ABOUT TEARING DOWN THE WALLS
Southeastern Conference on Race and Leadership
in Independent Schools.
June 19-21, 2026
Ensworth School
Nashville, TN
“Tearing Down the Walls” is a two-day race and leadership conference for independent school students in the Southeast. The purpose of the conference is to afford students from diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds the opportunity to become leaders and bridge builders in the arena of race relations. Our vision is for students to return home emboldened to lead.
Questions? Reach out to David Whitfield (whitfieldd@ensworth.com) or
Dina Marks (marksd@ensworth.com).
Participating Schools
We would like to thank all of the schools that have participated in the Tearing Down the Walls conference over the past five years. We look forward to seeing you this summer!
Battle Ground Academy (Franklin, TN)
Baylor School (Chattanooga, TN)
Ensworth School (Nashville, TN)
Evangelical Christian School (Memphis, TN)
Father Ryan High School (Franklin, TN)
Fort Worth Country Day (Forth Worth, TX)
Harding Academy (Nashville, TN)
Harpeth Hall (Nashville, TN)
Holy Innocents' Episcopal School (Atlanta, GA)
Hutchison School (Memphis, TN)
Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN)
McCallie School (Chattanooga, TN)
Memphis University School (Memphis, TN)
Metairie Park Country Day (Metairie, LA)
Middle Tennessee Christian School (Murfreesboro, TN)
Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, TN)
Pace Academy (Atlanta, GA)
Pope John Paul II Preparatory School (Nashville, TN)
Providence Christian Academy (Murfreesboro, TN)
St. Andrews--Sewanee School (Sewanee, TN)
St. George's Independent School (Memphis, TN)
St. Mary's Episcopal School (Memphis, TN)
The Galloway School (Atlanta, GA)
The Lovett School (Atlanta, GA)
The Paideia School (Atlanta, GA)
The Walker School (Atlanta, GA)
The Westminster Schools (Atlanta, GA)
Trinity Valley School (Dallas--Fort Worth, TX)
University School of Nashville (Nashville, TN)
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to see pictures from past conferences and to keep up with what our participants are doing to tear down walls in their schools and communities.
The Tearing Down the Walls conference is organized in association with the National Center for Race Amity.
SPEAKERS AND FACILITATORS: 2026
Roderick Jemison
What's it like to be in charge, and how did I get here?
Roderick D. Jemison is an accomplished educational leader with more than three decades of experience in independent and international schools. He currently serves as Principal of Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, where he provides visionary leadership for a historic Jesuit institution serving over 1,600 students, championing academic excellence, faculty development, and initiatives that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Previously, he spent a decade as Founding Head of School at United World College ISAK Japan, where he successfully led the school’s transition into the global UWC network, implemented the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, managed a $10 million budget, and raised $3.5 million annually to support operations and financial aid.
Earlier in his career, he held multiple leadership roles at La Jolla Country Day School, including Upper School Director and Dean of Students, while also teaching English and leading innovative programs in student leadership and community engagement. A dedicated educator, coach, and advocate for inclusive school communities, Mr. Jemison holds a master’s degree in literature from Tennessee State University and a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College.
Salwa Daouk
What it's like to be an "other" at a southern independent school
Salwa Daouk holds a B.A in Political Science and History from Vanderbilt University, where she received the distinction as a Chancellor Scholar for social justice. Daouk was also named a top-ten Outstanding Senior in the Vanderbilt class of 2025, an award given to students who demonstrate leadership, service, and passion.
Daouk attended Ensworth School for 13 years and founded the first Tearing Down the Walls club while in high school. She currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Tennessee Immigrant Refugee Rights Coalition, where she advocates for immigrant justice. Daouk currently resides in Beirut, Lebanon, where she studies Arabic and works as a program manager with Millions of Conversations, the ASM global Leadership Fellowship, and a UNESCO project based on the Jordan River.
Joanne Beauvoir Brown
No more "DEI" -- now what? Maintaining the vision
Joanne Beauvoir serves as the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Pace Academy, a K-12 independent school in Atlanta, Ga. In this role, her goal is to ensure that each member of the school community can bring their whole self to Pace every single day. Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, she moved to Atlanta after earning her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law.
Beauvoir Brown practiced as a civil trial lawyer in metro Atlanta for 15 years before moving into independent school administration. A speaker, facilitator and trainer, she brings her professional experience to national, state and local conferences, schools and nonprofits. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she also serves on the board of directors for non-profit organizations.
As the daughter of Haitian immigrants and the proud mother of two sons, she leads her community in the diversity, equity and inclusion space with an ability to navigate multiple perspectives. The strong sense of belonging is what has guided Beauvoir Brown in her personal and professional journey.
David Whitfield
Yes, I coach, but I love teaching Russian literature: Managing the stereotypes of black male faculty in southern independent schools (Panel discussion)
David Whitfield holds a Master's degree in Social Science from the University of Chicago and a Master of Liberal Arts and Science from Vanderbilt University. He specializes in fostering intercultural and interracial discourse through the study of history, literature, and film.
During his career, Whitfield has authored curriculum, chaired academic departments, coached ball teams, and served on curriculum and SAIS accreditation committees. His work includes co-founding and presiding as executive director over Time to Rise Inc., which operates summer academic enrichment programs at Montgomery Bell Academy, Harpeth Hall, The Ensworth School, and Harding Academy.
He is the founder of Race Talk, a parent-education program that fosters healthy dialogue among independent school parents. Whitfield serves as founder and president of Tearing Down the Walls Southeast, a two-day race and leadership conference for independent school students. He also served as the president of the United Nations Nashville chapter.
Whitfield is currently the Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion at Ensworth School. He has taught courses in African-American literature, British Literature, Russian Literature, and the Civil Rights Movement.
The Hip Hop Originators
The birth and rise of hip hop
REGISTRATION: 2026
Each school bringing students and adults pays a flat registration fee of $2000.00; this fee covers registration, programming, and food costs for all students and chaperones.
We recommend bringing six to eight students and two to four adults.
The registration fee does not include travel or hotel costs.
School administrators or representatives who are registering the school and paying for the conference.
Choose the option that fits your school (pay in part or pay in full) and "remove" the other option by changing the quantity to zero.
Students who are attending the conference with their school should fill out this form. No payment is needed, but you do need parent/guardian signatures and insurance information
Faculty and staff who are attending the conference as chaperones or for professional development should fill out this form.
Are you coming to the conference without students or without other members of your school?
Faculty and staff of any school may attend the conference without students at a cost of $450 per person. This includes all programming and meals, and while the bulk of programming takes place on Saturday, June 20, attendees are welcome to attend all three days of the conference.
PICTURES FROM
PAST CONFERENCES
