Words by Mark Heller, Head of School
As a school leader, I often reflect on what truly shapes a student’s experience—not just for academic success, but also for the more important work of school – preparing students for life beyond the classroom. Time and again, I return to a simple but powerful truth: relationships and community matter most.
In every school, the strength of the culture determines so much. When students feel known, valued, and supported, they are far more likely to engage meaningfully, take intellectual risks, and develop resilience. This depends on relationships — between teachers and students, among peers, and between families and the school itself.
Great schools are intentional about building these connections. Teachers and advisors know their students deeply. Faculty collaborate across disciplines and model the skills we hope to see in our graduates. Students are given space not only to learn, but to lead, create, compete, support one another, and grow in character. Great schools prioritize time for conversation, mentorship, and reflection because they know that education is relational much more than it is transactional.
The roots of exceptional schools lie in community — the lived experience of belonging. A strong school community helps young people understand who they are and how they fit into a larger world. Community fosters empathy, accountability, and the confidence to speak up and listen well.
Preparing students for an unpredictable future isn’t about teaching every skill in advance — it’s about cultivating the habits of mind and heart that will serve them in every setting. That work depends on students having relationships with wise and caring adults.
I am confident that the future will reward those who are best able to understand and work with a wide range of others. It will reward those who have been raised in environments where they get great role modeling and a good deal of practice. It will reward those who have connected and inspirational experiences as they grow in today’s most important communities – our schools.
