya and relished being around children and their families. With an ongoing interest in understanding how embracing diversity in all its forms can be value-adding to individuals, communities, and organizations, she became a member of Town School, where she is the current Director of Community Building.
Aaron Mullen
Aaron works at Cathedral School For Boys as the Director of Inclusion and Student Life. He served as the POCIS co-chair from 2014-2016, inspiring diversity practitioners around Northern California to pursue equity in their schools.
Aaron works at Cathedral School For Boys as the Director of Inclusion and Student Life. He served as the POCIS co-chair from 2014-2016, inspiring diversity practitioners around Northern California to pursue equity in their schools.
Quise Rodriguez
Quise holds an administrative credential as well as a Master’s Degree in Social Justice and Equity in Education from UC, Berkeley. She brings over 16 years of experience working as both a teacher and administrator in independent and public schools. Previously, she worked as the Director of Inclusivity and Community Building at Burke’s School. She is currently the Elementary Division Head at Prospect Sierra School.
Quise holds an administrative credential as well as a Master’s Degree in Social Justice and Equity in Education from UC, Berkeley. She brings over 16 years of experience working as both a teacher and administrator in independent and public schools. Previously, she worked as the Director of Inclusivity and Community Building at Burke’s School. She is currently the Elementary Division Head at Prospect Sierra School.
Josephine Saunders
Josephine Saunders has been an educator for over 25 years. She has served in schools in the UK, Boston, Washington DC, and San Francisco. She is currently the Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at SF Day School and serves on the Advisory Board at Breakthrough San Francisco. Her previous roles have included classroom teacher, Lower School Director, New Service Teacher Coach, and an Equity and Inclusion Coach.
Josephine Saunders has been an educator for over 25 years. She has served in schools in the UK, Boston, Washington DC, and San Francisco. She is currently the Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at SF Day School and serves on the Advisory Board at Breakthrough San Francisco. Her previous roles have included classroom teacher, Lower School Director, New Service Teacher Coach, and an Equity and Inclusion Coach.
Anthony Witte
Anthony has been an educator for 17 years and is the founder of Witte’s End Consulting. He holds a BA in Asian Studies from UC Berkeley and a Master’s degree in Education, Equity and Social Justice, from SF State University. Currently, he serves on the board of POCIS and the Center for Progressive Education. He is also a co-author of Diversity Work in Independent Schools: The Practice and the Practitioner. Previously, he served as the Director of Inclusion at Children’s Day School in SF.
Anthony has been an educator for 17 years and is the founder of Witte’s End Consulting. He holds a BA in Asian Studies from UC Berkeley and a Master’s degree in Education, Equity and Social Justice, from SF State University. Currently, he serves on the board of POCIS and the Center for Progressive Education. He is also a co-author of Diversity Work in Independent Schools: The Practice and the Practitioner. Previously, he served as the Director of Inclusion at Children’s Day School in SF.
Workshops & Services
DEIB 101-> 201
Your organization is interested in taking the next step in building a more equitable and inclusive organization. Now what? How can you take the next steps while acknowledging work done? SFEL can help establish the foundational structures that promote a holistic environment where people can show up as their whole selves, do their best work, and thrive.
Organizational Change
How well do your organization’s actions align with its values? Are your current efforts acknowledged and supported? Through an equity audit inclusive of SFEL’s tool Culture Score Card for reflection, surveys, interviews, and listening sessions, SFEL can assess your organization’s core strengths and growth opportunities, affirm steps taken, and create a concrete action plan to continue moving forward.
Microagressions and Implicit Bias
Microaggressions are small, daily insults and indignities aimed at members of marginalized groups. People using microaggressions may be aware or unaware of their actions, yet the impact is real, cumulative, harms relationships, and decreases joy and productivity. SFEL will provide tools and skills to identify and interrupt microaggressions, repair relationships, and cultivate an environment of healing.
Exploring Identities and Affinity Spaces/ ERGs
Who we are as well as our lived experiences influence the ways in which we see and move through the world. By reflecting on various parts of our identities and their intersection, we can better understand the impact on others. Through a series of sessions with SFEL, we can help your organization construct a foundation for affinity spaces to thrive.
Retention and Hiring Practices and Principles
As science shows, teams comprised of people with diverse experiences and identities produce stronger work. Through the SFEL team lens, we can help guide your organization review and revise hiring practices to attract and retain top talent with diverse backgrounds to join your team.
DEI For White Administrators - Awareness to Action
This (3) part online workshop is designed to be a space where White administrators can look at their own identity, their school community, and the values that their schools’ aim to incorporate. Through the workshop, participants will engage with a community of like-minded professionals in open dialog and a supportive environment to help them navigate the DEI landscape, plan next steps, and implement policy initiatives.
Core Workshops
Interrupting White Supremacy
This workshop is a (3) part series, each 90-minute session is an opportunity for educators to explore their own racial identity, dynamics of white supremacy, and to examine the roots and costs of racism. This workshop will also offer space to develop skills to engage in courageous conversations.
Surviving and Sustaining: POCs in Independent Schools
This three-part online workshop serves to encourage collaboration and provide tangible takeaways that affirm the experiences of People of Color (PoC) in independent schools and the broader community. Intended for people of color who are doing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work in their school communities, participants will have the opportunity to bring to light common challenges and successes regarding DEI topics and collaborate on bringing positive change.
Past Partnerships
