Category Archives: Uncategorized

We forget, especially when we are deep in the weeds of the school year and our work and our lives, how important it is to simply have fun. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry says in The Little Prince, “All grown-ups were once children … but only a few of them remember it.” And I think thisContinue reading “The Importance of Fun”

A fully dressed maypole is a stunning sight, even during rehearsals. It’s Friday, known around here as “May Day,” and the fourth grade has just completed their final dress rehearsal before this evening.  I’m standing to the left of the field next to the 70 empty fold out chairs, getting a little sad all ofContinue reading “May Day, 4th Grade Crossing, and Teaching Assistant Nostalgia”

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, itContinue reading “If this school year was a mixed tape: Top hits of 2021-2022”

If you really stop and think about it, teaching middle school is a pretty impossible proposition. Imagine convincing a room of 15-20 youth going through all the physical and emotional and social turmoil of puberty that complying with your plan for the next 75 minutes involving rigorous academic study is the way to go. AndContinue reading “Final Episode of Bridging the Faculty/Admin Divide: Discipline & Restorative Practices”

Authored by Marty Kelly (The following is adapted from a speech given to the Jackson Area Association of Independent Schools) (Also, I’m really sorry if you are tired of the “It’s gonna be May” meme, but I’m even sorrier if you don’t understand it because that means you missed out on the glory that wasContinue reading “Gaudeamus Igitur: It’s Gonna be… Nay, It IS May!”

So many of the issues and misunderstandings that arise between faculty and admin result from long histories, things that happened in the past in an institution, habits of interaction, and a lack of adaptability or willingness to change.  Well what if you had a blank slate? A fresh start? All smooth sailing? We are goingContinue reading “Starting Fresh: Building Community with Admin & Faculty at Foundations (Episode 5)”

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to teach art to first graders or Spanish to seniors? Ever curious how a head of school spends their day?  In this week’s episode, we share stories and lived realities from three distinct vantage points: Nancy Rivas (Co -Chair of the Department of World and Classical Languages), JessicaContinue reading ““A Day in the Life”: Episode 4 in Bridging the Faculty/Admin Divide”

We’re back, and we’ve got an incredible, honest episode unpacking teacher support featuring two thought-provoking lower school guests: Michelle Portera (first grade teacher) and Shea Egger (lower school head).  Spoiler alert, I almost named this episode with various combinations of the following nouns: authenticity, vulnerability, trust and connection.   Check out snippets from host Rachel Scott’sContinue reading “Episode 3 Drops on “Bridging the Faculty/Admin Divide”: Unpacking Teacher Support with Rachel Scott, Michelle Portera, and Shea Egger”

As far as engaging learning activity tricks go, I’ve got to admit . . . . I have a soft spot for Shark Tank.  Simulating this “reality-TV-meets-business-board-room” has all the stuff I love about a great teaching/learning setup: collaboration, performance, speaking/listening, competition, role play, application, and authentic audience.  Typically, though, I see Shark Tank utilizedContinue reading “Shark Tank Meets HISTORY Class?!”

This week’s episode in our season of bridging the faculty/admin divide: Greatness.  What do faculty think make a good administrator? What do administrators think make a great faculty member?  And is there a way we can  all miraculously inch that direction together?  I was lucky to be joined by three incredibly great humans to discussContinue reading “Bridging the Faculty/Admin Divide (Ep 2): On Greatness”

Authored by Dean Julius Now that we’re at the end of this series of gratitude blogs, I think it would be nice to take a moment to reflect. The thing that I’ve loved most about this Attitudes of Gratitude blog series is that it has been a constant, monthly, reminder to me to find joyContinue reading “8th Grade Attitudes of Gratitude”

Authored by Rachel Scott I am sure you are thinking, “No way! No how!” but just hear me out. I am not talking about real social media such as instagram, facebook, snapchat, etc. (I truly am not that crazy.), but a safe, secure environment for students to share ideas and work, collaborate with their peers,Continue reading “Social Media for Elementary Students? Well… Sort of, but not really.”

Authored by Marty Kelly Though my colleague and friend now, Ray McFarland was once my high school advisor who let my graduating class of seniors have a lock-in at the then brand new CPA. Talk about cool. He was also the actor that my family and I loved to watch at New Stage Theatre inContinue reading “Bravo Ad Infinitum: Spotlight on Ray McFarland”

Last month I blogged about the theme of this spring’s set of podcasts: bridging the faculty/admin divide. It’s a topic near and dear to my heart, and it’s one that has produced a host of complex topics of conversational focus, thanks to the faculty planning and hosting. In this inaugural episode of our fourth season,Continue reading “(Season 4) Bridging the Faculty/Admin Divide Presents Episode 1: Unpacking Graduation Requirements with Colin Dunnigan”

Authored by Julie Rust “I’m also trying to remember to just be kind. To each other. To our students. To our administrators. Side point: there’s a toxic sentiment in schools that places teachers and administrators squarely against each other. I don’t like that. Our administrators are dealing with *stuff* too, and sometimes it’s hard toContinue reading “No Villains Here: Bridging the Faculty/Admin Divide”

Authored by Marty Kelly So I’ve got some great news. I finished that book I told y’all about that was giving me fits of guilt. That David Gemmell book about Aeneas before Aeneas was really Aeneas. It was okay. Bad news: I noticed a number of typos. Sigh.  Other bad news I didn’t talk aboutContinue reading “The Corner of “Practically Perfect in Every Way” and Practically Prepared to Binge Watch All Day”

Authored by Mary B. Sellers We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. George Bernard Shaw In the World of School, recess is spoken of in reverential tones, not only by students but also by teachers. The reasons range from the physiologically concrete to nostalgic to the abstract,Continue reading “Swinging into Childhood”

Authored by Dean Julius – from Roadside Lights by Eiji Ohashi There is roughly one vending machine for every 25 people in Japan, the highest number of vending machines per capita in the world. It’s an often popularized factoid about the island nation, especially for Westerners. Just take a moment to think about what moreContinue reading “Breaking the Education Vending Machine”

Authored by Rachel Scott 4th graders in Señora Buford’s Spanish class have spent the last several weeks focusing on creating content to share all about St. Andrew’s Lower School with students in Perú. Maya Buford, the Lower School Spanish teacher, began communicating in the fall with teachers from Lord Byron School in Arequipa, Perú. TheContinue reading “4th Graders Share St. Andrew’s with Students in Perú”