Pollyanna Conference at Town School

The second annual Town School for Boys Pollyanna Conference is on Saturday, March 6 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. This year's virtual conference aims to help us understand our nation's history of systemic racism through an intersectional lens, consider our personal roles in dismantling racism as connected to our own identities, and develop an action plan for creating more equitable school communities. In addition to a presentation from keynote speaker Monique Vogelsang, the conference will include facilitated discussions within constituent groups, a presentation from students, and time for each school pod to reflect, share, and determine next steps together. 

Registration includes attendance for up to 14 people from your school. Your "pod" should include two representatives from each of the following constituent groups: faculty, DEI practitioners, administrators, board members, parents, students (grades 7-8), and alumni (grades 9-12). The Pollyanna Conference structure is unique in that it brings together many different parts of a school community, so we ask that you follow this attendee format. If you have any questions, please contact us at townpollyanna@townschool.com.

Please note: this agenda is tentative and may shift prior to the conference.

Attendee comments from the 2020 Town Pollyanna Conference in response to the question, What made this conference successful for you?

• “Dedicated time to gather with peer schools and colleagues to focus on an important issue. And the ability to meet others from peer schools. I would say ALL components were successful!!”
• “The best part of the conference generally was being in a group of people committed to discussing race and socioeconomic diversity as openly and constructively as possible.”
• “I thought this conference was very moving. I felt like I was able to get emotions and ideas out that I couldn't have expressed before.”
• “The combination of education (speaker), along with opportunities to connect and learn from others (parent group) and hear from the students and then meet with my school POD to put these ideas into action - I thought it was very well thought out!”
• “It posed a lot of questions for me to continue thinking about. It has left a lasting impression which I am still thinking about each day and using some of the thoughts with my students.”