Board of Directors

Cheryl Adenekan

Cheryl Adenekan

Director

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew

Johanna Aeschliman

Johanna Aeschliman

Programs Chair

Lower School Director

Redwood Day School

Mary Antón

Mary Antón

Chair

Learning•Leading•Becoming ~ Equity Leadership Consulting

Ester Azucena

Ester Azucena

Director

Spanish Teacher, Family Liaison

San Francisco Friends School

Kali Baird

Kali Baird

Vice Chair

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

San Domenico School

Carmen Borbón

Carmen Borbón

Director

History Department Chair, Associate EDI Director

Menlo School

Sanjev deSilva

Sanjev deSilva

Director

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice

The Athenian School

LeRhonda Greats

LeRhonda Greats

Director

Assistant Head for Diversity, Equity and Belonging

The Bay School

Laila McClay

Laila McClay

Director

Assistant Dean of Academics and Innovation, Humanities Teacher

The Bay School

Shahana Sarkar

Shahana Sarkar

Finance Chair

Dean of Academics and Community, Teacher

Head-Royce School

Adrian Takyi

Adrian Takyi

Director

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Live Oak School

Adrienne Timmons

Adrienne Timmons

Membership Chair

Lower School Music Director

Seven Hills School

Kathrina Weekes

Kathrina Weekes

Director

Director of Admissions

Head-Royce School

Anthony Witte

Anthony Witte

Director Emeritus

Founder

Witte's End Diversity Consulting

Chris Young

Chris Young

Director

Director of Community Engagement, Senior Class Dean

Menlo School

Mission & Service

  • Promote dialogue among people of color and their allies to foster multicultural understanding and community building
  • Advocate for increasing ethnic and cultural diversity at all levels in independent schools
  • Provide expertise and resource to educational professionals on
  • Building inclusive curriculum development
  • Developing cultural competence in students and adults
  • Fostering leadership in students and adults of color within schools
  • Encourage that school structures, policies, and practices reflect a long-term and sustainable commitment to equity and inclusion

Statement on Antiracism

The overlapping crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the history of racial violence, including the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless others, demands that POCIS reiterate its commitment to advocating for and elevating the voices of people of color in independent schools. We recognize that independent schools began as predominantly white institutions with missions that did not include the culture or success of people of color. POCIS was created in 1995 as a direct call to action to advance the learning, leadership, and success of people of color in independent schools. In alignment with our mission, we believe that the work of achieving racial equity is a mandate that educators of all racial backgrounds, especially our white colleagues, must engage in. That mandate is uncompromising and will always be necessary and urgent.

As schools work to dismantle systems of oppression and reaffirm commitments to antiracist ideas and practices, POCIS is committed to developing programming to help schools achieve their goals:  

  • Provide space for POC to develop leadership skills
  • Convene affinity spaces for POC, white allies, and interracial spaces
  • Mentor heads of schools to address racial justice and inequities at their school and develop white leaders and educators to be true co-conspirators by engaging in the work of racial equity
  • Create supports for the mental and emotional health of all faculty and staff of color 

Through these and other practices, we commit to supporting our member schools and charge schools to be equitable places where all children and adults can achieve success in reaching their academic and social potential.  As the Honorable John Lewis reminds us, “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”

Our History

People of Color in Independent Schools of Northern California (POCIS) was founded by local independent school educators who were inspired and moved by the call to action made at the 1995 NAIS People of Color Conference (POCC) in Baltimore. These driven and dedicated educators joined together to provide support for San Francisco Bay Area Independent Schools’ affiliates who were interested in issues of diversity and equity. As a self-sustaining board, founders planned, organized, and funded events to support students and educators of color in independent schools.

After building a solid reputation and approaching over 50 local independent school heads with a membership opportunity to good to refuse, POCIS began its growth from a grass roots group of educators to the well established non-profit we know it to be today. In 2002, POCIS officially received its non-profit – 501c3 status and established itself as an official non-profit corporation. At its inception, POCIS sponsored a number of events at local schools to support families, students, and school faculty and administrators.

Its purpose: “To promote a positive effort by teachers, administrators, parents, and students who believe that diversity, equity, and social justice are endemic to quality education for all. The cultures, diverse heritages, languages, knowledge, and insights of people of color contribute to creating inclusive, and affirming institutions. The corporation supports the increased diversity in student enrollment, in faculty, and administration and at the board level, as well as in contracts for goods and services with women and people of color. This corporation also supports school climates where the academic and social wellbeing of all students and adults of color is assured.”

For the past 15 years, POCIS has been an active and constant presence in Northern California Schools. POCIS continues to support and serve educators, families, and students in the pursuit of equity and justice.