Indy Spirit
Take Your Daughter to Work Day happened in real time for me. When our family relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee, we began searching for a school for our rising freshman and, unexpectedly, a job for me.
During a school visit, the admission counselor suggested I apply for the school’s marketing and communications position, even though my only relevant experience was a stint as an education reporter for a newspaper. So I did, and in 2017, my daughter and I started at Girls Preparatory School (TN) together.
At first, I found myself googling “pedagogy” and “critical thinking” and “21st century learning” to better understand independent schools. But once I was fully immersed in the culture of this storied Southern girls’ school, and having experienced our school’s unique traditions, the work became my personal mission. I get to watch students thrive in an environment designed for how they learn, where thoughtful planning and details align for their success and teachers are passionate about what they do. And I believe that every child deserves the opportunity to attend an independent school.
The advantage to having a front-row seat to my own high schooler’s experience was not lost on me. We bonded during our daily 40-minute commute, and after school, she often napped on the beanbag chair in my office while I finished up my work. I did my best to not intrude, and each year, I became more convinced that my daughter and I had both found the right place.
My daughter just graduated from college, and I know it’s her Girls Preparatory School education that has fully prepared her for what’s next: grad school this fall. And as for me, sharing the message of our school and independent schools (and only occasionally having to hit up the web for help) will never get old.
This article originally appeared in NAIS magazine here.
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