Teacher Brings Own Learning to Class

Head of School Bo Lauder believes lifelong learners make the best teachers, which is why the School invests in professional development. Bo comments, “When teachers have meaningful learning experiences of their own, they bring these experiences back to the classroom.” Grade 5 History Teacher Rachel Barany’s recent participation in an archeological dig in Greece is just one example of how the School encourages and supports its teachers.

Rachel traveled to Sparta where she joined a small excavation team to uncover the remains of the Spartan Sanctuary of Apollo Amyklaios, one of the most important Spartan religious and civic centers. In its prime, the Amyklaion site was the location of a tall sanctuary dedicated to Apollo and Hyacinthus. Only small sections of the altar remain. Although her team did not find artifacts from the sanctuary itself, they discovered hundreds of pottery shards along enclosure walls, spanning many periods of history.

Rachel reflects, “Ancient history is based on artifacts, their importance, and what they tell us… This journey has been incredibly eye-opening. I have so much respect for the artifacts, and I came back from the trip more invested in what I am teaching and able to convey that to students.” Rachel is currently developing new cirricula based on the excavation. For Grade 5 students she is considering a mini-dig or using her images and findings to reconstruct pottery from Geometric, Archaic, and Roman times to answer the question What do these artifacts tell us about history and ourselves?

Rachel’s trip was funded through a Summer Innovation Grant and supplemented with the annual faculty and staff professional development stipend.