LOWER S CH O O L
Tiffany Stahl TAKES THE HELM
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n 2014, Tiffany Stahl left Sycamore. Well, she sort of left. She decided to exit her Kindergarten teaching position that she held for eight years and start her Ph.D. path in School Psychology at Indiana State University. What she discovered along that path of learning was that she missed Sycamore, so she came back. She never really left, because while starting on that degree, she could still be found at Sycamore, studying and working with twiceexceptional students. The doctoral program wasn’t as rewarding at the time as she had hoped. So she slipped back into Sycamore as an educator, first filling a Pre-K maternity leave, then as a Pre-School teacher for two years, and finally the past three years as a 3rd Grade teacher. In the 2021-22 school year, she will take over as Head of Lower School.
“I love that at Sycamore, people are not afraid to think outside the box,” she says. “First and foremost, I want to ensure that our powerful mission statement stays at the forefront of everything we do. With the pandemic making it very different for our students, we will not only consider academics, but also the social, emotional, and executive function skills of our students as we embrace our new normal.” Her background as a teacher and as an event organizer both played a role in her confidence that she is right for this job. “I have had many leadership role models over the years including my parents, professors in college, and leaders at Sycamore School and other educational organizations. These leaders have inspired and coached me to become a leader myself. These role models taught me that it is okay to make mistakes, as long as you use the outcome for a learning opportunity. Stay curious, listen with the same compassion as you wish to be heard, be willing to go outside of your comfort zone, and respect differences.” As Sycamore approaches its 40th anniversary, Stahl knows there are places to focus on improvement and traditions to be respected.
“Sycamore School is such a special place. I love coming to work each day,” Stahl says. “I appreciate the supportive, communitytype atmosphere that encompasses Sycamore. I have always enjoyed serving in leadership roles. When you have an idea, even a really big ‘out there’ idea, people at Sycamore embrace it and support you in making that idea become a reality.”
“Though I have been at Sycamore School for 14 years, I know there will be a learning curve for this new role,” she says. “I plan to use my first year to learn, ask questions, and build relationships. I want to take a close look at what we are already doing and make sure it is the best program, curriculum, or application for each impacted constituent group.
That openness to new ideas and the opportunity to make a difference with more Lower School students was one of the deciding factors as Stahl considered moving out of the classroom and into a bigger role at the school.
“But one thing is for sure,” she says of one particular tradition for Lower School students. “The ever-popular Lunch Bunch program that Diane Borgmann started when she was Head of Lower School will continue.”
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6/24/21 10:09 AM
