SHS State of the School 22-23

2022-2023 is Shady Hill’s year of “resetting to move forward.” After reading “Hopes and Fears, Working with Today’s Independent School Parents,” by Drs. Michael Thompson and Rob Evans, our faculty and staff welcomed Dr. Thompson to campus to help us develop post-pandemic strategies for partnering with parents. We also worked with Dr. Leesa Mercedes, Lower School Psychologist and Jamila Wilson, Middle School Counselor, to better understand the trauma adults and students experienced, and identify ways to support them. The pandemic took a toll on our students— both academically and socially—and we are committed to helping them “reset and move forward.”

With the joyful reopening of campus, parents, grandparents, employees, and alumni have returned for many time-honored traditions. The SHS Fair, All School Gratitude Assembly, weekly Lower School assemblies, and Grandfriends Day reunited us in person and lifted us up with characteristic Shady Hill spirit. Our student pride is once again on display through Assembly Hall exhibits and the excitement surrounding overnights and field trips has returned. The makerspace is open for guided hands-on activities as well as independent work with both high- and low-tech materials. Quite simply, the campus is buzzing.

We are grateful for this opportunity to pick up where we left off and apply what we have learned. As we embrace this year of renewal, we are encouraged by the progress already made.

FACE-TO-FACE TRADITIONS

“What’s become so profound is the power of in-person community and connection.” Middle School Head Krista Demas considered the impact of faceto-face teaching and learning and agreed with Lower School Head Shalini Rao that the joy is palpable. “There is something special about being in the same room at the same time that helps us enliven our mission,” Shalini added.

Teachers and students are relishing the togetherness of this school year. Whether through skits, artwork, or singing together in weekly assemblies, the community is reviving traditions and making new ones.

One of Shady Hill’s pre-pandemic hallmark programs that is back is Partners, in which lower and middle school students work together, build important leadership skills, and benefit from positive role modeling. Activities like planting bulbs in the Tot Lot or reading together foster a sense of responsibility and create lasting bonds. PODS, in which two eighth graders lead a small group of younger Middle School peers, also relies on in-person collaboration for engaging classroom experiences.

Once again we are sending students into the world for field trips. The Farm School, Nature’s Classroom, and Project Adventure all provide new contexts for learning and strengthen our sense of community. As a leader in developing hands-on curriculum, Shady Hill is now redefining what that means.

WELCOME BACK

It has been a joy to welcome back so many “old favorite” community events this fall. Our extended family of parents, grandfriends, and alums are an essential part of our identity and we welcome their unique contributions. From parent coffees at the start of the school year to the Fair in its traditional October time slot, every gathering has lifted our spirits and reminded us how good it is to be reunited. Grandfriends Day and the Gratitude Assembly brought us together in signature style— abundant with talents and wisdom, and recognizing the achievements of those around us. Each time we welcome friends and family back on campus, we happily punctuate the importance of being together.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

We are pleased to welcome some new faces to our administrative team—supporting priorities around a safe and healthy student experience. During our last accreditation, AISNE recommended additional staffing toward this end and we subsequently expanded our Health Office. Lower School Psychologist Dr. Leesa Mercedes and Nurse Robin Patch are both experienced school health professionals, who bring warmth and expertise to their respective roles.

Two faces that are seen all around campus are Michele Snyder and Andre Watson. Michele is our new Marketing and Communications Director—bringing more than two decades of leadership, communication, and marketing skills to the position—and Andre is our first Director of Campus Safety and Transportation. Andre has extensive experience in public safety and has already helped define this newly created role.

Finally, we are excited that Devon DeWolf has joined our Equity Office to support the School’s mission-centric, multicultural practices. In her role, she helps frame both program and ethos to create a place where everyone belongs.

FORWARD THINKING

Every three-to-five years, Shady Hill’s Board of Trustees leads a strategic planning process to establish priorities and identify new opportunities. The process keeps us focused on mission-appropriate growth and helps ensure that we are always moving forward. Since the completion of our last strategic plan, we have made significant progress around the review and development of new financial aid policies, a review of the Lower School math curriculum, a strategic review of the Teacher Training Center, and a redesign of the Lower School playground.

This year, independent school consultant Ryan Burke, Co-Founder and Senior Partner at Leadership and Design, joined a SHS steering committee of community representatives and stakeholders to help frame our work.

Having identified several areas for development, the Board of Trustees and administrative leadership invited parents and caregivers to share their thoughts in a series of “think tanks” around the priorities of:

• Enhancing the student learning experience

• Continuing to enroll a socioeconomically diverse student body

• Helping Shady Hill remain a leader of all PreK-8 independent schools

Additionally, two convergence sessions this spring will invite further review with the goal of prioritizing the think tank recommendations for the Board. Mark Stanek, Head of School, will work with the Board to publish a three-tofive year strategic plan next fall which will serve as the foundation of a new fundraising campaign.

We are grateful for the collaboration and support from the members of the steering committee as well as those who took the time to participate in the information sessions this year.

FORWARD PROGRESS

In a year that defies comparison, we all have been buoyed by the lessons learned and the demonstrable progress made throughout our campus. Three notable examples illustrate the attention being paid to the SHS student experience through curriculum, facilities, and teaching.

THE VALUE OF PLAY

SHS was a pioneer in the intentional application of play in today’s progressive classroom. A thematic, project-based curriculum not only allows but encourages children to be children, making learning a joyful pursuit. It happens every day in and out of the classroom and soon it will happen in our new playground. With the help of an SHS research committee and Landscape Architect and alum Mary Webb ‘78, a new design will be presented this year and the real work of transforming a central part of our campus will begin.

CRUNCHING NUMBERS

All big changes at SHS come on the heels of exhaustive research and inquiry and the new Lower School math curriculum is no exception. Following a review that began in 2019, the Math Advisory Group identified the need for a curriculum that would standardize skill development horizontally and vertically between grades. The Group selected Investigations and Illustrative Math—a highlyrated, inquiry-based curriculum based on more than 20 years of research and development. This year, SHS gradeheads assessed the program’s potential for meeting academic and cultural criteria and will make a final recommendation in February 2023. Implementation of the new curriculum is planned for September 2023.

A TEACHING LANDMARK

The groundbreaking Teacher Training Center was founded in 1928 to develop the skills and sensibilities of aspiring teachers through collaboration with Shady Hill’s master practitioners. The Center was the first of its kind and has inspired thousands of gifted teachers throughout the world. This year the Center turned 95—a landmark that was celebrated at the NAIS People of Color Conference, in San Antonio, Texas. Twenty-one TTC alumni joined TTC Executive Director Desiree Ivey to mark the occasion.

Back at home, SHS Head of School Mark Stanek led a Mission and Vision Committee to create the TTC’s first mission statement. With a sensitivity to the growing need to develop strong school leadership in a nationally adverse climate, the mission will guide and ground the program through future growth.

Meanwhile, in an effort to meet the immediate needs of student-teachers this year, the TTC reduced tuition by 50%, increased the Katharine Taylor Fellowship to $30,000, and increased the Urban Teaching Fellowship to $18,000. These financial incentives reflect the TTC’s commitment to financial sustainability and access while giving future teachers a world-class foundation.

FINANCIAL FOOTING

It’s 2023 and Shady Hill is, as usual, on solid financial footing. In unusual circumstances, our community came together to meet the unique and expensive challenges presented by the two-plus pandemic years.

Donors from all quarters—current parents, alumni, TTC alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, grandfriends, faculty, and staff—contributed generously, exceeding the Shady Hill Fund goal by nearly $450,000. By Trustee mandate, the overage was allocated to financial aid. Additionally, our Financial Aid Task Force worked tirelessly to improve our financial aid program—ultimately submitting a proposal that was approved by the Board. As a result, the program now financially supports families more effectively and furthers our commitment to socioeconomic inclusion.

Following the 2021-2022 school year, we intentionally “right-sized” our student body from 541 back to our pre-pandemic size of 523. We were pleased to reduce the number of sections and classrooms that the pandemic required for optimal social distancing. This “reset” has allowed us to retain our preferred student/teacher ratios in spaces specifically designed for each purpose.

We hope each and every family understands the importance of their Shady Hill Fund contribution—no matter the size, and that everyone continues to give, at whatever level feels right to them. After all, every student benefits from the $2 million Shady Hill Fund that helps fund the operating budget each year.

BREAKDOWN OF FY 2023 BUDGETED EXPENSES ($24.3M)

BREAKDOWN OF FY 2023 BUDGETED REVENUE ($24.3M)

A CULTURE OF BELONGING

The Equity Office at Shady Hill is an essential administrative center—driving our efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion. With a singular focus on creating a community of respectful listeners, who value each other’s differences, the Equity Office aims to foster an environment that feels welcoming to all. Through meaningful programming and open dialogue, the Office helps us grow as individuals and also as a school.

Our year started with the addition of Devon DeWolf to the Equity Office, as Assistant Director of Equity and Inclusion. She has already made an impact as she helps implement many of the recommendations from last fall’s AISNE/Diversity Directions Listening Sessions. This year’s initiatives include the launch of a bi-monthly newsletter to highlight some of the diversity, equity, and inclusion work happening around the School and within our community, reinstatement of Parent/Caregiver Affinity Groups, ongoing listening sessions for Asian American/Pacific Islander families, and holding Cross Community Gatherings for Parents of Color hosted by Shady Hill in partnership with area schools.

We were pleased to be able to reinstate many DEI programs that were on pandemic hold, including hosting special guests for assemblies, holding our Black History Assembly in person, and the creation of the

Special thanks for their contributions: KristaDemas

, Devon DeWolf, Betsy Ginsberg, Laniesha Gray , Maureen Nunez, Shalini Rao, Mark Stanek,SarahWooten, andDarylWri ght.