Photo by Saavri Biswal
Pinewood is making staffing changes next year to increase focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion: Jackee Bruno will shift his attention to one of his two jobs, Director of Diversity and Community, expanding it to Middle and Lower Campus, and Director of Student Life Kyle Riches will take over Bruno’s other role of Activities Director, additionally becoming Associate Director of Communications.
“By about October, we knew that what we were going to need for DEI was going to be more than the time and resources we allocated,” Upper Campus Principal Gabriel Lemmon said.
“I was working two positions this year, and I’m downgrading to one to put more focus on it and try and grow [the DEI job], improve it, enhance it,” Bruno said. “There’s a lot of work to be done for the idea of equity, inclusion, and student belonging.”
In addition to his work in DEI, Bruno has also expanded what was previously known as his “Activities Director” position so much that it has outgrown its name, and is being upgraded to “Student Life” when Riches takes over to better encompass all that it entails.
“No one can replace Jackee, and luckily we don’t have to because he’s going to still be here, but with Kyle we have someone that can step into those big shoes that Jackee’s leaving behind…no one better could have fulfilled the monumental job,” Lemmon said.
Riches’ enthusiasm and passion makes him the perfect candidate for the role. Being a part of student council was one of his favorite parts of high school, and this has been his dream job ever since he came back to Pinewood.
“I love everything about helping increase school spirit and making sure that students have a positive experience,” Riches said.
For the last two years, Riches has been director of communications for all three campuses.
“I have a unique advantage: I’ve been a student, I’ve been a teacher, I’ve been an administrator, so I’ve seen a bunch of different aspects of the school,” Riches said. “I know things have definitely changed since I was a student, but I’m hoping… to [use] the potential I know we have…as a foundation.”