Though only in his second year with Great Hearts, Mr. Timothy McDonald has traversed many miles and even grade levels from his first year as 11th/12th Grade Humane Letters teacher at Trivium Prep in Arizona, to join the founding faculty as a 3^rd grade teacher at Great Hearts Prairie View in Ft. Worth, Texas. Ties to family were a key motivator in his relocation, but he also found the prospect of establishing a new culture within the Great Hearts family as particularly inspiring. He shared, “Only one month in, my third graders and I frequently reflect on the importance of being the founding class. All those who come after us will look at us as a model. It is an important, challenging, and exciting task to make sure that we are working towards virtue!”

Though the work is challenging, particularly in generating traction as a new academy, Mr. McDonald reflects on the longer vision in “knowing that the work that I am doing is something that will last longer than I will. I can play a role in ensuring the future opportunity at a liberal arts education for children that have not even been born – it’s fascinating to reflect on and a great motivation too!” Great Hearts Prairie View will be expanding its campus to serve grades K-8, so consider joining Mr. McDonald in the coming year. Email Headmaster Ryan Mullins for more information on joining this growing academy!

Special Student Services Lead Teacher Brittany Austin joined Great Hearts as a Reading Interventionist Assistant, but she quickly integrated into the SSS team as a Teaching Assistant. In addition to the joy she found in supporting a broad range of students, she shared, “I also found fulfillment in what I was learning about myself in helping them - my weaknesses in certain subjects allowed me to talk through ideas in a way that they understood, while my strengths allowed me to add clarity where they were confused.” At the prompting of her headmaster and SSS Coordinator, Ms. Austin began the Special Student Services Pathway program, and now as a lead teacher, she has found her impact in supporting students with disabilities so that they may accomplish beautiful things at her academy.

“The thing that excites me the most right now is that there are several aides on my team that are in the beginning stages of the Pathways program, and so I am not only helping my students with all the things I am learning, but also supporting my colleagues in their growth as well,” she reflects. What’s next for Mrs. Austin? “I haven’t decided what next course of study (Classics or Special Education), but either way I will continue to utilize what I learn to assist students with disabilities at Great Hearts!”

Special Student Services (SSS) Lead Teacher Alexandra Gass joined Great Hearts as a SSS Teaching Aide, with a passion for supporting students with special needs, given her own journey as a special education student. She credits the Great Hearts Special Student Services Pathway program as a critical element in her journey as a first-year Teacher's Aide.

She shares, "I am excited to grow in my own knowledge as well as in my impact as a lead student services teacher. I have found a deep passion for working with middle school students and studying the neurobiological basis of learning differences and their interventions.” Upon completion of the SSS Internship, Ms. Gass intends to further her studies, pursuing a master's degree focused on the science of reading. She credits the support of many throughout her journey, expressing particular thanks to her academy “for the faith entrusted to me by my colleagues, parents, students, and administrators!”

Veteran lead teacher Beth Terpstra took the leap into a new role and new academy this year, serving as Instructional Coach with the faculty at Archway Scottsdale. She was inspired to take on this new challenge due to her passion for supporting teachers in effectively carrying out the Great Hearts mission. She credits the mentorship of Jack Kersting, Joy Hanks, and Elise Trujillo in forming her own instructional skills, and she has found joy in being able “to share the combined expertise of those mentors in a coaching role.”

Though Mrs. Terpstra deeply misses her colleagues at Glendale, she reflects, “The trust, friendship, and collegiality that has been extended to me at my new academy has daily touched and inspired me. It motivates me to do my very best and make a positive impact. Teaching and coaching at Great Hearts has been the most rewarding career I could imagine."