Weekly Message from Head of School 2024/9/9-2024/9/13
Dear Keystonians,
Happy Friday!
It was wonderful to celebrate Teachers’ Day this week! Thanks to the PTA for arranging special treats for our incredible teachers. A school leader I used to work with was known for saying, “Every day is a holiday when you are doing what you love!” Similarly, everyday at is Teacher Day at Keystone! Our teachers are our most valuable resource for the well being and learning of our students and they deserve our enduring gratitude and admiration.
Educational research has long affirmed what anyone who has had a wonderful teacher knows— there is no single factor that can have a higher impact on learning than a teacher.
We all have had teachers in our lives who have not only been memorable, but served as catalysts for transformation. For me, I remember a Spanish teacher I had in high school named Ms. Perna. She was a fabulous teacher— animated, dedicated and singularly committed to helping us learn. I remember the energy in her classes and the ways that she designed lessons so that we were never bored. I still remember one time (over 30 years ago!) when she was teaching us about the vocabulary related to transportation and she arranged several student desks in the front of the room as if they were a car. She then guided us acting out all of the things that can go wrong in a car. To this day I can hear her screaming the command form of hit the breaks: “Pisa el freno!”
The greatest thing about Ms. Perna was that she worked very hard to create opportunities for us to use our developing Spanish proficiency outside of the classroom too. She knew that applying knowledge in the real world was the key to deep, meaningful and transferable learning. She arranged a trip to New York City to see a Frederico Garcia Lorca play that we had studied in class, “Bodas de Sangre”. It was a seven-hour drive from my small town in rural Vermont to New York City— I think we went there and back in one day and she drove the 15-passenger van the whole way. Then when I was in 12th grade she guided us on an amazing trip to Costa Rica where we stayed with local families and learned about the culture and people of that beautiful place.
Ms. Perna consistently went way above and beyond what was required of her as a Spanish teacher at our small local district public high school. When I think about it now from my position as a Head of School, I can recognize all of the hard work that must have gone into arranging all the things she made possible for us to enhance our learning.
There are many factors that went into me being interested in languages and literature, but it started with Ms. Perna. In addition to being my teacher, she kept a horse at the farm where I used to work. Beyond being an incredible teacher she is also a skilled equestrian. I looked up to her in every possible way, hoping one day to speak like Spanish like she could, and to ride as beautiful as she did. It was the multi-dimensionality of her presence in my life during my high school years that surely played a huge role in me deciding to study Spanish in college and think of teaching as a wonderful life path.
The long impact of an extraordinary teacher is amazing. I am so grateful to have had so many in my life. And when I walk around Keystone classrooms, labs, canteens, fields and dorms I see this magic everywhere. The commitment and excellence of our teachers is nothing compared to their extraordinary hearts for our kids. How fortunate are Keystone students?!
If you are reading this and thinking of a teacher from your life (whether you are a current student, faculty, staff or parent) consider (if you haven’t yet this week) writing them a short thank you note! Teachers rarely hear about how great they are doing and it means the world. I have a file of kind notes from students and their parents that I look at to spark joy whenever I need it. So this weekend, thank a teacher! It would mean so much to them. I’m excited to send this reflection to Ms. Perna. I don’t know if I’ve ever told her how much I appreciated her and what her excellence in so many dimensions meant to my life. It’s important that she hear that.
I hope you all have a peaceful and beautiful weekend!
With gratitude,
Emily / Dr. M
