Posts
Engaging the Heart and Mind at Seven Hills
What do you remember when you think of your favorite school teacher? I would guess that what comes to mind first is not the academic material that particular teacher covered. […]
Seven Hills’ New Strategic Plan: Heart, Mind, and Community
At the start of every school year, and particularly at the start of this 2025-26 school year, which I believe will be largely defined by our new Strategic Plan, I […]
The Importance of Letting Children Go Through the Process in the Pursuit of Excellence
The Seven Hills value we are focusing on this year is the pursuit of excellence. For children, this pursuit is not about reaching perfection but about learning how to grow. […]
Bee Present 2.0
In my almost 30 years of teaching, I’ve rarely seen such a rapid positive uptick in student culture as I witnessed last year with the launch of “Bee Present.” At […]
Strengthening the Bridge Between Home and School
At The Seven Hills Middle School, we wholeheartedly recognize that raising and educating our children is a journey best traveled together. This partnership between parents and schools is not just […]
Eighth Grade: A Time and A Place
I find myself in a slightly reminiscent mood these past few weeks, noting that our eighth graders are about to leave their Middle School home. While I am not in […]
The Best at Getting Better
The last week of school is always a festive one, featuring special events, celebrations, and closing ceremonies. Our younger students are looking forward to summer vacation, while our graduates are […]
Charting Our Course
Throughout this year, I’ve frequently been asked how my first year at Seven Hills has gone. I am quick to respond about the kindness of the community, the dedication and […]
Inspiring Student Ownership and Agency in Classrooms
It’s rare in a career to be a part of designing a dream school from the ground up. Rarer still for students to be a part of the process. Over […]
Windows and Mirrors: The Inclusivity of our Middle School Programming
I have long applauded the Middle School’s commitment to creating spaces for all students to find their own sense of belonging. We have numerous clubs, organizations, and activities that allow […]
Seven Hills and Literary Culture
One of my favorite Seven Hills events is Books for Lunch, a remarkable opportunity for students, teachers, families, and friends to interact with renowned authors. During this year’s assembly with […]
Magnanimous Curiosity
Students teach a poetry lesson. A presenter at a recent conference shared a question worth considering by everyone associated with schools, including parents, students, teachers, and all who work in […]
The Wisdom of Children and the Future of Lower School Education
As we prepare to unify our two Lower Schools into one community, it is essential that many constituents have the opportunity to provide input — including our students. Recently, the […]
The Brain Science Behind Literacy
In the world of elementary school literacy instruction, there have always been two camps: whole language and phonics. For those outside of the elementary education, allow us to give a […]
Resilience in the Face of Hard Times
On a Sunday morning in late November of 2022, I found myself in downtown OTR, lying on a wet Race Street, stunned and in excruciating pain. I had just attempted […]