ABSTRACT
Doing diversity at Grace Academy (GA) was framed by two opposing ideologies: conservative Christianity and secularism. GA's story raises questions about Christian schools’ morality and right to exist. GA's story indicates the potential significance of religious beliefs on educators’ practice. At GA, religious ideology was the most dominant factor shaping educators’ sensemaking about diversity. GA’s story, then, teaches us that religious beliefs influence the environment teachers create, as well as their actions in the classroom. Aside from demographics, another major change at GA was that they altered the document that parents have to sign when they agree to enroll their child at GA. GA curated diversity as a form of identity protection. GA’s story adds to contemporary conversations about white fragility and curated diversity. Brandi Miller specifically addresses the fragility of white evangelicals. Dr. Smith explained that a huge obstacle in GA’s community was that their current demographics were “comfortable” for many GA’s families.
