Why Join ISDN

Over the past seventeen years, ISDN has been a supportive interschool  “Meeting Place” for parents as well as for educators and other school personnel. ISDN has provided ongoing opportunities for information and resource sharing through networking and affinity groupings. Our goal has been to create a safe space to form a community larger than one school and to address issues that might be common in many educational communities. We have hosted interschool speakers, provided workshops, and assisted intra-school groups and individuals; all without funding.

We continue to be grateful for the support of schools and individuals over the years who have and continue to donate their space and to volunteer time to share their expertise on various topics. A huge THANK YOU!

In order to grow, expand and continue to build bridges between all affiliations in our independent school communities, ISDN is moving toward our next goal - Institutional Membership. By becoming an institutional Member school, you will make it possible for us to continue to improve our services and programming for all. In return, we will provide extra support to each of our member schools. The hope is that eventually all independent schools in our area will participate in Institutional Membership. The more schools, the stronger our network of educational communities committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Why is this important?

• So that all families will feel welcomed in their communities
  
• So that recruitment and retention of students and employees of diverse backgrounds will no longer be an issue
  
• So that schools will learn about the other educational communities around them and be able to reach out for support and assistance
• So that each student will receive an individualized/equitable education

• So that all in our communities will truly understand the meaning and importance of a multicultural/anti-bias education

• So that our communities will embrace difference, not just tolerate it
• So that we will also explore our commonalities and the intersections of our diversity
• So that all students will leave our schools with valuable lessons learned about communicating and collaborating with people different from themselves (Cultural Competency)

Participation in Institutional Membership will:

• Expand ISDN's network of schools providing more resources for all
• Make it possible for ISDN to provide a greater variety of speakers, panels, workshops and facilitators for inter school groups and events 
• Increase communication and collaboration between schools, parents and educators
• Help with the On Track Scholarship fund

Member Schools will receive:

• Private meetings and collaboration with "your team" (appropriate Admin. Diversity Director/Coordinator, Faculty and existing or potential parent diversity leaders) to assess how ISDN can best assist and support your community within your school's structure.
  
• Assistance in forming parent diversity and/or affinity groups and/or support for existing parent groups including assistance with diversity related events, and activities within your school 
  
• Discounts to paid ISDN events and programming (e.g., On Track, Me & My Grown-Ups, ISDN Conferences) as well as occasional discounts from outside vendors
  
• Your ISDN affiliation advertised on our website as well as a link to your school’s website.(Additionally, Including a link on your website to ISDN's will make it easy for your community to keep abreast of activities, events, news and resources)
  
• The option of having an information section about your school on ISDN’s website. "Spotlight" on your school's diversity initiatives
•  Job openings at your school posted on ISDN's website, to attract diverse applicants
• Password access to additional resources on ISDN's website
• Assistance in partnering with other schools to organize interschool diversity events (e.g., Speaker/Speaker Series, workshops, literary groups, etc.).
• Additional opportunities for *interschool ISDN representatives to work together on issues specific to their individual schools

We would love to work with you.