About

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

List of 1 frequently asked questions.

  • WELCOME LETTER FROM ORCHARD'S NEW DEI COORDINATOR MARCUS R. HATCHER

    Dear Orchard Community,

    The Orchard School
     
    My name is Marcus R. Hatcher, and I am the new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator at The Orchard School. I am excited to join The Orchard School staff during this Centennial Celebration year. I have more than 13 years of experience in the field of education and most recently I taught sixth-grade Math and Science at New Augusta North Public Academy in Pike Township.  
     
    I look forward to serving alongside parents, staff, and most importantly students, as I continue to learn and grow within the Orchard community.  Although, the school year just started my goal is to continue to place our school at the forefront of Progressive education.  
     
    My first priority will be to listen to and observe the students, teachers, and parents as I learn the culture of The Orchard School as the new DEI coordinator. Beginning the first day of school, my goal will be to introduce myself to our students; and, I hope to meet all students during the first semester. I plan to be both accessible and visible as we work as a team to be inclusive and respectful of all people and cultures.
     
    I have been requested to teach a culturally diverse curriculum class to Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten students that include basic Spanish. Each grade level will have a major diversity project and I will work closely with the Head of School, Assistant Head of School, and Orchard's board members to encourage diversity at Orchard.  
     
    I am a proud graduate of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory High School and Indiana University’s School of Education with a minor in Spanish. I enjoy traveling, bowling, listening to live music, attending church, and I am a third-generation member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. I am an avid sports (both the Colts and the Pacers) fan and attend Pacers games when my schedule permits. Let’s have a great Centennial year! 
     
    Kind regards,
    Marcus R. Hatcher
    DEI Coordinator

"ORCHARD...THE PLACE WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS"

The Orchard School is an inclusive community deliberately rich with diversity. We strive to maintain a safe and welcoming environment that encourages courageous conversations about differences in beliefs, identities and perspectives.

We value and respect the dignity, worth and experiences of every person. We embrace the belief that diversity enriches learning and benefits everyone. We believe that experiencing and learning about diversity helps people relate to each other and the world with greater respect, understanding and kindness. This gives people the ability and confidence to challenge and change behaviors that oppress, exclude or demean the humanity of others. To that end, Orchard educates the whole child by integrating social responsibility, moral character, respect, inclusivity and equitable treatment of all people into its curriculum and policies including admissions, hiring, financial assistance and professional development.

One of the goals of our diversity work is to help all members of the community overcome a sense of “otherness” and reserve judgment when encountering something unfamiliar and new. Therefore, Orchard teaches about race, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, family structures, physical differences, political and social values, culture, religion, abilities and learning styles in a developmentally appropriate manner that leads to appreciation and understanding of the variety of human experiences.

DEI Highlights at The Orchard School