Professional Development Allows for Continued Pursuit of Growth

The Meadows School campus with green trees and paved sidewalks in Las Vegas, Nevada
Professional Development Allows for Continued Pursuit of Growth

The very best teachers that I have had in my life all had one quality in common: they were excellent learners. In other words, those who were deeply committed to continued growth and the pursuit of lifelong learning have always been the most successful in transferring their enthusiasm and knowledge to me. While this only constitutes anecdotal information, it is likely the same for most of you. There is palpable excitement about learning new things that supercharges those we ask to educate us or our children.

This year has been a very active year of professional development for faculty and staff at The Meadows School. We have had faculty attend conferences in Seattle, San Antonio, Nashville, Los Angeles, Paris, and more. In each case, these faculty members have returned to the fold brimming with excitement over the new strategies and information that they bring back to their classrooms. In some instances, our faculty have presented at prestigious conferences and, thanks to the generous donation of a Meadows School family, we have been able to cover the expenses for all of this work, continuing to feed the drive of our most precious commodity, our faculty.

Our year of professional development will culminate in February when the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) brings its annual conference to Las Vegas. This fortuitous site selection has allowed The Meadows School to send its entire faculty to the conference on Friday, February 24th, for a day of enrichment, camaraderie, and personal growth. Our success as a community is dependent upon more than just our faculty’s growth, however. Our Board of Trustees too will be attending different days of the conference as they seek opportunities to learn from other schools, showcase our exceptional work, and plot the future of The Meadows School. The conference represents an opportunity for the past, present, and future of The Meadows School to come together as many former employees and administrators will be in attendance as will our new Head of School, Dr. Jay Berckley. The conference will begin Wednesday, February 22nd, at Caesars Forum and will conclude on Saturday evening.

This year’s theme for the NAIS annual conference is “Cultivating Community” and The Meadows School has much to offer to this program. Our Arts department will be featured during the opening ceremony and guests from independent schools from around the country will have the opportunity to tour The Meadows School and witness us doing what we do best; showcasing excellence. If you have an interest in learning more about the organization or the conference, details can be found here.

As parents, teachers, coaches, administrators, and more, our greatest hope for our children is to see them become curious participants in life. We desire for our students to see the value in the continued pursuit of growth. It is in that growth that we find meaning. The Meadows School faculty is fortunate to be supported in this endeavor as they seek opportunities for lifelong learning and are rewarded with the support of their school. Through this, we cultivate our community. We look forward to coming together to celebrate that community at the NAIS annual conference.

Joseph Carver
Chief Innovation Officer