Our Story & Mission

Connect With Us

Photo of a high school teacher from the Downtown School.

Two students laugh together as they shape molding clay.

High school student from the Downtown School working on a laptop.

Group of high school students from the Downtown school gathered around a whiteboard.

Picture of an elementary student wearing a soccer shirt working on an art project at school.

Two high school sisters smile together in the art room.

A group of teachers smile for a photo and show off their painted pumpkins.

A high school girl smiles for a portrait.

Three elementary students smile together in a classroom.

A group of students work on an art project together.

A middle school girl smiles while eating her school lunch.

A teacher smiles as she receives a reward for her excellent teaching.

Middle school students play their violin during orchestra practice.

A group of students practice their Chinese writing.

A student smiles as she works on a reading project.

A high school student in a facemask speaks into a microphone.

A faculty member smiles at her desk in the front office.

A student sits on a tree log while writing in a worksheet.

A teacher helps a student learn to use a computer.

Our Story

Seattle-area NWAIS schools have varying levels of diversity and difference in our classrooms and employee pools. We know that individually, none of our schools have a critical mass of diverse identities and lived experiences, in either our employee or our student/family bodies. But together, in partnership, we can create important connection for our schools and be stronger as a regional independent school community.

Over time, the development of various regional programs deepened the relationships and collaborations across our schools. It became clear to us there is a need and hunger for equity-focused programming, community events, and networking opportunities for members of color in our schools; and POCIS Seattle was born.

– POCIS Seattle Steering Committee

View Upcoming POCIS Events

Our Mission

POCIS Northwest

We strive to connect, empower and strengthen the BIPOC members of our schools and our regional independent school community by providing opportunities and programming for education, growth, and engagement.

POCIS Northwest offers our member schools resources and programming to support their DEI goals that enhance the student experience in learning, engagement, and connection.

Our aim is to:

Promote dialogue among educators, students, and families of color in our schools
Provide learning opportunities for our member schools’ broader communities
Build community and belonging in our schools
Help to attract more families of color to our member schools.

Our Values:

We honor all people regardless of ability, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, or age.
We are open and transparent with each other at all times.
We listen to understand, and are open to differing perspectives and ideas.
We respect each other’s contributions without judgment.
We consider intention and impact, understanding that impact matters and should be addressed.
We are self-aware of what we represent, our positionality, and how we engage in our space.
We honor confidentiality.