Driving Equity and Transformation at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools

At Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, leadership in equity, anti-racism, and transformative change has redefined the network’s approach to supporting students and staff. Through innovative frameworks, comprehensive audits, and targeted professional development, Alliance is advancing its commitment to fostering inclusive, pro-Black environments that empower every scholar. By focusing on systemic change and equitable outcomes, the initiatives highlighted below demonstrate a sustained effort to ensure that all members of the Alliance community can thrive in a supportive and inclusive culture.

Leadership in Equity Programs 

As Chief Equity Programs Officer at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, leadership in designing and executing the vision for a thriving, creative, anti-racist, and pro-Black strategy is key to advancing equitable outcomes across the network. Below are several initiatives that reflect this commitment:

The Guide: Anti-Racism and Equity Framework 

As Chief Equity Programs Officer at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, I initiated and created "The Guide," a comprehensive tool designed to provide centralized guidance and resources across the network. This tool ensures support for all scholars, particularly those historically marginalized, by offering a cohesive framework for addressing equity challenges. Drawing from robust data sets, three-year network priorities, and community feedback, the guide reflects our collective progress in confronting systemic racism and provides clear, actionable pathways for implementing equity-focused practices throughout all schools in the network.

DEI, Anti-Racism, and Transformative Arc of Learning 

As Chief Equity Programs Officer at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, I led the creation and implementation of a comprehensive DEI, Anti-Racism, and Transformative Arc of Learning initiative. This initiative engaged over 200 leaders, including Home Office staff, principals, assistant principals, and deans of culture across the network’s 26 schools. Designed to provide ongoing monthly professional development, the program built equity capacity and empowered leaders to apply an equity lens to their work. Under my leadership, this initiative became a cornerstone of Alliance’s commitment to fostering inclusive environments and advancing organizational culture.

Testimonial: Prior to the work that Dr. Griffith led, Alliance's DEI work was happening in silos and lacking directionality. Dr. Debra established a clear, comprehensive and sequential learning arc. In Year 1, the same learning happened across different stakeholder groups (APs, DI, Deans, Principals, Home office Employees) and in subsequent years, that deep learning allowed for transference across multiple groups to ensure that equity is living across all 26 of our schools. -Dr. Andre Lawe, Managing Instructional Superintendent

No Place for Hate Framework 

As Chief Equity Programs Officer, I spearheaded the adoption and network-wide implementation of the "No Place for Hate" framework across 26 schools. This initiative focused on creating safe, inclusive spaces that reject all forms of hate, ensuring alignment with the organization’s commitment to equity and inclusion. The framework has been pivotal in shaping school culture and promoting an environment where all students and staff can thrive.

Testimonial: Working with Debra to implement the No Place for Hate (NPFH) initiative at our school has been a transformative experience for both our scholars and staff. Through her vision, leadership, and dedication, we successfully launched a student-first, student-led program that empowers our 9-12 grade students to become upstanders against bullying and hate speech. Under her guidance, over 300 students across 26 schools in our network joined forces this year to launch the NPFH initiative this year, and it has been remarkable to witness how the program equips students with the language and tools to say something when they see something. Partnering with Debra has been an honor as we work together to bring anti-racist and pro-Black commitments to our high school - Dr. Nam Kyu Kang, Assistant Principal, Gertz-Ressler Hight School

DEI Audit with the Center for Racial Justice in Education 

As Chief Equity Programs Officer, I led the initiation and oversight of a comprehensive DEI audit in collaboration with the Center for Racial Justice in Education, assessing all 26 schools within the network. The audit identified key areas for growth and provided data-driven strategies to strengthen anti-racist practices across the organization. The findings have informed ongoing improvements, ensuring equity remains central to both student and staff experiences.

Black Women’s Design Sprint 

As Chief Equity Programs Officer, I initiated and led a Design Sprint focused on addressing the needs of Black women within the organization. A core group of Black women from various roles across the network collaborated to develop over 20 prototypes aimed at addressing workplace harm, enhancing care and support, and promoting well-being. Three solutions are currently being tested to foster professional growth, retention, and overall support for Black women across the organization.

Testimonial: As a Core Design Team member in the liberatory design sprint, I had the opportunity to partner with Design For Emergence, focusing on creating innovative and inclusive solutions that center the experiences and needs of Black Female Leaders and Black staff within my organization. This experience positively impacted me by deepening my understanding of equity and inclusion, especially in the workplace, and allowed me to contribute meaningfully to a framework that ensures Black staff are supported, valued, and able to express their views openly. Through this collaboration, I gained insights into designing systems that foster care, well-being, and timely, actionable change for all team members. This has empowered me to advocate for more equitable practices in my own work environment. Thank you Debra for your leadership and vision of our Core Design team - Taedra Morris, Director, Human Resources