DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION SPECIALIST REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

INTRODUCTION

Friends Community School invites applications from experienced educational leaders, consultants, and/or practitioners to serve in the role of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Specialist for the 2026-2027 academic year. Grounded in Quaker values and committed to nurturing a learning community where all students, families, faculty, and staff experience belonging and care, Friends Community School seeks a thoughtful and collaborative professional who can help deepen, plan, and sustain the school's ongoing work in diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. Our Mission and Diversity Statement can be found here . The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist will work closely with school leadership, faculty, staff, students, and families to support a sense of belonging through institutional growth, strengthening inclusive practices, and helping to cultivate a community that is affirming and empowering of historically marginalized identities and to live into our commitments of:

• Empowering students, faculty, staff, and our whole community to advocate for themselves and each other
• Centering historically marginalized people
• Teaching loving and responsible ways of being in community across differences
• Integrating a pedagogy of social justice throughout all aspects of school life
• Dismantling systems of exclusion, inequity, and oppression.
• Inspiring students to express pride, confidence, and healthy self-esteem without denying the value and dignity of other people
• Learning from our mistakes

SCOPE OF WORK

The selected consultant, educator, or practitioner will partner with the school in several interconnected areas of community and institutional life, including: Strategic Leadership & Institutional Partnership

• Collaborate with school leadership to support strategic initiatives and institutional reflection through an equity-informed lens
• Serve as a thought partner around community climate, inclusive practices, and long-term visioning
• Help identify opportunities for growth and alignment across the school community Faculty & Staff Development
• Design and facilitate ongoing professional development for faculty and staff, including approximately one 90-minute session per month during faculty meeting time
• Support faculty capacity-building around culturally responsive practices, identity-conscious teaching, belonging, and equitable classroom environments
• Offer practical tools, reflection opportunities, and sustainable approaches for educators Curriculum Consultation & Instructional Support
• Partner with Division Heads, curriculum coordinators, and teachers to strengthen curricular practices and classroom experiences
• Provide consultation and coaching related to inclusive curriculum development, representation, classroom culture, and student engagement
• Be available for individual support and partnership with teachers as needs arise throughout the year Family & Community Engagement
• Facilitate at least one parent/caregiver education event per quarter focused on supporting children from historically underrepresented communities
• Serve as a resource to parent affinity groups and support community-building efforts that strengthen belonging and connection across the school community Community Programming
• Deliver lessons, activities, discussions, and experiences related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for students in grades K-8, in partnership with teachers
• Support the planning and facilitation of heritage celebrations, cultural programming, assemblies, and other community experiences that reflect the diversity of the school community and broader world
• Help ensure programming is meaningful, developmentally appropriate, and connected to the mission and values of the school

STRUCTURE & SCHEDULE

This is an 11-month project, which begins August 1, 2026 and runs through June 30, 2027, and is structured as approximately 24 hours per week of engagement during the 2026-2027 school year. This engagement requires an ability and willingness to to be on-site at the School in order to provide direct support to leadership, faculty, and staff.

The anticipated weekly schedule includes:

• Half day on-site on Mondays (8:00-12:00)
• Full day on-site on Wednesdays (8:00-4:00)
• Additional flexible hours arranged in collaboration with school leadership to support programming, planning, meetings, and community engagement
• these hours generally will be planned in half-day/four-hour increments Compensation for this role is budgeted at approximately $50,000
• $60,000 for the academic year, commensurate with experience and scope of services.

This position is supervised directly by the Head of School.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

• Significant experience leading or supporting DEIB work in independent schools or relevant educational organizations
• Strong facilitation and professional development skills
• Experience working with faculty, leadership teams, families, and students across multiple constituencies
• Knowledge of culturally responsive pedagogy and inclusive curriculum practices
• Ability to build trust, navigate complexity, maintain confidentiality, and work collaboratively within a mission-driven school environment
• Student-centered approach
• Excellent communication, organizational, and relational skills
• A bachelor's degree is required; a master's degree in a related field is preferred
• Experience in independent schools and/or Quaker educational environments is highly valued but not required.

APPLICATION/PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Interested candidates or organizations are invited to submit:

• A letter of interest
• Resume or organizational profile
• Brief description of approach/philosophy related to equity and belonging work in schools
• Relevant experience and references Priority deadline for proposal submissions is May 29.

Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

To submit:

Please send the materials listed above to Rachel Kane, FCS's Head of School, at rachelk@friendscommunityschool.org.

TERMS & CONDITIONS 1.

Reservation of Rights The School reserves the right to:

• Reject any or all proposals;
• Waive informalities or irregularities in proposals received;
• Request clarification or additional information from any proposer;
• Cancel or modify the RFP process at any time;
• Negotiate modifications to proposals submitted; and
• Accept any proposal deemed to be in the best interest of the School, whether or not it is the lowest-priced proposal.

Submission of a proposal does not guarantee the award of a contract. 2. Non-Binding RFP This RFP is a solicitation for proposals only and does not constitute a contract or an offer to contract. The issuance of this RFP does not obligate the School to enter into an agreement with any vendor or to pay any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of proposals. 3. Proposal Costs All costs associated with preparing and submitting a proposal, participating in interviews or demonstrations, or responding to requests for additional information shall be borne solely by the proposer. 4. Confidentiality All materials submitted in response to this RFP shall become the property of the School and may be retained for the School's records. Proposers should clearly identify any information they consider confidential or proprietary. The School will use reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of proprietary information to the extent permitted by law and School policy. 5. Vendor Communications All communications regarding this RFP must be directed solely to the designated School contact identified in this RFP. Vendors shall not contact members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, parents, or other representatives of the School regarding this RFP except as expressly authorized. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification. 6. Proposal Validity Proposals must remain valid and binding for a period of at least ninety (90) days following the proposal submission deadline unless otherwise stated in the RFP. 7. Insurance Requirements The selected vendor may be required to provide certificates of insurance evidencing appropriate coverage, including but not limited to:

• Commercial General Liability;
• Workers' Compensation;
• Professional Liability/Errors & Omissions; and
• Cyber Liability Insurance, if applicable.

Coverage limits and requirements will be specified prior to contract execution. 8. Background Checks and Student Safety If vendor personnel will have access to campus, students, or confidential student information, the School reserves the right to require background checks, fingerprinting, and compliance with all applicable student safety and child protection policies. 9. Compliance with Laws The selected vendor shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances, including but not limited to employment laws, data privacy requirements, and nondiscrimination laws. 10. Data Security and Privacy To the extent the services involve access to student, parent, employee, or School data, the selected vendor shall maintain appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect such information against unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. The School may require execution of a separate data privacy or confidentiality agreement. 11. Conflict of Interest Proposers shall disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest involving the School, its employees, administrators, or trustees. 12. Ownership of Work Product Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all deliverables, reports, work product, and materials developed specifically for the School pursuant to any resulting agreement shall become the property of the School upon payment in full. 13. Contract Negotiation The selected vendor will be required to enter into a written agreement acceptable to the School. The School reserves the right to negotiate terms and conditions, including scope, pricing, deliverables, timelines, and service levels, prior to final contract execution. 14. No Exclusivity The School reserves the right to procure similar or related services from other vendors or sources at any time. 15. Withdrawal of Proposal A proposer may withdraw its proposal at any time prior to the submission deadline by providing written notice to the School. After the deadline, proposals may not be withdrawn for the duration of the proposal validity period. 16. Governing Law Any agreement resulting from this RFP shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Maryland. 17. Equal Opportunity The School is committed to providing equal opportunity and encourages proposals from qualified vendors regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected classification under applicable law.