| | | | | Dear Friend, Sometimes, life takes you back to places you’ve been before—but often with new purpose and perspective. A year ago, I stood in Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama, on a long-awaited trip with a dear friend. Though it was only two days, the weight of the history we encountered shifted something inside of me. As I walked through the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, I realized the story I thought I knew of American history had gaps—gaps that carry profound lessons for all of us. According to a survey by the Southern Poverty Law Center, more than half of Americans believe that our country still has not fully acknowledged the legacy of racial injustice. Those two days deepened my commitment to integrating this history into Pollyanna’s mission. Now, one year later, I return with a remarkable group of 20 Pollyanna educators, family and friends for three days in Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma. Together, we’ll walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, marking the 60th anniversary of the 1965 march for voting rights—a movement that saw 25,000 marchers united in the fight for justice. We will visit the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, where the tragic 1963 bombing that killed four young girls galvanized the Civil Rights Movement, and stand in Kelly Ingram Park, where over 1,000 children, some as young as 6, faced police dogs and fire hoses in peaceful protest. At the Equal Justice Initiative, we’ll confront the enduring legacy of racial injustice, where over 4,400 documented lynchings in the U.S. between 1877 and 1950 are remembered. In Selma, we’ll honor the courage of those whose actions helped pave the way for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a law that enfranchised millions of Black Americans and continues to protect voter rights today. This journey is about more than education—it’s about reflection and growth. The events we’ll revisit shaped the lives of millions and continue to resonate in today’s ongoing fight for equity and inclusion. As we process these experiences together, we will carry them forward, fueling Pollyanna’s mission to Build Stronger and Kinder Communities. Warmly, | |  | | | | | From Challenge to Change: Strengthening Teams and Departments in K-12 Schools Creating thriving team cultures in a K-12 school requires more than good intentions—it demands intentional reflection, open dialogue, and collective commitment. This two-part series is designed to help teams and departments surface key challenges, foster trust, and develop actionable solutions that strengthen collaboration and communication. See Resource below for more information. | | | | | Join us for our final workshops for this school year before the Summer Sessions kick off. Joanna Lovett will explore ways in which you can make your admissions process and practices more inclusive and mission-aligned. And, David Smith will examine ways schools can maximize revenue, specifically fundraising and tuition, and create a greater sense of community and belonging at the same time. | | | | | | Teen Council's April Meetup Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a head of school? Come meet Saya McKenna on April 27 at noon PT, 3PM ET on Zoom. This is her first year as head of school at Drew School in San Francisco. She will share her experiences. Bring some good questions! If you're between 13-18 years old and interested in joining us, please fill out this form and we'll share the Zoom info. | | | | | | Summer 2025 Workshop Series Even though summer feels far away, get a taste of it now with the introduction our new series: Renewing Your Commitment to Your School’s Mission and Values. We are offering topical workshops with dynamic facilitators for one price for all 12 workshops for all of your school employees. In addition to participating live on Zoom, each workshop will be recorded, and archived and available to view until August 31. Click here to see this incredible line up and register your school for an incredible summer. | | | | | | | | | | Because We Are Naledi Semela examined why and how strong teams make the most of those times when we see the world differently. 3 takeaways: 1. We must pursue wisdom hearing perspectives we do not have 2. When we find a framework that leads to positive results by overcoming blind spots, do not abandon that for the next decision 3. Remember the golden rule, Ubuntu: we are not human without connection to other humans. Disagreement is a gift, not a burden | | | | | | A Quick Trip It was a whirlwind two days in San Francisco. Casper Caldarola met with four schools, while Jason Craige Harris led six impactful workshops. A standout moment was Jason’s workshop for parents at Drew School, Building Stability: Navigating Tough Conversations with Teens and Pre-Teens. Through real-life scenarios and practical strategies, the session equipped parents with tools to foster open, respectful, and constructive dialogue, ensuring that even the toughest conversations become opportunities for growth and understanding. | | | | | | Trillium Team Building Pollyanna facilitator Jason Craige Harris joined the Trillium team’s retreat to lead a session on fostering a culture of care, trust, and collaboration. Through immersive exercises, participants deepened their sense of self-worth, strengthened team connections, and explored practices for achieving ambitious goals. Trillium, a landscape design company dedicated to beautifying neighborhoods in New York City and beyond, brought thoughtfulness and energy to the experience. It was a pleasure to partner with them for such an insightful and empowering day. | | | | | | | | | | | | From Challenge to Change: Strengthening Teams & Departments in K-12 Schools Session 1: Naming the Barriers
Participants will engage in a 90-minute facilitated conversation to explore unspoken tensions, recurring challenges, and cultural dynamics that may be limiting team effectiveness. Through structured reflection and dialogue, we will identify patterns that shape the team experience and set the stage for meaningful change. To ensure an open and productive conversation about what may be standing in the way of the culture you aspire to create, we will use a carefully designed facilitation process. As part of this process, participants will have the opportunity to share anonymous reflections that will inform our discussion. Excerpts from these reflections—without attribution—will help guide our dialogue. Session 2: Building the Path Forward
With a clearer understanding of the roadblocks, this 90-minute session will focus on generating practical solutions and making commitments that drive positive cultural shifts. Teams will collaboratively outline strategies to enhance trust, accountability, and shared purpose, ensuring that insights from Session 1 translate into sustained improvements in team dynamics and school leadership. By the end of this series, participants will leave with a deeper sense of alignment, clarity, and a roadmap for building a culture where all members feel valued, heard, and equipped to lead effectively. To learn more and book the sessions, email info@pollyanna-us.org | | | | | | | | | | "Pollyanna has been a transformative and supportive partner in our school's equity and inclusion journey, instrumental in building community, training on inclusive practices, and creating robust support networks that foster belonging, understanding, and institutional growth." Debbie E. Lumpkin, Chief People, Culture & Inclusion Officer Crystal Springs Upland School, CA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pollyanna, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation 501(c)(3). © 2025 Pollyanna | New York, NY 10075 | | | | | | | |
