Monday night I had the pleasure of hearing John Maeda, President of The Rhode Island School of Design, speak at the High Museum in Atlanta. A partnership between the High, The Westminster Schools, and Lovett School made his visit possible. Having just finished his excellent short book, Redesigning Leadership: Design, Technology, Business, Life, I was […]
The Best School Events: Who We Are and Whom We Aspire To Be
During Westminster’s Joint Choirs Spring Concert last Tuesday, there was a moment that embodied the two components of my favorite school events—a moment that represented not only who we are as a school but also whom we aspire to be. The tension between these two poles drives valuable learning and drives great schools.At the end […]
The Risk, Failure, and Achievement Conundrum
There is a lot of talk in education these days about allowing room for risk and for failure in the learning process. Trying to create a high school culture that allows such space is a challenge, particularly considering that the college process looms at the far end of the curriculum. At times it can seem […]
On the eve of the 2012 NAIS Conference in Seattle, I thought I would re-post this one as I am reminded of its relevance as I prepare for the flight from Atlanta to the Northwest.
A School Assembly and the Ripple Effect of a Simple Act of Kindness
Today we had a recent alumna speak to our faculty and student body about her struggle with an eating disorder. Now a senior in college, she spoke beautifully and compellingly. She was clear, assertive, engaging, and remarkably insightful. In short, she has become the kind of person you hope graduates will become. Her audience was […]
Differentiated Assessment of Student Writing in an English Class
[In order to align myself fully with the vision of the school, I will need to improve my ability to differentiate instruction. As part of my self-reflection on this topic, not only am I thinking about areas where my teaching practice may be deficient (or more generously, ready for rethinking), but I am also thinking […]