Task Forces

The Race & Equity and Gender Equity, Sexuality & Consent Task Forces were created to analyze and improve school culture at Penn Charter. In the summer of 2020, our school took a critical look at its practices, policies, and procedures regarding racial and gender equity. The then-head of school, Darryl J. Ford, established two task forces to address these issues. These task forces were supported by the entire school community, including representation from the PC administration, students, faculty, staff, families and OPCs.

Gender Equity, Sexuality & Consent

Clerks:

Alyson Goodner OPC '96, P '33 Director of the Center for Public Purpose
Naté Hall P '27 and '29, Director of Admissions
Mark Hecker OPC '99, Penn Charter Board Member

Committee:

Allison Keen P '26, '29
Al San Valentin Pre-K Lead Teacher
Allen Vandegrift Former MS Assistant Director, Visual Arts Teacher, Basketball and Lacrosse Coach
Amani Rivers OPC ‘22
Ben Solomon Class of 2025
Brooke Kravitz P '25
Chandler Turner OPC '22
Chris Rahill OPC '99, P ’34, Development Staff, Football Coach
Christopher Burnett 5th grade teacher, Basketball Coach, Day Camp Staff
Colleen Kelly Former Associate Director of Athletics
Douglas Gorham US Math Teacher
Elizabeth Hitschler US Counselor
Ella Parke OPC '23
Emelia Malhotra OPC '23
Emma Cohen-Westbrooke Health, Wellness and Human Sexuality Educator
Grace Neuwirth OPC '24
Jennifer Sokoloff P '26, '30
Jessica Rawlings Athletic Trainer
John Estok PE Department Chair
Katie Kelly MS Counselor, MS Lacrosse Coach
Kevin Medansky Former MS/US French Teacher
Leilani Bacchus OPC '24
Lindsay Franklin LS First Grade Teacher
Mallory Benard US PE Teacher & Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach
Marianne Master P '29, 9/10 Grade Dean, US Latin Teacher
Melanie Wills P '20, US Chemistry Teacher
Merrill Gadsden OPC '23
Rachel Dyer OPC '92, P '19 '21 '24, Registrar, Field Hockey and Lacrosse Coach
Rachel Malhotra P '23, '26, '34, US English Teacher
Serena Amos Former Director of Human Resources
Sharon Ahram 11/12 Grade Dean, Asst. Director of the Center for Public Purpose
Shelby Tucker MS History Teacher, MS Basketball Coach
Soozung Sa Rankin P '27
Will Betts-Cope OPC '22

Race & Equity

Clerks:

Antonio Williams P '22, Former Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Ben Robinson III OPC '82, Penn Charter Board Member

Steering Committee:

Marcy Sosa P'18, '31 Director of Lower School
Lee Payton P'20 Assistant Director of Upper School
Lisa Reedich Lower School Counselor
Leon Caldwell OPC '87
Gabi Bembry OPC '14
Caroline Wilkes OPC '08
Naveena Bembry P '11, '14, 5th Grade Teacher
Ruth McGee US Visual Arts Teacher, US Diversity Coordinator
Dr. Howard Stevenson P '23
Alyson Schwartz P '21, '24
Gabbi Polite OPC '22
Zora Johnson OPC '21
Leila Williams OPC '22
Amanda Ehrenhalt OPC '22

Planning Committee:

Ruth Aichenbaum Coordinator of the Teaching & Learning Center
Karen Campbell P '22, Assistant Director of Admissions
Gillian Diffenderfer US Spanish Teacher
Ben Dziedzic P '24, US English Teacher
Jeremey Eith Athletic Trainer
Lindsay Franklin 1st Grade Teacher, SEED Facilitator
Karen Hallowell Director of Admissions
Jackie Hamilton Coordinator, Independent School Teaching Fellows Program
Liz Jones US English Teacher, Yearbook Advisor
Ken Johnson P '20, '25
Joy Lai Visual Arts Department Chair
Laura Mansfield US Math Teacher
Cory Moy Chinese Teacher, SEED Facilitator
Jessica Stusnick-Czyzewski 1st Grade Teacher, LS Diversity Coordinator
Lisa Turner P' 26, '29, US English Teacher
Joy Chaffin P '25
Jon Weinstein P '20, '23
Chris Adams OPC '21
Joshua Black OPC '21
Kees Lynch OPC '21
Peyton Parker OPC '21
Ayana Opong-Nyanantekyi OPC '19
Leila Sor OPC '19
Lynn Seth P'21, 26
Ed Weihenmayer OPC '58
Liam LaBarge OPC' 21

Task Force History

Creation of the Task Forces
Guiding Principles and Core Questions

Creation of the Task Forces

Students and alumni shared personal stories of their experiences in our Penn Charter community (both on and off campus) around issues of racism, sexual harassment and assault. In the summer of 2020 the school reached out to the community to gather more information about these experiences, to acknowledge the pain of those affected, determine a way forward to heal as a community, inform you of our actions, adjust our curriculum, and improve the culture of Penn Charter.

One of these actions was the formation of two task forces, Race & Equity and Gender Equity, Sexuality & Consent, which are focused on bringing about necessary change in our community.

Guiding Principles and Core Questions

The work of the task forces addresses several core questions, including:

How can we better value and respect our Penn Charter students, including students of color?
How can we best foster an environment that promotes respect and healthy relationships and teaches students how to prevent and report sexual harassment and sexual violence?
Are there gaps in our curricular or co-curricular offerings regarding key social issues our students routinely confront and, if so, how can we appropriately fill them?
How can we reinforce care and support for students and community members impacted by racial or sexual harassment or violence and instill responsibility and accountability for individuals who violate school policies or the core tenets of our Quaker values?

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