Berwick Academy Head of School

I t is definitely hiring season on the Hilltop, and the amount of candidates I have been interviewing in the past few weeks has been a bit overwhelming. This is a year when we have a few retirements and a few departures, so it is a chance to bring amazing new talent to the school. Assistant Head of School Ryan Feeley has done such an amazing job that I feel like we are in a better position than we ever have been to make great decisions in the weeks ahead. It has been particularly noteworthy to see how many candidates are resonating deeply with Berwick initiatives like Curriculum 2020, the Berwick Innovation Center, Wellness, and our cherished core value of balance in all that we do. Hiring, however, also makes me appreciate what an amazing faculty we already have. I find myself asking questions of new hires about collegiality, love of children, innovation, self-awareness, and personal growth. To be a great teacher at Berwick, one needs a unique blend of loving the complexity of ch...

It was only a few years ago when the Administrative team concluded that our students needed a bit of a morale boost to get us through the winter. Within just a few conversations with other adults on campus, the concept of our modern winter carnival was born – bringing back a cherished Berwick tradition from years gone by. Suddenly outdoor rinks, snow sculptures, and sled races become all the rage for one Friday in February as our community comes together to celebrate to joys of winter and the joys of being a kid. This is a very good thing – even on the heels of far too many snow issues in one academic week. As with most good things at Berwick, this is a moment when we embrace our PK-12 composition, finding a schedule and connection for every student in the school. The heroes are everywhere for this one. Lucy Pollard seemingly leads the adult charge in the Upper School. Rob Quinn, Jason Murray, and others are scrambling around in advance to create schedules and build rinks. Maril...

It will likely come as no surprise to our parent body that the so-called peaceful transition of power in the White House has sent certain reverberations through the Berwick community. As I expected, this next chapter of leadership energizes many of our students and families, and others have been inclined to protest. I often say to my colleagues at other schools that I enjoy the richness of opinions afforded to us at Berwick based on our unique geography. At a moment when I am asked to oversee the emotional regulation, as it relates to the recent election, of 600 students, 125 employees and the potential reactions of parents, it has been a difficult leadership moment for me - and for Heads of School everywhere. Recently, I told the BPC Board that our parents should know that we take our obligation to appreciate all views in this community seriously, and behind the scenes we continue to address any student or employee behaviors or comments that strike us as crossing the line of modeling...