ABSTRACT
Grace Academy (GA) is a college-preparatory, evangelical Christian school located in a small city in a southern state. GA graduated its first class in the 1980s. GA’s campus was impressive. GA was affiliated with a conservative denomination and church, even though its student population was ecumenical. Under the leadership of the prior head of school, GA had waiting lists for almost every grade, and it had boasted its selectivity. Upon Dr. Smith’s arrival, GA was also in the process of becoming accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International, creating another change in the status quo for GA. GA faculty and staff used scripture and other conservative Christian theological concepts to make sense of the school’s diversity initiative and figure out what it meant for their daily attitudes and practices. GA faculty and staff’s belief in colorblindness was also reflected in their questioning of the school’s motivations for developing the diversity initiative in the first place.
