17 minute read
Meeting the Moment
How Windward’s BehindtheScenes Heroes Set the Stage for Learning
All the classrooms are a stage, and all the teachers and students are the players. But what happens behind the curtains, so that the spotlight can shine brightly on them? Backstage at Windward, there are more than 120 staff members who serve as the behindthescenes crew to ensure that the show goes on.
The tremendous amount of work produced by these staff members may not be showcased front and center each day, yet Windward’s nonacademic teams are incredibly deserving of top billing for their meaningful contributions to the School’s operations—from safeguarding the health and safety of our community to transforming classroom technology to become a HyFlex academic model and much more.
Faculty and staff across all campuses continue to work in harmony to meet the moment of this pandemic, so each division can do what it does best: teachers can focus on supporting students’ academic and socialemotional needs in the classroom, while nonacademic teams can concentrate on fulfilling Windward’s mission through their industrious efforts outside of the classroom.
The following vignettes are a brief glimpse into the highlights reel of some of Windward’s staff offices to unveil how they have pivoted to adapt to the unique circumstances of the 2020–21 school year and how they have managed to perform behind the scenes with grace. Bravo!
SPECIAL FEATURE Read about the Technology Office and the team’s incredible story in this issue’s Faculty & Staff Profile on page 24.
HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAM
It is impossible to overstate the degree to which the health office has stretched to meet the current moment for Windward.
Not only has the COVID19 crisis tasked them with developing allnew health protocols from the ground up, but also it has created an unprecedented need for ongoing, close collaboration with the Joffe Emergency Response Team, epidemiologist David Calfee, the senior administrative team, the communications office, and facilities department.
Along with the massive undertaking of developing COVID19 health protocols, tracking cases, contact tracing, and record keeping, some of the new responsibilities have included facilitating the Magnus health screenings, ordering and distributing PPE for all campuses, installing safety signage for all buildings, ensuring proper distancing mandates for all classrooms, and reporting to the state and local department of health. The health office has remained informed and proactive concerning the everchanging challenges associated with the pandemic and, with the help of professionals within Windward and external consultants, the team has been dedicated to ensuring safety at all four campuses.
Marilyn Hunt, Director of Health, Physical Education, & Athletics, noted, “We’ve always felt that safety was of the utmost importance. During the COVID19 pandemic, ensuring the safety of our community has been the priority. The safety aspects that are within our control, Windward has tackled head on.” Part of that effort has been shifting roles within the department. Colleen Iodice, Assistant Director of Health and Safety, stepped up from parttime, working two days per week to being available seven days per week in her new role. “Colleen has been invaluable in her current role and goes above and beyond the call of duty,” shared Ms. Hunt. She also credits the entire health and safety team for expanding their duties in order to care for the Windward community. Head of School Jamie Williamson and Associate Head of School Jon Rosenshine have played a crucial part in overseeing, leading, and supporting all efforts to keep students, faculty, and staff safe and informed during this unprecedented time.
FACILITIES
It has been all hands on deck for the facilities department since March, with the team working tirelessly seven days per week to prepare Windward’s campuses for inperson instruction.
The need for additional instructional space this year meant an expansion from three locations to five, and every facility required updates. One critical addition was the installation of Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization technology in the HVAC systems, which are bestonmarket for neutralizing airborne germs. Each campus received this upgrade, with the exception of the 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue location; instead, it utilizes UV lighting to purify the air. The facilities team has also faced the Herculean tasks of obtaining new furniture, rearranging classrooms, moving into the new buildings, installing sanitizing stations and handsfree soap dispensers throughout every building, bringing the Upper West Side location’s electrical and plumbing up to date, and intensifying all cleaning and disinfection schedules. The facilities team worked closely with the health office and the technology department, coordinating efforts to ensure that disinfection supplies and processes met guidelines from the CDC and Department of Health and that classrooms were outfitted with the technology they required.
