The DEI Board recognizes that Compass’s services—especially costly private tutoring—confer advantage to many students who already benefit from significant privilege. We understand that the K–12 educational system in the U.S. is disproportionately under-resourced for BIPOC students, and that admission tests can either fortify the barriers to college access or help erode them.
The role of the DEI Board is two-pronged. First, it works with the leaders at Compass to make the company’s educational resources more accessible to historically marginalized communities. Additionally, it also works with these communities, especially Black, indigenous, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ folks, to create new, impactful services beyond Compass’s typical menu of offerings.
Second, the DEI Board helps Compass’s leadership transform the company’s culture and hiring processes to recruit and maintain more employees of color. The Board continues to identify impediments toward more inclusive hiring within the company and strives to eliminate them. As a company that values the democratizing power of higher education, Compass’s staff and tutors should resemble the diverse communities we aim to better support.
Programming for Students
Compass is a national leader in college admission testing that not only prepares students for the SAT and ACT, but also educates families, counselors, and enrollment professionals on the ethical use of test scores in the admission process. To better support students and make the college admission process more equitable, we are offering a number of cost-free resources to schools and community-based organizations:
- Live webinars to inform parents and students about the college admissions testing process and how they can efficiently prepare for the SAT or ACT.
- Remotely proctored practice tests with detailed diagnostic reports of students’ testing strengths and weaknesses
- Private tutoring for the SAT and ACT through the Compass Scholarship Program
Contact Us: If you are interested in discussing the DEI Board’s offerings for your students—or would like to brainstorm other methods of support—please contact us at dei.board@compassprep.com.
Fundraising
In spring 2022, Compass launched its Practice Test Donation Campaign (PTDC). Each quarter, Compass will donate 10% of all college admission practice test fees to non-profit organizations that enact social change through educational programming. Last quarter we raised funds for Legacy Library.
Legacy Library is a community lending library located in Inglewood, California built of the collection of our ancestor Kwazi Nkrumah in honor of his legacy of lifelong commitment to the self-determination of Black people. Kwazi’s library collection is compiled of literature and historical archives he had accumulated for over 70 years. He wanted to expand popular education and enable community organizers to use it as a tool for our organizing efforts and this is our mission as the Legacy Library.
Legacy Library’s Patreon helps support food distros, archiving, and community programming – Patreon.com/legacylibrary
Success Stories
“The Compass Scholarship Program helped me boost my score by 240 points! My instructors were patient, kind, and encouraging. They made sure I learned the principles and tools required to do well on the SAT. The Compass Prep Program not only helped me improve my SAT scores but also helped me develop important skills such as time management. With the program’s support, I was admitted to my number one college, Wash U, and received a scholarship!”
DJ W. (he/him)
Student
Alexander Hamilton Scholars
“The Compass team has been wonderful to work with! They understand the particular needs of our student population and the limitations of our organization. They have been flexible, responsive and are providing a superior experience for our students. Our partnership with Compass came at the exact right time for the organization and I am very grateful for their services.“
Phyllis Elick (she/her)
Senior Director of High School and College Bound Programs
Breakthrough Collaborative
“After taking the SAT for the second time and seeing little improvement, I had not only lost hope, but also lost motivation…until I found Compass! I had my first lesson with Compass in May. My tutors scheduled lessons according to my strengths and weaknesses. Both of my teachers were very nice, friendly, helpful, and attentive. Through the help of Compass, I was able to grow a total of a hundred points. I am very happy with my current score and I am very grateful to Compass for their support.”
Insiya M. (she/her)
Student
Breakthrough Collaborative, Houston
“Compass Education Group’s work with Hamilton Scholars was exceptional. They helped our scholars build confidence, generate strong scores, and learn test-taking skills. With their characteristic professionalism, warmth, and cultural-competency, Compass Prep tutors are forces for good and excellence.”
Kelly Herrington (he/him)
Senior Advisor and College Counselor
Alexander Hamilton Scholars
“My experience with Compass has been amazing. The tutoring sessions were very helpful and focused on what I struggled in. Deshana taught me different ways to approach math, so I understood the concepts more. In the beginning, English and Reading were a struggle for me. My verbal tutor gave me time to reflect on problems and gave me feedback on the spot. I was able to learn quicker that way and this helped me a lot.”
