On March 21, Head of School Lee Fertig announced in a community-wide email that Shawn Taylor was selected as Nueva’s new director of Equity & Inclusion (E&I). He had received a unanimous recommendation from the search committee.
Composed of representatives from each division—and led by Director of Enrollment & Strategic Engagement Taryn Grogan and Lower School Division Head Megan Terra—the committee screened diverse candidates from across the nation.
The searches followed former Equity & Inclusion director Savannah Strong’s departure at the end of the 2022—2023 school year.
Her sudden exit meant that the school had to conduct a “compressed” search for a new E&I director last spring, according to Grogan. Although the committee met with several candidates and brought at least two finalists to campus, ultimately they were unable to agree on a candidate.
“We just didn’t find the right person,” Grogan said.
To assist with the search, the Upper School enlisted Educators Collaborative—an organization that helps schools hire qualified candidates in administrative roles.
In the context of equity and inclusion, Educators Collaborative works with schools to “devise strategy” around diversity initiatives, through supporting diversity-oriented programs and assisting with efforts to increase enrollment of students of color, according to Andre Withers, a partner at the firm who assisted with Nueva’s hiring process.
Over an initial phone call, Fertig and Educators Collaborative exchanged values, priorities, and information about the scope and responsibilities of the job. Afterward, Educators Collaborative determined Withers—who holds a background in diversity, equity, and inclusion work—as the best liaison for Nueva’s search team.
In working with Nueva, Withers found it “refreshing” to observe the school’s advanced progress in its diversity and inclusion initiatives compared to other schools with which he’s partnered.
Withers described school search efforts at Educators Collaborative as a balance of “passive and active” efforts. On the passive side, the organization posted a listing for Nueva’s director of E&I and ensured that it would be viewable on list serves. On the active side, Educators Collaborative “identif[ied] other schools and other people who have worked in positions aligned with [Nueva’s] approach,” Withers said.
For Grogan, possessing strong community values was an essential quality that the search team pursued in a hire. Whoever takes the mantle will be “connecting with every constituent,” she said.
“We want someone who is all about building community,” Grogan emphasized.
In the announcement email, Fertig echoed Grogan’s sentiment with a reflection on Taylor’s idea of “micro-alliances,” relations between anyone based on “creating connection and highlighting shared interests, experiences, and values.”
“I look forward to seeing the many ways that Shawn’s positive leadership and expertise in relationship-building will benefit and expand Nueva’s Beloved Community,” Fertig said.
From a Nueva-specific standpoint, Terra said that any student-facing E&I faculty needs to have a dynamic understanding of how giftedness is intertwined with equity and inclusion.
“It’s a really important space to build clarity around understanding how serving gifted learners is a piece of equity and inclusion,” she said.
The months-long search ultimately led to Taylor, who recognized the intertwined nature of giftedness and inclusion work. “When [we] talk about justice and equity, what we’re really talking about is allowing people to be their full selves without fear of reprisal or repression,” Taylor reflected. “Many gifted students are punished or told to not shine so brightly.”
Taylor holds 20 years of experience in equity and inclusion work and was previously Las Positas College’s Director of Student Equity and Success. His vast resume includes publishing two books, being a founding member of Nerds of Color and the Black and Brown Comix Arts Festival, and earning features in the New York Times for his writing on masculinity and parenting.
His passion for equity work is guided by his personal experiences and his belief in empowering students by recognizing their individualities. “I think what the principles of [diversity] work can help us help teens to always feel that they can shine no matter what,” he said.
While Taylor learned about Nueva many years ago and resonated with the school’s mission to serve gifted students, his skillset had never aligned with available positions. Having grown up “gifted” himself, he realized a meaningful connection to the school. When the E&I director position opened up in the fall, he jumped at the opportunity.
Between the initial screening process, a dinner with the search committee, and an interview day over 10 hours long, Taylor recalled what fully convinced him of Nueva as the right place for him. In a student-guided tour of the Upper School campus with Maverick Tour Guides Zara Mirza ’25 and Alexis Tuchinda ’24, Taylor was impressed by the students’ honesty, intelligence, and character. “I was like, ‘oh, this is it!’ That’s who I want to be around,” he said.
Finally, Taylor received a phone call from Fertig: the offer. After accepting, Taylor began work on May 1. Over the summer and into next fall, he will continue the work of creating and coordinating inclusion initiatives across Nueva’s three divisions.
“I’m looking forward to how best I can be of service. I want my presence to enhance wherever I’m at,” Taylor shared.
