Belonging at St. Paul's
Deborah Lira
Director of Equity & Belonging
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Close your eyes.
Imagine sitting in a classroom where there is a vast tapestry of socioeconomic and racial diversity, yet there are also teachers and students who look like you and your classmates. A place where diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just words on a poster but are core values that bring your community together. Imagine realizing that when you walked through the doors of your school, you didn't have to leave a single piece of yourself outside.
Open your eyes.
You’re at St. Paul’s, a place where belonging goes beyond anything you could have imagined! Over fifty years ago, our founders looked at the world and dared to make that dream a reality. St. Paul’s is a school rooted in the true soul of Oakland. It is the embodiment of what school can be for everyone. It is a carefully crafted place where students, families, and teachers learn and grow together.
For us, belonging isn’t a checklist, a program, or a destination.
Belonging is a daily practice.
Moving with Purpose: Collaboration & Self-Discipline
Human Literacy in a Tech-Driven World
We are living through changing times with rapidly changing challenges. In a world increasingly dominated by AI, shifting social media landscapes, and fractured digital connections, St. Paul’s refuses to wall our kids off in an artificial bubble.
Instead, we anchor them. We call this Human Literacy.
When the digital world threatens to isolate, we lean into authentic human connection. We host age-appropriate, honest discussions about the real world. We teach our students how to think critically, disagree with empathy, and log off with confidence.
We are an adaptive school because the world demands adaptive leaders. We know exactly when to hold onto the traditions that serve our soul, and when to let go of what no longer serves our future.
Grounded Kids
What does all of this careful, intentional work produce?
Grounded kids. Children who leave St. Paul’s knowing exactly who they are, secure in their identity, and practiced in the art of empathy. They don't just survive the real world—they are entirely ready to lead it, change it, and make it a just (justice) place where everyone belongs. They are ready to take on the question: How do I contribute to a just and inclusive community?
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