StrateGenius

Here is a definitive example of the power and effect of having a strong teacher of color in a class, and a school- Rachel Parrish's Classroom 1A, 2006:

"You were certainly a GREAT support to me this year in my search, my friend!"

Matthew Stuart, former Director of the Middle School National Cathedral School, Washington, DC

"....you have introduced me to a great atmosphere, a great bunch of people and a new beginning I believe-

Thanks a Million"

Ed Gaye, Chemistry Teacher, Little Red Schoolhouse/Elizabeth Irwin High School, New York. NY

"Hi Orpheus: Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciated your discussion tonight in the Color of Friendship room. You got middle-schoolers to talk – bravo! Thank you! It was a wonderful evening. Jessie loved it all!"

Jen Gorovitz, Parent at Windrush School, El Cerrito, CA

"Orpheus,

I wish a million times I had contacted you in July or August when Ian gave me your name as a contact person. You have been extremely helpful.

The day , I e-mailed you with my personal statement and resume, I received within an hour time, a phone call from you and that same evening Eagle Rock contacted me. I have spoken to Robert several times from Eagle Rock. He certainly seem to be an ok guy.

A few days later, I was hearing from the French International School in San Francisco, Lakeside, Bush and Calhoun. These are all wonderful schools. I have been really impressed by you familiarity with such famous and good institiutions.

Last week, Bentley also contacted me. They all seem keen on hiring or interviewing me for math positions for next year. I can't say how much I appreciate what you did for me.

I have not met you but I feel as if I already know you. You seem to be extremely patience and a person who listens to his clients. I can tell you take a special interest in your clients. That was certainly the case with me.

You certainly seem to have some very good connections and contacts. I would certainly use you again. I will definitely recommend you to other candidates. Please feel free to use me as a reference.

I look forward to meeting you."

Mattie Boyce, Math Teacher

"Jerry says he knows Orpheus from when he (Jerry) was head of school at Cheshire Academy, and sends greetings. When I asked him for his thoughts about constituting a search committee, he said his first advice was to make sure Orpheus was a part of it. I told him we were grateful that Orpheus had already agreed to do so. So thanks, Orpheus, for your involvement!"

Natasha Beery, former Chair of Board of Trustees, Windrush School

"I thank you for helping give me the language to push things along and for your support!! It took one day!!

We will be in touch!!

Peace!! Shalom and Salaam!!!"

Nitza Azam, faculty member Sacred Heart Schools, CA

"Thanks for the encouragement Orpheus. I really needed to hear it today! You are a blessing in our community."

Best, Monique

Monique Pittman-Lui, KS

"Orpheus,

It sounds like a pretty good day for me! Can't wait to see you. If something comes up, I'll let you know. So far, Calhoun has been a great experience. Kara is no joke! She's awesome! I love working with her; she's been so helpful in helping me adjust to the program and in designing projects for diversity. Thanks for recruiting me and getting me this opportunity!

Be Blessed!"

Lawrence Ervin Brown, NY

"Well Orpheus,
You have done it again! Great articles and information, all this from an "old, radical, Latina!" Be well my a friend and may you continue to do the work that you do so well."
Olivia Brown, CA

"Orph:

Again, it was a fantastic opportunity to run SCI-FY this summer, thanks again for bringing me on board. You're right, we did "make a difference" in each of their lives -- I know this and I need to keep reminding me of this. When will any of them ever have a two-week intensive academic progrm lead and taught primarily by two AA bruthas....

And with you holding down BFOIT, I'm sure they've never been part of a program where three African American "bruthas" were leading similar programs for youth at the same time and at the same place.

Everything happens for a reason. Still to this day, whenever I share my story of how I got involved in teaching AND how I was turned on to "coaching", I'm always talking about this "cat named Orph" who always takes care of me. I don't say this lightly... you have truly provided opportunities for me to do some incredible work and "make a difference", and these opportunities have had a huge impact on who I am as a person (and becoming), as a husband/partner, and as a father. From Summerbridge in '93, to SCI-FY in '06, I say thank you! I know I'm one of many that have a similar Orph story - you are truly a warrior for social justice."

peace,
Mark

"Good morning Orpheus!

