OUR PURPOSE

Metairie Park Country Day School believes that creating a fully inclusive community is an ongoing process that is essential for optimal learning. We are cultivating a community based upon respect and empowerment of all individuals. Our School's commitment to fostering diversity does not simply reflect tolerance or accommodation, but rather a recognition of the ways in which all members of our community are enriched and strengthened when these principles are embraced.


In pursuit of this goal, our School community seeks to eliminate bias in school by addressing stereotypes, emphasizing similarities as well as differences, and encouraging awareness and enjoyment of multiple perspectives. The Country Day Board, administration, faculty, staff, parents, and students are committed to creating and maintaining a positive environment where the academic and social well-being of all students is affirmed.

DEI Activities at Country Day

List of 15 items.

  • ADL Poetry Contest

    Country Day students are participated in The Anti-Defamation League and No Place for Hate® Art and Poetry Contest and won for many of their entries.
  • Turning 15 in the Road to Freedom

    In 1963, thirteen-year-old Lynda Blackmon was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King to become actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom, a musical and documentary viewed by our Middle and Upper School students, tells her true story. 
  • Black Student Union

    Our Black Student Union organized Congo in the Courtyard to celebrate and educate during Black History Month. The event included presentations to our lower school, a visit from Babboula 2000 Imagination Tour, and a second line.
  • Cultural Sharing

    Students can often teach us so much! Here our students celebrate and learn about the Harvest Moon Festival from our Chinese students.
  • Alumni Outreach

    Vernon Dunn Ph.D. 2004 visited campus to speak with our students about his journey from Middle School at Country Day to a Ph.D. in Neurobiology!
  • College Talks

    Former students came back to campus to talk with current students about their college choices, sharing stories of success at historically black colleges and universities, among others.
  • Cultural Sharing

    Country Day students, faculty, and the greater community experienced Bijayini Satpathy's illuminating Odissi dance, a classical Indian dance, and learned about the meaning behind her movements.
  • Daily Lessons

    Students are taught lessons during morning meeting and in class about the importance of caring for and including others. Here they wrote about what they learned.
  • Guest Speakers

    A big "thank you" to Senator JP Morrell 1997 who came back to campus to share his career path with our upper school students as part of BSU’s Black History Month programming.
  • ISAS DEI Work

    Joining with Country Day, ISAS schools in the New Orleans area are exploring and sharing diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices - learning from each other and working together.
  • Learning Events

    Upper school students were given the opportunity to hear New Jersey Senator Cory Booker speak at Xavier University in celebration of Martin Luther King weekend. 
  • Learning Events

    Country Day celebrated Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity, courage, and collaboration, where we challenged our students to be brave enough to "make a mark" on the world!
  • Nationally-Known Guest Speakers

    Nationally-known author Julie Lythcott-Haims shared her novel and memoir Real American with our upper school students.
  • No Place for Hate

    As part of the New Orleans chapter of the Anti-Defamation League's No Place For Hate, students were asked to imagine a world without hate and create an original work of poetry. 
  • Parent Meetings

    In 2019, Country Day's lower school held three parent meetings to better understand our community's dream for an inclusive school environment.

Our Faculty Lead the Way

List of 8 members.

  • Photo of Ninnette Varisco

    Ninnette Varisco 

    Director of DEIB and Lower School Assistant Librarian
  • Photo of Mindy McCelvey

    Mindy McCelvey 

    Country Day Early Childhood Center (Dino Teacher)
  • Photo of Susan  Frantz

    Susan  Frantz 

    Lower School K-1-2 Lead Teacher (Room 4)
  • Photo of Sean Patterson

    Sean Patterson 

    Middle and Upper School Drama Specialist, MIddle School DEI Co-Facilitator
    (504) 840-3989
  • Photo of Pam Skehan

    Pam Skehan 

    Middle and Upper School Visual Arts Teacher
    504-840-3987
  • Photo of Shannon Barrilleaux

    Shannon Barrilleaux 

    Director of College Counseling
    (504) 849-3185
  • Photo of Pamela Guter

    Pamela Guter 

    504-828-3408
  • Photo of Elizabeth Herman

    Elizabeth Herman 

    US Spanish Teacher, Upper School Facilitator for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Sophomore Class F
300 Park Road, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 837-5204
Established in 1929, Metairie Park Country Day School is a coed private school for New Orleans area students in early childhood through Grade 12. From the elementary grades through upper school, the care and cultivation of each child comes to life in our exciting academic program, creative arts, and competitive athletic offerings.

Country Day accepts qualified students without regard to race, color, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin.