I was off-island this week at the Head’s Conference hosted by the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE). AISNE is our accrediting organization and provides excellent professional development for member schools. This conference focuses on leadership issues, from hiring to legal issues. This year's focus included meaningful conversations about teacher retention and the dwindling numbers of people pursuing teaching careers. “The teacher shortage” is a genuine concern, and how we work to create a community that welcomes and embraces early-career teachers is an essential part of a good retention plan. I felt very proud of the New School’s long-tenured teachers and our joyful community.
Meanwhile, the learning continues back at school in all curriculum areas, including reading instruction in the early grades. We have been taking a closer look at our reading curriculum, eager to be informed by the Science of Reading, which provides a deep analysis of how children learn to read most successfully. Brain research and more focused studies on how children acquire literacy skills have confirmed that direct phonics instruction is essential. We have been assessing options for a new curriculum, including a phonics program and an updated series of readers. With plans for a new reading curriculum to streamline teaching in PreK through Grade 2, we are excited to link professional development opportunities for teachers to build stronger phonics and reading instruction skills. We’ll share more information with parents as we continue to refine our programming.
Have a wonderful weekend!