“If we abandon equality, we lose the single bond that makes us a community, that makes us a people with the capacity to be free collectively and individually in the first place.” –Danielle Allen Director, Safra Center for Ethics Harvard University Friends, Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence, by Danielle Allen, African American classicist and political theorist, …
A Message from the Head
Friends, I have spent much of today reading and thinking about the nine individuals murdered this past Wednesday at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC. It takes my breath away to think about the horror of the last moments of the lives of Cynthia Hurd, Ethel Lee Lance, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Simmons, Sr., Myra Thompson, Suzy Jackson, Depayne …
40th Anniversary Celebration
Friends, The 40th Anniversary celebration last Friday for Crossroads was a success! I want to thank all of you who were able to come for spending your time there. Board member, Patty Hagen, donated the space at T-REX, and Heather Lake’s work to make sure that the event was as relaxed as it was celebratory really paid off. Thank you, …
Teacher Appreciation Week
Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and important members of society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth.” ― Helen Caldicott Friends, I often describe the work of a teacher as minute-by-minute. Teachers are responsible for decisions as they plan and for decisions-on-the-spot as they teach. This calls for great flexibility and nuance. I remember my …
ISACS Visiting Team
We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. –Martin Luther King, Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Friends, The visiting accreditation team for Crossroads has left, and the ten thoughtful, diligent, curious, and intelligent educators from other independent schools in the midwest are on their way …
Makerspace Grant
Friends, This week, the Executive Director and the Education Technology Coordinator from the Innovative Technology Education Fund (ITEF) visited Crossroads along with one of their board members. Three of our students led them on a tour and then they sat down with Heather, Mark, and me. ITEF’s visit is exciting because it means we’ve moved forward in their process for …
Kim Townsend Will Serve As School Director
Friends, I am pleased to announce that Kim Townsend will serve as the School Director for Crossroads College Preparatory School beginning July 1st. Kim loves teaching and learning and is committed to our students and our mission. She brings a range of experiences to this role that will serve our community well. Kim began her teaching career with Teach for America as …
Justice Pulse
Friends, Several articles in this week’s Wednesday Notice are a result of the “justice pulse” we keep at Crossroads. You can read articles about Social Justice activity’s learning tour of Ferguson, about our recent Black History Month Lunch and Learns, and about a Black History Month celebration planned for this Friday. All of these are student-led initiatives. You’ll also find …
RENT
Friends, I ended my day in our rehearsal for the school edition of RENT, our spring musical. Students were leading one another in warm ups before blocking the song “La Vie Boheme.” Before auditions a couple weeks ago, I stopped in to speak with the group of students who were interested in performing in RENT. I wanted these students to …
African American History Month
Friends, In my public school experience, I was often asked, “Why do we need a Black History Month?” This is the first February in my career when I have not been asked this question, and yet I would like to offer a reminder of how all of us might use African American History Month to be reflective about our own …