Volume 3, Issue 2: October 2023 | |
Grow with Great Hearts - October
This month, Grow with Great Hearts offers some new perspectives on leadership and our responsibility to initiate growth for ourselves and others. Dr. Amber Dyer, Headmaster at Great Hearts Irving Upper School, shares her thoughts on the role of a leader in cultivating a community of friendship - a vital aspect of personal formation and human flourishing.
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Cultivating a Culture of Friendship
by Dr. Amber Dyer, Headmaster, Irving Upper School
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Three Great Hearts veterans share their unique journeys to new roles in leadership, and the mentors, professional development, and personal formation which got them there. | |
Marla Babcock
Regional Director of Exceptional Student Services (Arizona)
After many years in district school administration, Marla Babcock was intrigued by Great Hearts’ philosophy of inclusion in special education and joined the network as ESS Coordinator at Scottsdale Prep. She then moved into the role of Regional Coordinator for the Scottsdale schools, and though she left the network for a short time, she returned to Great Hearts Arizona to serve as ESS Specialist four years ago. She credits Tom Doebler and Tealai Gonella “for their collective knowledge of ESS and longevity with Great Hearts, as well as their encouragement and trust in my abilities, which inspired me to take on challenges I may have otherwise continued to shy away from (including interviewing for the director role).”
Mrs. Babcock reflects on the fulfillment she receives from “knowing I am serving and leading others who want to continue to grow and serve the ESS population to the best of their abilities. I believe this boils down to ensuring that all scholars, with or without disabilities, thrive and learn to be kind and great-hearted humans.” While she has some trepidation about the challenges of budget season, she is continually in awe of her colleagues and enjoys how much she is learning from others. She credits her new leadership inspiration from the Arizona team's reading of Stephen Covey’s book Trust and Inspire. She shares, “As I’ve been reading, I find myself continually seeking to understand how I can embody the ideas from this book in my daily work with my team.”
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Marisa Cook
Dean of Teachers, Forest Heights Lower School
An avid volleyball player, Marisa Cook first joined Great Hearts in a coaching role, and she was quickly drawn in by our student focus of “not only developing the mind, but the heart as well.” Mrs. Cook soon joined the faculty as an Apprentice Teacher before becoming a lead teacher and grade level lead. That leadership experience along with the Fellows Program were most formative for her, and she shared, “Getting a glimpse into the work of administration was helpful, but it was the Fellows Program that allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and coach teachers outside my grade level/subject area expertise. It also challenged and trained my ability to manage my time and tasks!”
Now serving as Dean of Teachers, Ms. Cook credits the mentorship of Headmasters Jason Doughty, Trinette Keffer, and Jennifer Ramirez for guiding and inspiring her to leadership roles. While it has been challenging for her not to interact directly with students in the classroom daily, Mrs. Cook finds joy in “making an impact on a larger scale, helping more than just my kids, but the students of all the teachers I work with.” She believes, “We never stop learning. We are surrounded by so many resources - Brightspace PD, Teach Like a Champion, and teacher observation, and we must be willing to openly accept coaching from our leaders and ask questions.” Mrs. Cook admits that she wasn’t selected for the role the first time she applied, humbly acknowledging, “I had some growing to do, and I am grateful for the time I had to do so!
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Chanel Mayorga
Assistant Headmaster, Invictus
Knowing very little about classical education prior to joining Great Hearts, Chanel Mayorga began as founding Apprentice Teacher in the inaugural year of Archway Veritas. She then began what would become a fantastic journey of launching new schools as a teacher and leader, at Archway North Phoenix and Archway Cicero, and ultimately joining Great Hearts in San Antonio at Western Hills. In 2022 Mrs. Mayorga was part of the founding administrative team for Great Hearts Invictus, where she served as Dean of Teachers.
In her new role as Assistant Headmaster at Invictus, she has enjoyed seeing the growth of the overall campus, sharing, “Teachers have developed and improved their crafts, new students are learning what it means to be a Great Hearts scholar, and the culture of our campus continues to develop and improve”. This year, she has set a personal goal of analyzing and interpreting student achievement data more fully, but she is also prioritizing her work with faculty and students to continue the growth pattern the campus has started. “For me, that means the professional development offerings must be relevant to all teachers, no matter their experience level. It also means improving or creating systems to help struggling students in all grade levels and in all subjects.” Mrs. Mayorga credits the importance of mentors Matthew Vlahovich and Leah Hammonds in her overall appreciation for Great Hearts, reflecting, “Having two wonderful mentors truly reflects a core belief of Great Hearts - learning and growth is fullest during human interactions and in relationship with others.”
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Each month, Grow with Great Hearts curates a short listing of highlighted opportunities - to share with you new avenues for growth available across our network. Feel free to share these opportunities with colleagues outside of Great Hearts, and receive a faculty/staff referral bonus. | |
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Academy Non-Teaching Positions
Academy Special Education Leadership Positions
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Home Office Positions
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ARIZONA
AMERICA
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Questions or Suggestions? Email us today! | | | | |
