by Dr. Jeffrey L. Mitchell, Head of School
With the first two weeks under our collective belts, and as we all start getting into the rhythm of the school year, I have had the opportunity to witness what truly makes us shine: the interaction among teachers and students. I like to be a witness to what happens in the classroom. I like to be visible. There’s no better way to get to know the heart of a school than to observe what's happening in classrooms. This allows me to speak authentically and with greater certainty about Currey Ingram Academy. Just as important, it sends an unequivocal message to teachers and students that I truly value what they are doing.

So far, I’ve been fortunate to sit it on Mrs. Faulk’s Upper School history class just starting their studies of ancient civilizations. In the Lower School, Mr. Richmond was doing a cool activity in which 3rd-graders needed to act out, with a partner, three things they did over the summer. I walked into a 7th-grade math class just in time for Ms. Garmer to hand me a pre/diagnostic test for 7th-grade math (fortunately, I will not need to repeat 7th-grade math). When I stopped in on an 8th-grade social norms class taught by Mr. Seay we got to discussing bass fishing, and I told them that it might be possible for Currey Ingram to form a bass club due to its recent popularity as a school club activity. Last, but by no means least, I got to see the phenomenal drumming talent of 6th-grader Jake Rosen as he shared his talent in music class with his classmates.

The Currey Ingram campus presents a scale that I have not had to contend with in the past. We have close to 100 teaching staff, in six buildings (totaling 210,000 square feet) on an 83-acre campus. Yes, a good problem, but a challenge to visibility. In thinking about this "challenge," it dawned on me just how much mileage I’d be putting on walking around campus. I distinctly remember saying to myself, "I’m going to need a new and better pair of shoes." The dress shoes I had were perfectly fine, stylish even, but also not the kind of shoes that can handle heavy mileage.

I now have a solid and comfortable pair of Rockports from my favorite online discount shopping site (www.6pm.com) that will help do what I love to do -- get into classrooms often and be witness to the wonder that is a Currey Ingram education. Of all the messages I want to send early on in my tenure as Head of School, it is this: the classroom is why we are here. The best way I know how to honor this as a Head of School is to get walking ...

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