|
How Love burns through the Putting in the Seed
On through the watching for that early birth
When, just as the soil tarnishes with weed,
The sturdy seedling with arched body comes
Shouldering its way and shedding the earth crumbs.
--from Putting in the Seed, by Robert Frost
In the April issue of Grow with Great Hearts, we highlight cyclic growth processes across our network that manifest in something that is good for the whole.
You will hear from some of our own alumni, who through the support and inspiration of those who have gone before them, are now called to teach and lead others. You will also read about the full array of leadership and professional development courses available this summer. Fill your cup with new inspiration and knowledge to contribute to the flourishing of others!
|  |  | | |  | |
The Academy for Classical Teachers is back with a fresh slate of seminars and courses for Summer 2022!
All sessions will be held online and remain FREE for Great Hearts employees. There will be two summer sessions, June 6 – 24 and June 27– July 18 (with July 4th off). Take advantage of these free opportunities to further your own liberal learning.
Click Here to Register Today!
| |
IN PURSUIT OF APEX
by Helen Hayes,
VP Leadership Talent
|  |  | |
One of the most important factors in the success of a school is the school leader. Of course, THE most important factor is the faculty, but the school leader selects the faculty, sets the vision for the school, and ensures that enrollment is strong. As Great Hearts grows, our school leaders are essential to that growth.
For these reasons, it is important that we provide programs to help to develop prospective school leaders. In 2013, we took the first step in that direction with the Fellowship program, a yearlong seminar series. Building on that work, Great Hearts launched a program called Headmaster College in 2016, worked with a number of network leaders to design the curriculum of the College to sustain a strong pipeline of potential leaders. It was originally designed as a two-year program, but it was seldom the case that we were able to run the second year of the program because so many of those who completed the first year were hired as headmasters! The in-person and intensive nature of the program kept the cohort size small, and we found that it was difficult to produce enough graduates for our needs.
As a result, we re-envisioned it to accommodate a larger group of participants by reducing the in-person demands. The result was APEX. This summer, we will launch the revised format for APEX, providing shorter, flexible, hybrid courses that can be taken on a “just in time” basis.
| | |
Great-Hearted Students become Great Hearts Teachers | | |
A fundamental aspect of the Great Hearts life cycle is just beginning to spring forth - Great Hearts alumni who head out into the world to excel in many things - then return to impact the lives of others as teachers at their own academy or other Great Hearts academies. Here are the stories of four alumni in Arizona, who have returned to share their love of the liberal arts with others. | | |
Dillon Raum
Anthem Prep Alumnus and Cicero Prep Teacher
Even in Dillon Raum’s senior year at Anthem Prep, he was headed toward a career in teaching. “I was voted ‘Most Likely to Become a Teacher’ by my classmates,” he laughs. As a student at Anthem, he was inspired by the leadership of Headmaster Bryan Smith, who was well-known for actively teaching classes whenever an opportunity presented itself. “He was very fond of doing that, and it was such a great way to get to know our Headmaster!” Dillon was most inspired to teach however, through the inspiration and guidance of Anthem Prep teacher, Bruce Clark. He exemplified the true passion for pursuing truth,” Dillon shared, “and his Geometry class caused me to really hunger for and pursue truth in a meaningful sense.”
Dillon shared a profound perspective as a first-year teacher, “You never realize the workload – how much work the teacher does out of the classroom!” And, he is adjusting to the nature of student apathy and how it impacts others around them. “I have used it as an opportunity to share with students that their own failure to invest will have a very real effect on everyone around them.” Dillon credits the administration and faculty as being truly formative in his success this year. “The whole faculty at Cicero is stellar! I suppose you can read a book about how to be a great teacher, or you can live in a place where there are bunch of great teachers around to show you the way.”
| | |
Amalie Sielaff
Chandler Prep Alumna and Teacher
Amalie Sielaff graduated from Chandler Prep with aspirations to enter the music field, but her journey led her to teaching through what she called a “series of accidents.” Her rich experience in the German curriculum while at CPA inspired her to major in German, and from there she entered the University of Arizona graduate program, where she taught lower-level German courses and completed a Fulbright Kommision in teaching. In finding her calling to teach through those experiences, Amalie initially joined the Chandler Prep faculty as a 9th and 12th Grade Humane Letters teacher and now teaches all four levels of German.
As a student, Amalie credits veteran Great Hearts teacher Amy Gottry for inspiring her studies in music, and as she joined the CPA faculty, she found comfort in the 9th Grade HL team, especially Daniel King. “In my first year,” she shared, “that 9th Grade HL team really embodied the spirit of great-hearted teaching and collaboration, which was a huge support to me." And, Amalie references two teachers, Diana Kendrick and Martha Kurus, who were on faculty when she was a student and went our of their way to welcome her to the community of teachers. Amalie shared that her priority is ultimately serving the students that are physically in her classroom each day, and she has a valuable perspective as a CPA graduate. “I think it has been truly interesting to teach in the same Great Hearts academy that I attended as a student. It’s changed a lot - and then not at all!”
| | |
Katie Woner and Hannah Woner Buchanan
Scottsdale Prep Founding Family, Alumnae, Teachers
Scottsdale Prep alumnae and sisters Katie Woner and Hannah Woner Buchanan were a part of the first student cohorts at the academy in its inaugural year, and both now teach at the Scottsdale campus in Literature/Composition (Katie) and Economics/Rhetoric (Hannah). They both shared the impact of their Humane Letters teacher, Mrs. Kerstin Manley, as an exemplary model of empathy and leadership. "I was a shy student, and Mrs. Manley was so encouraging of me in demonstrating the utmost respect for all students. She was deeply interested in what students thought which encouraged me to share my ideas more openly," reflected Katie. "She brought the 11th Grade HL texts to life for me," remarks Hannah, "and she made us want to care about it through her own passion for it."
Though Katie tutored and supervised many aspects of the ASU Writing Center while in graduate school, she was uncertain in her aspiration to become a teacher at first, and she credits her interview process with Headmaster Alison Chaney as pivotal in helping her gain confidence. Now Katie is in her third year of teaching, and Hannah is just joining SPA as a first-year teacher after obtaining her law degree. Hannah confessed to a newfound perspective as a teacher, "I had no idea what the teacher workload encompassed, and how much I would deeply care about my students - much more than I could have imagined." Hannah credits her younger sister Katie for much of her day-to-day mentoring - "I have about 452 questions a day, and I really rely on her!"
| | |
Highlighted Opportunities this Month
Academy Positions
- Headmaster Openings
- Jacksonville, Florida - Fall 2022
- Scottsdale, AZ - Fall of 2022
- Assistant Headmaster and Dean Openings - Fall 2022
- Great Hearts Irving, Middle School Dean
-
Great Hearts Prairie View, Asst. Headmaster
- Great Hearts Harveston, Asst. Headmaster (Baton Rouge, LA)
- Great Hearts Lakeside, Assistant Headmaster and Dean
- Great Hearts Western Hills, Upper and Lower School Deans
- Archway Chandler, Asst. Headmaster and Dean
- Cicero Prep, Asst. Headmaster and Dean
- Maryvale Prep, Dean
- Arete Prep, Dean/Teaching
- Assistant School Director - Young Hearts Preschool
- Director of Campus Operations (Baton Rouge, LA)
Lead Office/Support Services Positions
Visit the Great Hearts Leadership Careers page information on Headmaster opportunities. The application deadline closes soon for certain positions!
Access our Internal Job Board for up-to-date information on internal opportunities.
| | | | | |