All these new responsibilities had to be combined with the typical prep work that the facilities team handles prior to the start of the school year, such as painting internal and external walls, deep cleaning, buffing and waxing floors, lawn care, and landscaping. It was a huge workload, but Facilities Director Jimmy Sniffen said, “Not one person complained the entire time. It was a tough job, and it took a lot out of us, but we knew the job had to be done to make sure the school was safe for everybody, not just the children, but everybody. Everyone on the facilities team gave their share and more.”
COMMUNICATIONS
The small but mighty communications office has worked relentlessly to keep the Windward community informed as the School adapts to the everchanging demands of the pandemic.
As managers of the myWindward Family Portal, the team rapidly built the Learning Hub for remote academic engagement, produced more than 125 pod schedules with embedded teacher Zoom links, published all reopening announcements such as the StateoftheSchool webinars and safety protocols, and introduced the COVID19 case tracker. The communications team constantly monitors the latest updates on guidelines and procedures from Windward, local departments of health, and the Governor’s office to ensure students, families, faculty, and staff are provided with timely and accurate information.
There was no template for emergency COVID19 alerts (from notifying contacts that needed to quarantine to keeping all campuses informed about positive cases), but the Communications Office is on call every weeknight and weekend to send timely updates regarding any new developments. Together with the health office and head of school, the communications team is a key partner in delivering transparent messages to the community during an unprecedented time when clarity has provided a sense of security.
The communications office worked closely with the health office with the launch of the daily wellness screening questionnaire through the Magnus app. Families, faculty, and staff all turned to the communications team for reliable customer support during the setup phase of the new schoolwide health protocol. The communications team also continues to support many other branches of the School as well, including Admissions, The Windward Institute, development, technology, summer program, and the board of trustees. Thanks to the communications office, the Windward community was able to view informative and entertaining videos, such as the backtoschool health and safety video and Head of School Mr. Williamson’s Read Aloud series, as well as stay abreast of the many virtual communitybuilding events during the school year.
THE WINDWARD INSTITUTE
Due to the pandemic, The Windward Institute has had to shift its course offerings to a virtual platform, which enabled the WI to rethink how it presents educational content.
As always, WI’s commitment is to provide highlevel researchbased professional development to as many educators as possible. “[We took] what was a seed of an idea of a speaker series and immediately realized the opportunity we had to offer it as a webinar series, which could reach such a wider audience. We were then able to include and engage with more researchers and educators from around the world to contribute, which would have been more difficult if we had not gone remote or utilized a virtual platform,” shared Annie Stutzman, Associate Director of The Windward Institute.
With much thought and care toward adjusting presentations to a remote setting while maintaining the same standards of excellence, the WI has been able to offer courses, workshops, parent seminars, and community lectures virtually, to an even larger audience. Ms. Stutzman added, “We’re so proud of how the entire team pivoted and adapted new skill sets when we had to go virtual.”
DRAMA
The students and teachers involved in the drama program are committed not only to each other (they meet every afternoon for three hours after school) but also to their desire to make the world a better place through art.
As the pandemic interrupted production an episodic podcast; and a series of of a musical, the department was dance videos. The episodic nature of challenged to think of new remote the work provides the opportunity for projects to keep creative and community many children to participate, with spirit alive. students from both
“It takes a creative middle school team to be enthusiastic campuses about starting from scratch,” said Betsy “The supportive, collaborating for the first time. Hooper, Performing inclusive community, Despite these Arts Chairperson. changes, the “But when we start the laughter, and important elements from nothing, there of the drama is nothing but the inspiration of program have possibility. Our job remained in place. was to determine making creative Actors record their how a remote afterschool drama work are still at scenes at home, but the drama teachers program can still offer meaningful creative the heart of our are live on Zoom, directing them in real opportunities and build an environment program.” time. “The supportive, inclusive where our children community, the can say something laughter, and the valuable in the work inspiration of making they create.” creative work are still at the heart of
The drama program pivoted by our program,” noted Ms. Hooper. “We expanding its scope of projects to are enjoying these new projects so include Good News Windward, an much that they may be permanent episodic news show; The Understudy, additions to the drama program.”
