Parent/Caregiver Toolkit: Responding to the 2024 NAIS PoCC

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference, held from December 4-7, 2024 in Denver, was intended to be the flagship of NAIS’s commitment to equity and justice in teaching and learning for independent schools. However, one group of teachers and students was notably excluded from the conference’s stated goals: the Jews. Several speakers, including the keynote speaker, used extreme, biased anti-Israel rhetoric, including falsely accusing Israel of “genocide,” calling its creation “racist,” referring to those killed in Gaza as “martyrs,” while downplaying the Hamas terrorist attack on 10/7. Jewish teachers and students in attendance reported feeling excluded and marginalized. Per one firsthand account, “We felt so unsafe that we tucked our Magen Davids (Jewish stars) inside our shirts as others glared and whispered.”

ADL and several other leading groups in the Jewish community wrote to the head of NAIS expressing their outrage at what occurred during the conference. The NAIS President, Debra Wilson, then reached out to "express my profound remorse over the divisive and hurtful rhetoric expressed on stage at last week’s NAIS People of Color Conference in Denver. There is no place for antisemitism at NAIS events, in our member schools, or in society." ADL appreciates both the expressions of remorse from Wilson and the outline of new steps being instituted to avoid future incidents involving speakers at NAIS events. While these steps are welcome, we remain hopeful that NAIS will take further action to educate its member schools on this type of rhetoric. Join our demand here.

If you are a parent or caregiver of a student who attends a NAIS-member independent school, you have the power to make your voice heard and affect positive change in your school community.

What can parents ask their schools to do?

Emphasize the Impact

• If the school has not done so already, it should address the students and faculty who attended and were directly impacted by the antisemitic statements made at the conference which created a hostile environment for Jewish attendees.
• Before reaching out to your school, consider reviewing ADL’s guidance, Championing Change: How Parents and Families Can Address Antisemitism in Schools. This guide walks parents and caregivers through ways to prepare for these conversations and gives examples of common incidents and what to do in response.
• Make clear that this type of rhetoric was at odds with the purpose of the conference and the values of the school.
• Explain why the rhetoric and slides used by the speakers was problematic, including the extreme, biased, and false anti-Zionist and anti-Israel rhetoric.
• These guides can help those discussions:
  • Israel in the Curriculum
  • 10 Ways to Have Conscientious Conversations on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
  • Questions, Complexities and Context: Insights into Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
• In your conversation, it’s important to not discount the value and purpose of the PoCC and the otherwise enriching experiences that attendees had while also ensuring accountability and asking about the value of the conference for the school community.

Communication to the school community

• If the school hasn’t already done so, it should send a communication to the entire school community making clear that antisemitism is not acceptable and share the steps the school will be taking going forward.
• Prompt, intentional and specific communication with the school community makes a big difference. Statements from school leadership sets the tone for the community.
• Communication should be timely; describe the nature of the incident, use thoughtful, inclusive language, and choose terms that respect how affected communities self-identify; denounce the incident and reaffirm your school’s values.
• For additional guidance, see ADL’s Responding to Bias Incidents in Middle and High Schools: Resources and Best Practices for School Administrators & Educators.

Review and adopt ADL’s Best Practices for Combating Antisemitism in K-12 Schools

• Clearly define antisemitism and ensure consistent application.
• Educate students, teachers and community members about antisemitism, and ensure robust Holocaust education in school.
• Clearly communicate and enforce all policies and protocols, including codes of conduct and anti-bullying, anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies, and ensure robust reporting mechanisms are in place.
• Ensure that schools do not teach problematic content that amplifies antisemitism and delegitimizes/demonizes the State of Israel and its existence.
• Speak out and take action when antisemitism takes place.
• Ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for Jewish students.
• Additional resources are available at ADL’s Antisemitism in the Classroom Hub.

Elevate concerns to NAIS/pressure NAIS to take additional steps to address the issue

• As an independent school and a member of the NAIS, your voice matters and you can join the chorus of voices urging NAIS to take the necessary steps to address antisemitism in schools. There are several sign-on letters circulating, or schools can send their own letter or otherwise make sure they are on the record making clear to NAIS that antisemitism has no place in our schools, our School Association or any programming.
• Ensure that NAIS follows through on their commitment to better vet speakers and presentations for future conferences.
• Commit to continued learning on understanding and combatting antisemitism.