Faculty Book Club Encourages Discussion

Eagle Hill School’s faculty-led DEI Book Club brings about meaningful conversations and strengthens the community’s commitment to inclusivity through shared readings and thoughtful dialogue.

We have continued to create an equitable and inclusive environment for our Eagle Hill community this year by expanding our DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) program. One of the ways we bring our community together is through a DEI book club that included all faculty. By bringing together our staff from different backgrounds with different experiences, we are enhancing our awareness of diverse topics and having meaningful conversations that may not have happened otherwise.

The purpose of the book club is far beyond just reading books. Each book was chosen to broaden our understanding of diverse perspectives and provide insights into issues that may not be part of our everyday lives. These shared readings give us a window into challenging experiences that differ significantly from our own, helping deepen our understanding and relationships.

One of the most valuable aspects of this book club is the open dialogue it encourages among each faculty group. We can push beyond our comfort zones and openly discuss topics outside our immediate knowledge. As educators, we take on the responsibility of learning and evolving for our students and ourselves. Our conversations at the book club are a powerful tool for professional development and personal growth. The faculty can bring the gained awareness back to their classroom and the EHS community. 

A commitment to lifelong learning and improving our understanding creates a more inclusive and supportive school community. Expanding our DEI program is a reminder that education is a journey, and as educators, we are role models for our students in fostering an inclusive future.

The book for the fall season was The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, a DACA recipient (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). In the book, she embarks on a deeply personal journey to explore the lives of undocumented immigrants across the United States. Karla sets out to share the often overlooked and complex stories of immigrants beyond the typical narratives of border politics, activism, and mainstream media. Traveling from New York to Miami, Flint, Cleveland, and Connecticut, she tells the stories of laborers who cleaned Ground Zero after 9/11, those seeking alternative healthcare in botanicas, and families fighting for survival in the face of systemic injustice. Blending investigative reporting with her own experiences, Karla unveils the deep bonds, struggles, and resilience of undocumented life, ultimately questioning what it means to be American.

During the winter, faculty will read Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult.  The book follows a Black labor and delivery nurse who faces a moral dilemma when white supremacist parents request that she not care for their newborn. What’s interesting about this novel is that the story is told from three perspectives: the nurse, the father, and the nurse’s public defender. As the trial unfolds, the story reveals the struggle to navigate issues of race, privilege, and justice, forcing the characters to confront their biases and assumptions. Although this book is fiction, the complexities of systemic racism and the challenges that come with it are explored, and ultimately, they do not offer easy answers. The issues raised in this book will make for a great discussion among the faculty in the book club.

I chose the book Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar for the spring season. The fictional book is about a Syrian American trans boy named Nadir who grapples with the loss of his mother, the haunting of her ghost, and his struggle to embrace his true identity. Five years after a mysterious fire claimed his mother’s life, Nadir, living in New York’s Little Syria, is haunted by his past and avoids his family and community. His only refuge is painting murals at night, but everything changes when he discovers the journal of Laila Z, a Syrian American artist who disappeared over sixty years ago. Nadir uncovers hidden stories of queer and transgender people in his community, past and present, as he reads the journal. Through these revelations, Nadir finds the courage to claim a new name, his own identity, and the resilience of his community. Although the book is fiction, Zeyn wrote not only from extensive research but also from his own lived experience. 

It is important to choose books beyond issues that only focused on race. The books we will read the rest of the year have a sprinkle of race, identity, and sexuality. A commitment to lifelong learning and improving our understanding creates a more inclusive and supportive school community. Expanding our DEI program is a reminder that education is a journey, and as educators, we are role models for our students in fostering an inclusive future.

Sabrina Perez comes to Eagle Hill with sixteen years in public education. She was a teacher and counselor in Austin, Texas as well as in Los Angeles, California. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Soon after teaching for a few years, she completed her master’s degree in counseling and guidance. She was a counselor for the past 12 years in both middle and high schools.

Dr. Perez arrived at Eagle Hill to be the first Dean of Equity, Inclusion, and Leadership. She is very passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion work as she completed her Ph.D. in School Improvement with a focus on social justice and cultural competency. Dr. Perez arrived at Eagle Hill to be the first Dean of Equity, Inclusion, and Leadership. She is very passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion work as she completed her Ph.D. in School Improvement with a focus on social justice and cultural competency.