Legendary Asian American civil rights activist Yuri Kochiyama once said, “Life is not what you alone make it. Life is the input of everyone who touched your life and every experience that entered it. We are all part of one another.” Ironically, it’s often when I gather with people under the banner of a shared […]

Several years after I completed an undergraduate degree, my university reached out to me.  To my surprise, they weren’t asking for money; rather, the Studio Art Department was politely requesting that I fill out a survey detailing how I was using my art degree after my time at the university. A young teacher at the […]

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the value of a good design challenge—one that taps into students’ intrinsic motivation, encourages experimentation and problem-solving and treats failure as an essential part of the path to success. The wheels started turning for me (literally) at the recent ISEEN Winter Institute in Arizona, where I had the […]

Every year with great anticipation, I count down the days to one of the big educational technology conferences that I have the privilege of attending. Not only do I look forward to connecting with my brethren at other schools, but to sharing and learning from others all over the world.  A sneak peek at all […]

Cary Academy’s commitment to discovery and innovation keeps us looking for ways to improve, and one of our key avenues for growth is paying attention to what other excellent educators are doing around the world. Back in 2015, I first connected with an awesome group called the Independent School Experiential Education Network (ISEEN), made up […]

I woke to a loud crack that sounded like a tree branch snapping. My tent collapsed on top of me – and I shot bolt up, startled out of the fog of early morning sleep.   It was 5am, January 3, at Camp 90 on the Lakeshore Trail in the Smoky Mountains National Park – during […]

“Who is your biggest influence?”  The question, asked to a group of Upper School students by a finalist candidate for our Digital Content Specialist interview during their full-day community interview, was met with a thoughtful pause.   The students looked at each other around the table. The first reply–“my parents”–was quickly met with nods of affirmation […]