DINING
As any chef would attest, social distancing presents a unique challenge in the kitchen, demanding creative solutions for cooking together as a team while far apart.
Windward’s dining partners at Flik have risen to this challenge and more. The 202021 school year also brought with it a new online ordering app, Nutrislice, and as is true with any new program, there has been a learning curve. To ease the transition, Chef Jim Erdman spent countless hours speaking with parents/guardians and Windward faculty and staff, walking them through the ordering process. The shift from inhouse personal dining to delivering prepackaged lunches required an adjustment, as well, as the new process is more labor intensive and adds a quality control step of individually checking all the components for each lunch. Despite missing out on personal interactions with students, faculty, and staff each day and having to navigate allnew procedures, the dining team has remained committed to their primary goal of producing quality product with care. Chef Jim noted, “We feel Windward is our family. We take every precaution possible to make sure this community is fed nutritious food, safely, and in a friendly manner.”
WINDWARD TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM
In the face of uniquely challenging circumstances, the Windward Teacher Training program has been both adaptable and resilient.
The WTTP team has had to transition and adapt a very comprehensive program to a model that, although delivered remotely, had to encompass all the elements that make the WTTP an outstanding program.
That meant quick yet thoughtful and deliberate decisions about required courses, mentoring, seminar work, and time for communication among assistants, mentors, and staff developers. Turning to research on distance training and the expertise of the technology office, a program was developed to seamlessly support new faculty in acquiring the knowledge needed to become expert teachers.
Assistant teachers, unable to meet in person for seminar trainings, view recorded presentations independently. Required courses are also viewed independently with assignments and discussion provided by course instructors. Participants embraced the new format, which created opportunity for them to have a great sense of responsibility for their learning while still having the opportunity to interact with instructors. To ensure that each assistant teacher is learning Windward culture and feeling comfortable in their role, time for assistant teacher staff developers to meet with each assistant teacher and mentor continues to be a priority.
“Being resilient, flexible, and focused on delivering all the aspects of the Windward Teacher Training Program that make the program a national model has been the focus of the WTTP each day. Every aspect was looked at from a COVIDaltered view and reformulated to provide the best vehicle for disseminating information and providing open and ongoing communication,” shared Sandy Schwarz, Director of Windward Teacher Training Program.
2020–2021 Student Enrollment
MLS . . . . . . . . . .112 WLS . . . . . . . . .195 MMS . . . . . . . . .236 WMS . . . . . . . .398
Total students: 941
ADMISSIONS Despite the current health crisis, the admissions office has achieved its highest enrollment year to date for the 20202021 school year with 941 students.
Their biggest adjustment was moving everything to a virtual platform, not only for information sessions, but also for screening students and conducting postconference meetings with parents. Director of Admissions ToniAnn Hutchison noted, “I am incredibly proud of the fact that we have not had to compromise the integrity of our process in order to admit the students that are best suited for our program. Our fear at the beginning of the pandemic was that in the evaluation of each applicant, we would lose a piece to the puzzle. However, while aspects of our admissions process had to change, we feel confident that we have been able to offer seats to students that will benefit from our program and truly need us.”
OUTPLACEMENT This year, the school is slated to outplace 215 students.
It is a monumental task that is complicated by the fact that touring other campuses and sitting in on classes is not possible for outgoing Windward students. Instead, families are relying wholly on information shared by the outplacement team. Tanya Ehrlich, CoDirector of Outplacement, noted, “Our families found it really valuable to have information sessions and alumni panels. It’s been so important to give families the sense that we are here, we are present.”