Abdurrhman A. (he/him)
Student
Breakthrough Collaborative, Pittsburgh
“Compass was an amazing help! I had taken over 40 practice SAT tests and only gotten up to a 1320 on a real exam before beginning tutoring. Within three weeks, I increased my official score to a 1480! After 2 more weeks, I increased my official score again to a 1550—with a 790 in math! I could not have achieved this score without them.”
Diya Jha (she/her)
Student
Governor Thomas Johnson High School (Frederick, MD)
Statements
June 29, 2023: Response to SCOTUS decision on race-conscious admissions
Today’s SCOTUS ruling on race-conscious admission practices was expected, but the anticipation makes the reality no less painful. Compass stands with those from all backgrounds and especially with those persons of BIPOC identity who recognize this decision for what it is: unjust, uncaring, and uninformed of both the reality of the history of this country and of the actual admission practices at its colleges and universities.
We would like to share quality sources of information and also lift up voices we find to be clear, correct, and powerful at this moment. First, we recommend reading Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s dissent in its entirety; as the Compass leadership we find ourselves entirely in support of her argument and outrage.
NPR provides a general overview, while the Chronicle of Higher Ed offers a closer look at the implications for admission policies and practices including testing. While there is much to be processed and presumably further litigated, the emerging consensus in the college admissions community is that a) school counselors will work with their advisees to bring forward their identities in college applications in ways that are authentic and empowering while also legal for colleges to consider, b) colleges will comply with the ruling but redouble their efforts to hold up diversity as a critical part of their mission, c) the ruling increases the likelihood that test-optional policies will remain largely in place, but isn’t likely to add significant steam to the test-free movement (e.g. refusing to consider scores as is the case in the UC system).
Compass will continue to engage with the college admissions community as this decision’s consequences unfold, and we will provide updates on our efforts and opportunities for others to contribute. We remain more committed than ever to our support for those who are disadvantaged and marginalized.
May 20, 2023: Trans Affirmation Statement
The American trans community is currently facing an unprecedented assault in the form of legislative and social erasure by members of our government. Whether in the form of “drag bans,”—a thinly-veiled attempt at banning trans people in public spaces—the explicit denial of gender-affirming care to trans children, or banning trans people from participating in competitive sports, trans people must fight daily for the right to simply exist.
The need for inclusion and equality is not abstract: it directly affects us as a company and as a broader community. Cultures around the world have always recognized, integrated, and even revered individuals who fall outside the gender binary, as well as individuals who identify as a gender that does not match their assignment at birth. Compass affirms and recognizes these long-held views: we affirm the right of trans people to exist and lead authentic, truthful, and joyful lives. We affirm the right of trans children to seek gender- affirming care. We affirm the right of trans people to feel safe in their workplaces and the communities in which they live. We condemn any attempt, legislative or otherwise, to exclude trans people from existing and thriving in society.
As tutors and educators, our job is to support and empower students of all identities and backgrounds, and we want our students to go out into a world that will embrace them. Now, more than ever, it is imperative to actively champion the right of all trans people to safety, gender-affirming care, and active visibility within our communities. To paraphrase Desmond Tutu, “Our humanity is tied to the humanity of all.”
We encourage everyone to reach out to their local representatives, vocally support the trans community, and seek out resources to become a better trans ally. For more information about how you can help, please consider visiting: https://transequality.org/issues/resources/supporting-the-transgender-people-in-your-life-a-guide-to-being-a-good-ally
March 24, 2023: Response to College Board changing its African American Studies curriculum
We support every student’s right to learn about factual cultural history, including their own, in an uncensored format. In light of recent events, it is more important than ever that we acknowledge the bias that runs deep within our government and ideologies. We believe that each student is entitled to a holistic education that encompasses both inclusion and explicit anti-racism.
Therefore, we do not support the College Board’s decision to remove parts of history from their AP African American Studies course. It is a thinly-veiled attempt to appease a countercultural movement spearheaded by Governor DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education, who believe that teaching a holistic version of our country’s history is somehow detrimental to the youth of today.
We acknowledge that internalizing a clear and honest view of historical accounts can be a challenging process for students, regardless of their identities. However, selectively ignoring salient events, especially those which shaped the world as we know it, poses a much greater issue. For too long, our country has whitewashed the education system when it comes to colonialism and racism, which affects us even now. It is imperative that we teach with transparency, so that we might equip the next generation to learn from our mistakes. The College Board’s actions are a step backwards, and those actions can potentially have devastating ramifications not only on the United States education system, but also our country as a whole.
