The importance of an inclusive community
University School of Milwaukee believes that, in order to develop students as learners, leaders, and citizens, as spelled out in our mission, we must foster an inclusive community for students, their families, and our administration, faculty, and staff. With a deep and long-standing commitment in this area, USM embraces diversity in all of its forms, including race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, ability, gender, and age.
The need for dedicated leadership
Our work on building an inclusive community is a shared responsibility. We believe cultural competency is a requirement for every employee, and a necessity for every graduate, and our inclusion work is reflected throughout our guiding principles. Although this work is a collective effort, like many efforts, it is best achieved when it has an individual dedicated to ensuring its planning and execution. With this in mind, USM set out to find a thoughtful educator, a compassionate listener, and a wise leader with deep experience with inclusion work and a profound commitment to strengthening our school community.
Welcome, Shanee McCoy
Following a national search, USM was excited to identify Shanee McCoy as our top choice to serve as the school’s new director of inclusion. McCoy, who started in the role on Aug. 1, 2023, previously served as the director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Pre-college Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE), overseeing college readiness and success initiatives for low-income and first-generation youth in Madison and Milwaukee. Overall, she has more than 18 years of experience coordinating and facilitating diversity-enriched curriculum and other activities for preschool- through college-aged students.
Learn more about Shanee McCoy’s background and experience
Thought leader and visionary
The director of inclusion role, which is part of the USM leadership team, serves as the school’s key thought leader and visionary around all areas of inclusion and belonging. This intentional endeavor is part of the fabric of all we do at USM, and can be seen through our curriculum and programming as we work to instill understanding and best practices in our students, administrators, faculty, staff, and other members of our community. In her first year in this new role, Shanee McCoy will be a highly visible, engaged presence in the daily life of the school, including regularly visiting classrooms and attending events, as she simultaneously learns and works to strengthen and support everyone at USM.
Director of Inclusion Hire
Steve Hancock
Search Committee: Steve Hancock, Head of School (Chair); Amy Hand, Assistant Head of School; Keenan McAuliffe, Upper School Spanish Teacher; Erica Melick, 1st Grade Teacher; Isabel Ornelas, Director of Human Resources; Ivana Renteria, Middle School Librarian
Steve Hancock
Search Committee: Steve Hancock, Head of School (Chair); Amy Hand, Assistant Head of School; Keenan McAuliffe, Upper School Spanish Teacher; Erica Melick, 1st Grade Teacher; Isabel Ornelas, Director of Human Resources; Ivana Renteria, Middle School Librarian
“Shanee McCoy, in consultation with colleagues throughout the school, will work to ensure our efforts toward greater inclusivity are comprehensive, thoughtful, and aligned with our mission and strategic plan work.”