The Marlborough administration has spent the duration of the 2024-25 school year conducting a comprehensive search for a new Director of Equity, Community and Belonging (DoECB) for the School. After a long search process, Kelly Jackson has been selected as the new DoECB for the 2025-26 school year.
Marlborough’s team conducted a national search for this position. The administration sought a candidate who had experience in the field, was focused on student-facing work and was able to navigate complexity as well as responsiveness. Director of Studies Jonathon Allen and a member of the search committee for this position commented on what Marlborough hoped to find in a DoECB.
“We were very interested and adamant in finding a candidate who is a true leader in this field, who is whole-heartedly student-centered, who genuinely enjoys connecting with multiple constituencies within our school and who has demonstrated history with data collection and analysis to inform decision-making,” Allen said.
The search process consisted of a search committee made up of Marlborough faculty members, including Allen, to review various candidates for the position. The committee then narrowed down the list of candidates and conducted interviews with the help of student council members, affinity group leaders and other students and faculty. Mia ’26, an Upper School Leader of PATH (Promoting AANHPI Togetherness and Heritage), spoke of her appreciation for the student involvement in the DoECB hiring process.
“I really appreciate that affinity group leaders were included in the process, especially as the DoECB is our first line of school support,” Mia said. “Being able to interview the candidates allowed us to get a sense of how their goals aligned with the needs of our affinity groups and the wider student body.”
Ultimately, Jackson was selected. Jackson is very familiar with the Los Angeles area as she is coming out of a position at another Los Angeles school. She will begin to work with the Marlborough community in July in preparation for the 2025-26 school year. Allen commented on what he is most excited about with Jackson assuming the role of DoECB.
“In my role as a teacher and as the director of studies who is charged with maintaining, refining and augmenting the academic programs and practices at Marlborough, I am most excited about our future partnership as we work to create even more equitable learning experiences that continue to build cultural competency and sustain inclusive communities,” Allen said. “I am excited that she will bring strong strategic leadership to the Senior Leadership Team and that she will lead anti-bias training and professional development for our staff and faculty.”
Marlborough’s completion of its DoECB head search comes at a time of national threats to DEI in education and hiring. Pamela Wright, the Head of the Social Justice Department and the Interim Director of DoECB commented on the importance of Marlborough continuing their search for a DEI head amid the national news.
“[The completion of the search] doesn’t feel valiant because we are so accustomed to it, but I am so proud to work at Marlborough in a time where we are hiring for this position,” Wright said. “There was never once the conversation of should we or should we not, it was always [about] who was going to be the right person.”