Meet the Board
Bronwyn graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University, where she earned a B.A. in Russian Language, Literature & Culture and a minor in Food Studies. She began at Compass as a tutor in Chicago, and now works full time coordinating our Group Instruction. Outside of Compass, Bronwyn spends her time volunteering as a reader for a literary magazine.
Ava received a BA in Psychology with a minor in Film and Television from the University of California, Los Angeles. Before joining Compass Education Group, she brought her passion for film and education together in leading video production workshops for other UCLA students. As part of Compass's Testing team, she helps facilitate productive practice test experiences to prepare students for their official tests.
Jonathan Cortez is a dedicated social entrepreneur with a passion for education and social justice. A Queens-native and first-generation college graduate, Jonathan earned his A.B. in Politics with a Certificate in Political Economy from Princeton University. He has devoted his professional career to developing and leading initiatives that expand access to high-quality education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated scholars. A New York City-based tutor since 2018, Jonathan first served as a DEI Board member from 2020-2022. He looks forward to contributing to the continued development of the DEI Board and its ongoing work.
Christopher graduated with departmental and general honors from Vassar College where he earned his BA in French and Theater before going on to receive an MFA from the New School. He has worked in and around education his whole career, first for nearly a decade as a professional tutor, then in schools for many years as a college counselor and classroom teacher in the IB program.
Ash began her career in education and test preparation in the late 90s while an undergraduate at the University of Southern California studying movie making. Since then, she’s received two M.A.s in English Rhetoric and English Literature from CSULA and USC while working in college writing centers, teaching first-year composition, and tutoring hundreds of students over the years. She now leads product development at Compass as its Chief Product Officer and does local community organizing in her spare time—she serves as the treasurer for her neighborhood council and for the Friends of the Cypress Park Branch Library. She’s thrilled to represent the principals on Compass’ DEI Board.
Lisa graduated cum laude from Hollins University with a BSc in Biology on the pre-med track. During college, she discovered her passion for teaching while tutoring Math and Chemistry. She enjoys helping students strengthen their grammar, reading, and writing skills. Outside of tutoring, Lisa is actively involved in the biotechnology field in Houston, working with peptide and oligos manufacturing.
As a member of Compass’s DEI Board, Lisa is dedicated to breaking down barriers in education. She believes that every student deserves equal access to learning opportunities, regardless of their background. The Board's mission is to make Compass’s resources more accessible to underserved communities and support students who may not traditionally have access to private tutoring. Lisa is passionate about helping create a more inclusive environment within Compass while also advocating for meaningful change in educational access.
Joe has been interested in issues surrounding race, class, and gender since the couserwork for his minor in education at UC Berkeley opened his eyes to the inequities that exist in our education system and the ability of that system to improve student lives in spite of those inequities. Trained as a research ecologist and science educator, he has worked in a diversity of educational settings ranging from teaching AP biology at Berkeley High School, to conducting workshops on test taking and college readiness for underrepresented high school students, to exposing diverse undergraduates to research experiences in environmental science in remote regions of Australia and Chile. He has loved tutoring for Compass since 2017 in the San Francisco Bay Area and continues to do so in the Los Angeles area.
Devin graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English and Classics from Tufts University and went on to receive an MA and a PhD in English Literature (with a focus on Renaissance Drama) from USC. He has tutored with Compass since 2015 in SAT, ACT, and a variety of AP subjects. While with Compass, he has worked alongside the curriculum team to create new AP materials and aimed to bring more diverse voices into those materials. When he is not tutoring, he is likely seeing a play, running a marathon, or visiting some location that comes up on the APUSH exam.
Originally from Querétaro, Mexico, Regina is the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Director for the City of Salem. The first person to hold her position in the City, her role is meant to bring matters of race and equity to the forefront of the work in the City. Her work touches every department and includes initiatives such as conducting an equity audit, completing DEI trainings and having continuing conversations around equity with all City staff and the community, addressing language access issues, elevating anti-hate, anti-bias, and anti-discrimination efforts, and implementing recommendations set forth by the Race Equity Commission, the Race Equity Task Force, and the Human Rights Coalition. Her work with the City is not only internal (personnel-focused), but also external (community oriented). Regina is multilingual and her academic qualifications include a Master’s of Law in Ethics and Compliance, as well as two Bachelor’s degrees, all from the University of Colorado.
