Faculty Development

Dear parents, 

A group of Tower Hill Faculty are attending the NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) Annual Conference being held in Baltimore today. It has been well proven that there is a direct correlation between the best academic student experience and the amount of professional development in which their teachers are engaged. We are committed to supporting our teachers in their professional growth and will be investing even further in this realm in the future. Today teachers will be attending sessions such as: Creating Innovators: Developing Creative Capacities of Students in a College Prep Setting; Grading for Growth: Strategies for Creating Mission-Based Assessment Practices; In Their Shoes: Data, Empathy, and Designing for the Learner Experience; The Power of Stories: Creating an Inclusive Curriculum Through Student Voices; Translating the Brain: How to Actually Use Research about Neuroscience in the Classroom — just to name a few. 

 

Once upon a time, I worked for NAIS, when it was located in Boston. Now NAIS, our national trade organization, is located in Washington D.C. Working at NAIS gave me a national perspective on independent schools, why they matter, and how they are unique. I was able to visit many different schools across the country — boarding, day, large, small, urban, rural — and I am convinced that I am at one of the very best schools in the country here at Tower Hill! I am committed to ensuring that this centennial chapter is one in which we take seriously our ability to invest in Tower Hill teachers at the highest level. Doing so will ensure that our programs, curriculum, and teaching and learning repertoire is continually examined, honed and enhanced.

 

While there are many different types of independent schools in the country, in general those of us leading and teaching in independent schools have the luxury of more autonomy and freedom with regard to curriculum and operations compared to our public school counterparts. Independent schools are governed by a Board of Trustees. Tower Hill has a talented and dedicated Board of Trustees, including a terrific Board Chair, Mrs. Michelle Shepherd. The Board of Trustees has one employee — the Head of School. The Head of School manages the day-to-day operations of the school, including overseeing and balancing the school's budget, setting a vision and overseeing a strategic planning process for the school. To this end, I am excited for you to attend one of the sessions being offered to parents following spring break, as our Strategic Planning Committee will be sharing and asking for feedback on a number of important priorities and initiatives. Be sure to mark your calendar for one of these dates/times. 

 

Have a great weekend,