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Colleagues and friends,
This summer marked a major first for our family: sleepaway camp. After weeks of nervous packing and an hour-long drive into the woods, we arrived only to be quickly swept into the multi-stage process of drop-off. In the span of 15 minutes, we made our way through initial check-in to a health screen and then cabin delivery. We found ourselves suddenly on our own, contemplating parental existence.
What struck me most through the whole experience was the smaller, kid-centered systems and their intentionality that made the larger vision possible. A circle drawn on my daughter’s hand at sign-in morphed into a complete smiley face by the time we’d made it to hugs and exit. (Checklist manifesto and fun in one!) Suitcases were set aside for drop-off, but bedding was brought with us. Not because it was needed at 10 in the morning, but because it was helpful in establishing a sense of personal space in a new place. These tiny things set strong, coherent foundations for the rest of the session. These educators were pros.
Flash forward to pick-up a few weeks later, and we’re back in the real world together with a whole set of new hand-clapping games and pen pals and requests for a longer stay next year. As we begin to prepare for the new school year, I’m excited to think about the ways we can bring the joyful and student-centered spirit of camp into new classroom designs and practices. But I’m also equally excited about the intentional, often less noticeable systems that will enable this meaningful work to take root.
To that end, this newsletter digs into the foundational stuff that plays a huge role in bringing aspirations to life. From ensuring digital baseline access to developing skills for powerful tech use to creating the compensation systems we need to help educators thrive in their jobs, we’ve got a series of new resources for you to explore. Let us know what you think!
Yours in partnership and curiosity,
Beth Rabbitt, Chief Executive Officer (she/her)
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