It is with great enthusiasm that I would like to share with you that Mr. Paul Johnson has been selected to be the first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion here at Seattle Waldorf School. A native of Seattle, Paul is an alumnus of Lakeside School and Seattle University. A lifelong learner, he holds three Master’s degrees in cultural studies, human resources, and project management from the University of Washington, Villanova, and Georgetown, respectively. Paul is currently working on a doctorate in Organizational Change & Leadership at the University of Southern California. Paul brings to our Leadership Council and school experience from his positions in Human Resources and DEI work at Junior Achievement, Starbucks, Microsoft, and from the last eight years at Boeing. For quite some time, Paul has been waiting for an opportunity to move into an educational setting where he believes the greatest opportunity for change happens — with the children.

As the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Paul will:

• Develop and implement programs and strategies to help ensure that all students, faculty, and staff feel valued for their individual talents and unique cultural perspectives.
• Seek to broaden the diversity of the community and collaborate with the Head of School and Leadership Council on recruitment and retention initiatives — for students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
• Assist the Advancement office with messaging around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Provide training and support for faculty, staff, and parents on inclusive excellence, unconscious bias, cultural intelligence, and other topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Extend the visibility and reach of the SWS diversity recruitment, outreach, and summer programs through educational planning, marketing, and service to the Association of Waldorf Schools in North America (AWSNA), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS).
• Serve as principal liaison on diversity issues, representing the Head of School to alumni and parent groups.

Paul’s references were stellar, with one of his colleagues at Boeing sharing, “this (SWS) is where Paul is meant to be and you will not be disappointed. Paul has a way to get everyone involved and engaged.” We look forward to welcoming Paul on his first day, Monday, October 5, 2020. His office will be housed in the main building on the Meadowbrook campus. Please consider reaching out on that day to say hello. Paul plans to attend this week’s Parent Faculty Equity Committee meeting as a guest. We will provide other opportunities to meet Paul in October.