Creating a culture of kindness, respect and accountability is more than a motto for Ladue School District—it’s a mission. Recently, Ladue schools took a powerful step in this direction with its first districtwide “No Place for Hate” pledge day. Part of the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) nationwide program, which reaches over 2,200 schools, Ladue’s event brought students and staff together in a shared commitment to making every classroom a safe and welcoming space.

Jennifer Riesenmy, Ladue’s diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator, shared that the district sees No Place for Hate as an ongoing effort to empower students to recognize and confront bias. “We want our students to be agents of change,” she explained, “equipped with the tools to address hate when they encounter it and to stand as allies.”

Building on Ladue’s diversity

Ladue has been committed to inclusivity for years, with a student body that speaks over 65 languages and includes students from more than 20 countries. Tiffany Taylor-Johnson, the district’s director of student services, sees this as a defining strength. “We’re not just welcoming diversity here—we’re valuing it,” she said. “No Place for Hate builds on this by giving students a voice in how we create inclusive spaces.”

The district began planning for the initiative nearly a year ago, as Ladue worked with ADL representatives to set up the initiative thoughtfully across all eight schools. Riesenmy underscored the importance of this groundwork: “We’ve been working across character education committees, the school board, and administrators to make this happen. The community-wide support has been incredible.”

Student-led initiatives take center stage

Student leadership is at the core of No Place for Hate, and Ladue has leaned into this by setting up committees in each school. On pledge day, students led activities like assemblies, classroom discussions, and an eye-catching display of dragon scales at the fifth-grade center, symbolizing unity across the district. Taylor-Johnson praised students’ engagement: “Our students are the boots on the ground. They’re the ones making real, positive change happen every day.”

Eighth-grader Grant Sandler from Ladue Middle School shared his experience participating in the pledge day. “It taught me and a lot of other people how just being nice can go a long way,” he said. “It helps people feel like they have a purpose and that they belong at this school.”

Grant noted that the event pushed him to consider how his actions could impact others. “Taking part in this day helped me think about how others are doing. It got me out of my comfort zone and caused me to check on others to see how they are feeling,” he said. Reflecting on the day, he added, “It got me thinking of how I can help out at our school.”

Carla Chennault, ADL’s education director for Heartland & Michigan, agreed that empowering students like Grant to lead makes a lasting impact. “Students shape school culture,” she said. “When they’re given the tools to recognize bias and respond, they become positive influences in their communities. That’s what makes No Place for Hate so powerful.”

Connecting with families and the larger community

Understanding the importance of clear communication, Ladue offered parents an opt-out option and sent detailed information about the initiative’s goals and benefits. Kimberly McKenzie, Ladue’s director of communications, shared the district’s approach: “We know our community is diverse, so we wanted families to fully understand the program. Our goal was to create an experience that students could take home and discuss with their families.”

McKenzie noted that the No Place for Hate initiative ties directly into Ladue’s vision for its students. “We want our graduates to embody empathy and inclusivity. These values are as important as academics—they shape how students engage with the world,” she added.

A framework, not a one-time event

While No Place for Hate may be new to Ladue, it builds on longstanding efforts. Riesenmy emphasized, “We’re not just checking boxes. No Place for Hate is a lens to re-evaluate and improve what we already do well. It’s about setting a standard of kindness, respect, and accountability.”

Taylor-Johnson echoed this sentiment, “This isn’t just a one-day event. We’re embedding respect, empathy, and inclusivity into Ladue’s culture.” With community backing and student involvement, the district is determined to make No Place for Hate a lasting part of Ladue’s identity.

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