I was born and raised in Philadelphia until my family moved to southern Delaware when I was six, and during that time I attended Oak Lane Day School, my own Sabot at Stony Point. 

Oak Lane was founded in 1916 by parents and educators who believed that students should be the center of education and endeavored to build a school community that was racially, religiously, and economically diverse. It was amongst the first private schools in Philadelphia to admit students without regard to religious, social, or racial background. They were inspired by the Progressive Education Movement and the other progressive schools in the United States (such as the Francis Parker School) and the work of John Dewey among others. Later pedagogist Loris Malaguzzi in Italy would marry many educational philosophies, including Dewey, to develop the Reggio Emilia approach. Like Sabot, Oak Lane sought to be on the cutting edge of educational innovation, influenced by the faculty’s own work and research as well as the thinking of their students. Oak Lane was situated on 30 acres of land owned by a man named John Cadwalader in Blue Bell, PA. Again similar to Sabot’s use of the Larus House, the school tried to use the existing buildings and land as much as possible, including an art studio in a renovated barn and administrative offices in the Cadwalader mansion. Memories of Oak Lane remain deep in my memory. I remember driving down the long driveway to the school itself and seeing all that it entailed, including a creek, forests, and the school’s resident donkey, Christopher. 

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the question of why my family made the choice of Oak Lane Day School. Before I was born, my mom was a fourth-grade teacher and reading specialist. Although she changed career paths, earning her MBA and working as a human resources consultant, clearly education was important to her. Moreover, what was important to her was an education that honored “ each child’s unique individuality while fostering intellectual, creative, academic, and personal growth within a diverse community of active, engaged learners,” as was stated in Oak Lane’s mission. The school’s philosophy supported development according to the needs of each child. My mom was pretty cool. . . and pretty forward-thinking if I do say so myself. 

Although I didn’t remain at Oak Lane beyond Kindergarten because my family moved, it’s clear that the approach to learning is not only instilled deep in my foundation as a learner but also deep in my DNA as a teacher. There was a reason that my family chose for me a school that fostered active and engaged learning. There was a reason why, just as important as the academic skills that I obtained, that my family also wanted me to know and trust my own mind. It’s one of many reasons why parents today choose Sabot. Our community members believe in our mission and align with our values, understanding that Sabot will help to develop no ordinary student, but someone who will be “capable of solving problems in our increasingly complex world.” When I think of the myriad of challenges in our world today, I am grateful for the Sabot student leaders who will find solutions through inquiry, invention, imagination. 

There is no doubt in my mind that Sabot is not only the school for me but also the school for so many families in the greater Richmond area. And whatever the reason that you are brought to Sabot, our paths are meant to cross at this moment in time. We are meant to be where we are today . Today , I take on the role as the third Head of School at Sabot at Stony Point with a sense of gratitude, respect, and reflection. I welcome the responsibility to lead by Sabot’s values, empower faculty and staff with tools to execute Sabot’s mission across ages and classrooms, and determine the next best steps to ensure a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. As I prepare for the joys and demands that lie ahead, I will remember my mom’s decision for my early educational needs from the past and take lessons from my current experiences to bridge a future of hope, sustainability, and growth for our Sabot community . . . where everyone teaches, everyone learns, and everyone flourishes.

[ See image gallery at www.sabotatstonypoint.org ] Pictures from Oak Lane Day School Facebook Group

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