They Ask Me Why I Teach
So I had to deal with a few situations last week that truly made me appreciate being an educator, and that made me feel honored to have the opportunity to interact with young people each and every day. Most of the issues revolved around students who had made bad decisions, or who had made a big enough mistake that it warranted […]
A Week Without Walls
So for the past two weeks, our middle and high school students (and many of our teachers) have been off discovering different parts of Ecuador through our outdoor education program here at AC. I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days with the middle school kids last week in two different locations, and […]
Students Leading Change
So we are about 6 weeks away from hosting a regional GIN conference here at Academia Cotopaxi, and it’s exciting to think about the opportunity that we have to inspire our students around the planet’s most important issues. We’ve been trying hard of late to build and grow a culture around the idea of service, and to empower our students to think of […]
5 Things I Love…
So we’re two weeks into the new school year and I feel really good. The first couple of weeks sets the tone for the year in so many ways, and getting off to a positive start is so important when framing the attitude and experience of both teachers and students as the weeks begin to roll on. I spent […]
Everybody Leads…
So we have had an amazing start to the school year, and I couldn’t be more proud of our teachers, students and staff. It has been inspiring to see the attention that everyone has given to the relationship building piece, and truly heartwarming to see the tremendous effort that has been given to ensure that each and every one […]
Searchlight Souls
So there is nothing more exciting to me in my life than the first day of a new school year. Watching the kids spill off of the buses with wide eyes and nervous energy is an experience that never gets old, and one that fills me with so many deep emotions. I literally cannot wait to see […]
Summer Sun…
So here we are staring down the final four and a half days of the school year, and before we all head off to soak up that summer sun I want to take this chance to say thank you. The work that you have all put in to make us a better school over the […]
Bring Learning to Life…
So recently I have had the absolute privilege and pleasure of watching our students showcase their learning in many different ways, and in many different forms. To watch kids put their talents, their hard work, their passions, and their learning on display is easily my favourite thing to do as an educator, […]
Student Appreciation Week
So this past week a friend of mine shared a beautiful little story with me. He was running late for work one morning because his brother was staying with him along with his niece and nephew, and his morning routine was thrown out of whack…when he checked the clock and saw […]
Sustainability and Service
So next October we will host a regional GIN (Global Issues Network) conference at our school, and the opportunity that this affords us is immeasurable. It’s an opportunity to deeply inspire our students and our surrounding community around the world’s biggest and most important issues like sustainability and service, which will hopefully transform […]