I would like to thank you and your program for making my dreams come true. i have already spread the word to some of my friend in collage about your program. What you did to me can not be measured, and all i can say is thank you...! thank you...! thank you..!

If for some reason you want to talk to me or you need my help at any time, fell free to contact me at ( ) or you can email me.

Again' thank you Strategenius!"

bye

Ephraim

Hey Orpheus -

Ephraim is doing great! The kids love him and he seems happy. He pops by every now and then to see me but just from seeing him around campus, I think he is adjusting well. I know that the drama class he is helping in is throwing him and their drama teacher a party today following a very successful 5th grade mime show!

Thanks for sending Ephraim to us!
Jana

Jana D. Simons
Assistant to Assistant Headmaster
Episcopal School of Dallas

"Ayodele is great. I have had only very positive feedback from everyone at school. He is a great help with the football team, and he and I plan to do some workshops with the seventh and eighth graders. We are also considering consulting him on our traffic flow problems, seeing that that is his area.

He also expressed interest in the POCC conference, and the school has agreed to his attending, so we will both see you there."

Jenny, Saint Mark's School, CA

This is superb! Thanks very much for the list!
Erich Cluxton
Academic Dean
Christ School (NC)

Dear Orpheus:

Thank you very much for sending these resource e-mails. I always forward them to the full faculty and they are quite appreciative.

Eileen Powers
Financial Aid Director
(Diversity Committee Chair)
Campbell Hall.

Hi O-
Hope this finds you doing very well. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the information you've been sending. I sent the Women's Month info on to some faculty here at HM. I didn't get to read the Chinese New Year one. Can you resend it to me or is it out of circulation already??
Send it if you can.

Take good care,

Cheryl

Archived photos- please click to visit and see past events and people linked to StratéGenius.org

ABOVE: Orpheus taking a moment with (now deceased) Yolanda King, eldest daughter of late civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., after her riveting performance at the StratéGenius.org sponsored Banquet in her honor, during the NAIS 2004 People of Color Conference, Miami.

ABOVE: Orpheus sharing time with Amy Tan and John Lin, former Head of San Francisco Day School, before her keynote speech at the People of Color Conference, Miami.

ABOVE: Orpheus surrounded by colleagues and former placements, from East to West coasts, at the Klingenstein reception and at the Yolanda King Banquet, respectively; NAIS 2004 People of Color Conference, Miami.

ABOVE: Howard Zinn and Orpheus about to board our flight to Havana, Cuba this past summer (2004). Professor Zinn, a SpeakOut speaker, was asked to talk about and view his play, "Marx in Soho," in Spanish, in Havana. Orpheus, the SpeakOut Board Secretary, presented at the Common Ground Learning Conference on Global Literacy in Havana, Cuba.

ABOVE: Pre-conference activities were organized by Global Exchange, including observing a local CDR meeting and a Santeria in Matanzas, and local schools in Havana to learn more about their advanced system of education and how they have achieved 97% literacy.

BELOW: New French American International School/International High School (FAIS/IHS) board member Orpheus with long-time supporters, Jane Camblin, Head of the FAIS/IHS and Chair of the Council of International School North America Council (far right), Anne-Marie Pierce, FAIS/IHS Trustee & former Head of Washington International School (middle), and the Chair of Science department at FAIS/IHS, at an art exhibit honoring Jane's husband, Roy Camblin's work, at Alliance Francais, SF.

Site of the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Annual Conference on White Privilege, Central College, Pella, Iowa 2001-2004

Orpheus with Peggy McIntosh, National SEED Project Director, from Wellesley College Center for Research on Women and author of "White Privilege and Male Privilege," after her talk at the WPC-5 Conference.

The venerable Jane Elliott, of "Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes" fame, after her riveting session at WPC-5.

