Belonging at DAA

Durham Aspire Academy strives to create a school community and culture where ALL members feel like they belong and can be their authentic selves every day. Our school will intentionally mirror the residents of the West Triangle because we believe that a school environment that is diverse enhances thinking, informs intellectual debate, and is open to a multitude of perspectives. Each member of our community will bring their individual stories and experiences to use as entry points for reflection, discussion, listening, and learning. DAA will be a school community that moves beyond tolerance to an understanding of our humanity and respect for diversity in all its facets.


We commit to...

  • Taking responsible action to build a foundation of cultural competency, aimed at lifting the strengths, needs, and experiences of all in our community and beyond

  • Proactively design and deliver an inclusive and equitable, student-centered curriculum, which honors the diverse identities of all the students in our community

  • Implementing this curriculum in ways that promote understanding others and ourselves in the world around us

  • Learning and growing in the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion and sharing our work forward beyond our school's walls

  • Learning intentionally from our mistakes and working to make positive changes in our community and world

  • Asking for support when engaged in the difficult and complex conversations and challenges before us

  • Seeking differing perspectives, remaining open-minded to others' views, and listening and withholding judgment when possible

  • Intentionally following up on these conversations using compassion, a willingness to work together for positive change, understanding, connection, and growth

  • Fostering collegial relationships through interactions that are meaningful, honest, direct, and joyful


The previous statements were taken from Georgetown Day School, a national independent school leader in diversity education. They will serve as a starting point for our commitment to belonging at DAA and will be reviewed periodically with the intention of ensuring that they continue to meet the needs of our community.