As Mom to Jake (grade
1), Luke (Pre-K) and Rosie (future Key Schooler), I’m a huge fan of the
excellent education at Key and the engaged, embracing community of
parents. I’ve been involved in many
schools – mostly high schools - and I’m eager to support Key School on the
LSRT, bringing to bear my experience in education. Most recently, I taught at the Potomac School in McLean for 8
years, where I was at various points an Upper School English teacher, Head of
Community Service, College Counselor, and many other roles one ends up playing
as part of a school community. I also
recruited teachers for independent schools nationally through work with a
non-profit called Independent Educational Services and in that role visited
about 30 independent schools around the country and worked with many more. My perspective on public education comes
primarily from my work in the summers as a writing coach for College Summit
(founded by my husband, J.B.), which works with low-income students to help
them enroll in college, and with school districts to help them create a
college-going culture. I would be
honored to serve as a member of the LSRT.
My wife and I became Key
parents four years ago, when our son started pre-K. From the outset, I’ve appreciated how Key fosters an unusually
positive environment for its students, teachers, and parents. I’d like to contribute to the school
community by serving on the LSRT. I
started teaching in 1985-- since 2004, I’ve been a history teacher at Maret
School, a K-12 private school in the District.
I attended public schools from K-8, and believe strongly in public
education, both for kids and for neighborhoods. I believe, too, that my experience from a different side of DC
education will help me contribute effectively to the LSRT.
Everywhere I’ve worked,
I’ve been involved in the kinds of things the LSRT undertakes: the intersection
where big picture issues (e.g., organization, finances, governance) meet the
nuts-and-bolts of educating children well.
Here are some resume-ish things I’ve done along these lines recently: I
participated in the development of Maret’s ten-year Strategic Plan as the
faculty member of the Financial Health Committee, and as a member of the
Strategic Retreat group. I chaired my
department’s Self-Study, as part of Maret’s ten year accreditation
process. I coordinate Maret’s 9th grade
Service Learning program, which makes education about hunger and hunger-related
community service in DC integral parts of the 9th grade History curriculum. I serve my spouse and Key dutifully on the
Grounds Committee. Like so many of you,
I flip burgers, hoist Christmas trees, scare children at the Harvest Festival,
and feel grateful to all the other parents, staff, and teachers whose
commitments make Key work so well for the kids and the community. It would be an honor to work for you on the
LSRT.