Support includes answering email queries, being available for Zoom mock interviews, and assisting students with essays, as well as reaching out to admissions directors. The outplacement team has also been referring alumni families to current eighth and ninth grade families so they have another point of contact for questions. “It’s been incredible to see the generosity of our alumni,” shared Diane Kissner, CoDirector of Outplacement. Always attentive to Windward parents, Outplacement has found ways to stretch that effort even more this year.
Windward’s 2019–2020 Outplacement
Private Day School 109 Public School 51 Boarding School 24
Total students outplaced: 184 28%
13% 59%
Windward’s development office has displayed some formidable improvisational skills as they adjust to a virtual fundraising environment.
Working in concert with the WPA, their focus has been on connecting with new parents while maintaining strong ties to current Windward families. From exploring exciting ways to show faculty and staff appreciation to hosting a virtual pumpkin carving contest for Halloween to making posters celebrating the opening of the 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue Westchester location, the WPA and development staff have worked hard to keep our community close. “We have worked to create an environment of collaboration where we’re all coming to be creative and think of new ways to connect with community and have every voice heard at the table. It has been a real crowdsourcing effort. We keep adding to each other’s ideas, which is energizing for all of us,” shared Angel Francis, Director of Development.
Overall, the focus of the development team has been looking toward the future and partnering with the community to support growth of the School and expanding Windward’s impact beyond its walls.
AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES & ATHLETICS
One of the major changes brought on by the pandemic has been the cancellation of inperson sports and activities. However, the afterschool activities and athletics team has not allowed that to hold them back.
With her trademark positivity and drive, Windward has been able to offer soccer Director of Health, Physical Education, & and basketball virtually this year, with a Athletics Marilyn Hunt asserted, “It’s focus on students honing their individual different, but it can still be great.” skills while staying connected to one
This agile another. Afterschool approach has created new possibilities Offering Windward clubs transformed into a crossover model, for continuing to promote a sense students opportunities joining together Westchester and of community and socialization while to have fun with Manhattan campuses. This affords students keeping everyone safe. Offering their teachers and who normally would not interact the chance Windward students opportunities to classmates after to build rapport and a sense of community have fun with their teachers and school has been across Windward campuses. Virtual classmates after important, especially clubs for the 202021 school has been school year include important, especially during this photography, game during this stressful night, computer time. With stressful time. science, fitness competitive athletic fanatics, vocal fun, teams not being an sports fan clubs, option, the focus shifted to providing rainbow club, cheering, Model United virtual sports and clubs that both enrich Nations, film & cinema, chess club, sports the student experience and minimize any & games, and jewelry & beading. health risks related to COVID19.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Human Resources has faced the unusual challenges this year with grit, compassion, and flexibility.
One key effort has been working in tandem with the Director of WTTP to hire and onboard noninstructional parttime aides for the classrooms, to assist teachers and provide additional coverage. Their chief focus, however, has been to recognize faculty and staff and ensure that they feel valued. Some of the events to build morale have included a food truck event in November, a holiday door decorating contest, and acknowledging birthdays and work anniversaries.
Above all, Jada Jones, Director of Human Resources, strives to “always be an employee advocate. I want to make sure every single person feels comfortable to come to work every day, with the same excitement for Windward that they had prior to COVID19.” This means that her team is prioritizing inoffice hours for faculty and staff in order to answer the many questions that arise. Being a resource for employees is critical now more than ever, and they are proud to be an approachable team for all of Windward’s employee concerns.
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FRONT DESK
1. Front Desk Staff Kathryn Kitt and
Joellen Finnie serve as goto resources for Westchester Middle
School students each day. 2. Known as the heart of the Manhattan
Middle School campus, Laura
Monardo greets every student, faculty, and staff member cheerily from the front desk. 3. Elisabeth Seocanac and Regan Nikol have been instrumental in assisting families during the transition to the new Westchester Lower School campus as front desk staff. 4. Sue Theilheimer joined the Manhattan
Lower School team to manage front desk requests at the temporary Upper
West Side location.
