Our Faculty

	The best schools are made of great teachers. Whether teaching Kindergarteners the foundations of reading or Fifth Graders the elements of an essay, there are essential human and professional qualities we seek in our teachers. We hire teachers who are thoroughly educated in their disciplines, who are intellectually stimulating and creative, who have a deep understanding of developmental education, and who are devoted to the love of learning. Our desire to foster a joyful sense of community and mutal respect draw us to teachers with compassion and empathy, adults who genuinely love working with children; who are patient and encouraging; who find human value in teacher-student relationships, and who are dedicated to nurturing student growth and independence. We want our teachers and administrators to pursue opportunities for their own personal and professional growth, to be always open to new ideas for their work and viewpoints, and to assume leadership roles in the professional growth of colleagues nationwide. We support and encourage these endeavors, and our teachers take advantage of these opportunities, including participation in workshops, conferences, and international travel. Finally, our teachers find excitement in working collaboratively with colleagues across disciplines to create, refine, and improve the programs and policies of the school. The healthiest collaboration is that based on candor, respectful dialogue, the raising of challenging ideas, and the merging of ideas and talents to make this a magnetic place in which to work.

	Faculty: In Their Own Words
	Anne Hoover: First grade. Wanted to be a teacher for as long as she can remember In the words of her teaching assistant: This may sound like a cliché, but what happens in Mrs. Hoover's classroom is magical. The voice she uses; her approach to a subject--the kids get excited. She radiates a calm, patient energy. She's so inspired that she inspires everyone around her. In her words: First grade is an amazing place. The children are full of curiosity and an enormous amount of learning happens in a very short time. They start out writing words and by January they're writing little research reports. How have you changed as a teacher? Classroom management. It was hard at first. Now I know how to make it work. I know how to wait. I love those moments--using the power of silence as children are getting ready to learn.

	Alyssa Sellers: First grade teacher On becoming a teacher: I was working on my senior thesis on Developmental and Child Psychology and went into the classroom to do research. I was fascinated by how children learn to learn. I realized I was at home with the kids, and the teachers invited me to stay. Now I've been teaching for ten years. A typical day: A typical day is impossible to describe, other than to say it's never static. One minute you see a child who has struggled with something, and then a light goes on--they finally understand and it brings you to tears. Later on a child will make a comment that has you laughing or amazed by their insight. Motto: Roll with the punches. On any given day, there are always surprises, so it's important to be ready for anything.

	Martha Russell: Kindergarten legend On teaching reading: Most adults have forgotten the energy that goes into learning to read. The kids know it's their job and they're willing to put in the focus that it takes. Sometimes the intensity in the classroom is palpable. On child development: The students come to us having had a lot done for them. In our classroom they experience the exhilaration of beginning to take charge of certain aspects of their lives. I love the glow of independence that shows up part way through the year. Preparation for teaching kindergarten: I spent almost 15 years teaching special education. I experienced how the learning process can go wrong and how kids can disguise their struggles. It was an amazing education in how to identify when the process is going right. Your favorite part of teaching? The kids are startled and amazed by the natural world around them. So am I. You should see us looking at a spider web or the process our apple trees go through in a year. I never tire of it.