LEFT: Orpheus with Charlotte Worsley (Assistant Head, Member The Urban School of San Francisco, CA), Deborah Samake (Humanities Teacher and AIM HIGH Director, The Urban School), and Speaker Jorge Gonzalez.

RIGHT: Teachers and administrators from Member Marin Academy (CA). Jennifer Blake, Academic Dean, is in the middle.

Participating independent schools include Member Schools The Hamlin School (SF), Eagle Rock School (CO), College Preparatory School (CA), Georgetown Day School (DC), Northfield Mount Hermon (MA), Presidio Hill School (SF), Prospect Sierra School (CA), Windrush School (CA), The Branson School (CA), Ethical Culture Fieldston School (NY), The Urban School of San Francisco, Marin Academy (CA), The Athenian School (CA) & The Gordon School (RI), among others.

ABOVE LEFT: Speakers Judy Helfland and Laurie Lippin flank the President of Central College, in Pella Iowa, site of five White Privilege Conferences, with Orpheus.

RIGHT: Orpheus with White Privilege regulars, including (on right) Tarah Fleming of IPride Network, and Speaker Tim Wise

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

LEFT- Organizers of the Louise Derman-Sparks/Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. talk on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, 2007, which drew over 90 independent school and early childhood faculty, and parents from around the San Francisco Bay Area: (from Left)- Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr.- Founder of Conference on White Privilege, Tarah Fleming, white anti-racist organizer and Director of Multicultural Education Program, David Bond- Lower School Head, Windrush School, Louise Derman-Sparks- author of "Anti-Bias Curriculum," and "What if All the Kids Are White?", Orpheus and Dr. Lynn DeJonghe, former Head of Windrush School, El Cerrito, CA.

RIGHT- Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. explaining the impetus and purpose of the Conference on White Privilege, now in it's 8th year. More information on the conference can be found at: www.whiteprivilegeconference.com

Louise talks about the courageous choices she had to make towards fighting her own privilege and understanding that ordinary people can make a difference in the fight for equity and justice. Her first book, "Anti-Bias Curriculum" is seen as the equity-bible for early childhood educators nationally, for the past 20 years, and her new book takes a look at what teachers and administrators can do with regard to diversity, in schools that are predominantly white.

Above RIGHT: In Miami, during the People of Color Conference 2004, after a meal at Haitian restaurant Tap Tap, with Dr. Stephanie Hull, Head of The Brearley School (2nd from right), Tasha Elsbach (Middle School Head, Brearley- 3rd from right, 2nd row), Nancy Nagramada-Pederson (Athenian School Dean of Multicultural Studies- 3rd from right, 1st row), Kara Stern (Associate Head of Calhoun School, NY, 4th from right- 1st row), and faculty and administration from Calhoun School, including Tamara Pearson (Director of Diversity, Calhoun, 1st from left).

Information Exchange......

We focus on helping organizations share information, across institution, so there is less remaking of the wheel, around leadership and diversity. One direct link to candidates is our high season newsletter- Orph's Kickin' Picks- for nonprofit, education and international candidates directly to your emailbox. Over 4000 administrators and faculty receive it monthly.

          The Most Effective Search "Engine" for Diverse Candidates-Combining
                 Time Honored Customer Service with the Latest Technologies

We combine the best of three worlds:

1) Outstanding, diverse faculty, administrative and intern candidates, most of color
2) The highest quality customer service- through phone, fax, regular mail, email
3) New technologies- the internet and real-time digital technologies (Instant Messaging- IM)

This way, you can be confident that your school's needs will be attended to, not automated.

Time Honored Customer Service

Nobody gives personalized customer service the attention we do. Technology cannot
replace relationships with schools, or candidates- only enhance them. Administrative
and faculty placement needs a special relationship to be developed between a school
and search organization. Clear, attentive communication and a familiarity of the needs
of the school are a must for placements that lead to retained employees.

Giddens School

2008

Giddens School completed their search for a new Head of School, hiring Alvin Gilmore, Jr., to begin work July, 2008 (www.giddensschool.org)