Welcome From Our Director

When I began at LREI as a part-time science teacher, right out of college in the mid-’80s, I had no plan to be here as long as I have. In fact, I didn’t think I would be a teacher for more than a year or so. I figured I’d stay on as long as it took to decide what I really wanted to do with my life.

I did.

So what inspired my decision to stay for as long as I have? What inspires me each day and, for that matter, what do other members of the LREI community find inspiring?  

I am inspired by the respect that is afforded each member of the community. We respect the “smarts” and knowledge with which each of our students arrives at school each day, from day one. This respect leads to developing the skills of a good colleague and learning and caring about each other. Your child will be known and respected here. Their questions and their input will guide our work in the classroom. They will learn to be equally generous with their schoolmates, respecting the dignity of each person in the school.  

I am inspired by the hard work and dedication that I see each day. On the part of the teachers as they create progressive classrooms that draw their students in through authentic challenge and achievement, and the hard work that I see from each student as they learn new skills, apply them in novel situations, stick with knotty problems through a series of challenges, and work with others to bring their ideas to fruition. Now that is rigor — application, commitment, question asking, and sticking with your challenge until you meet it. Deeper learning, larger purpose.

I am inspired by the hopefulness I find here — the belief that things can be made better through our actions. Our students take all that they learn in school — skills and content area knowledge — out into the world to practice merging their school lives and their “outside” lives. Learning how to apply what you learn is both essential practice and, at its heart, the first hopeful step towards having an impact.  

I invite you to click around and experience the richness and depth of our program and community. We hope you like what you see and choose to come for a visit. Just don’t be surprised if you never leave.

Warmly,