Letter from the Head of School

by José M. De Jesús, Head of School

Since my arrival in July, I’ve received the warmest Dalton welcome and have been energized by our remarkable students and inspiring faculty and staff. Each morning, as I walk through the front doors of 89th Street, there’s no place I’d rather be.

It continues to be my privilege getting to know Dalton community members, including our many Alums. When I speak with Alums they often ask how their Dalton education compares to today’s student experience. They understand that curricular and co-curricular offerings must evolve to prepare our students for an ever-changing world, and they’re happy to hear that the extraordinary teacher-student relationships and the Dalton Plan — both hallmarks of a Dalton education — remain a constant.

Innovation is central to Helen Parkhurst’s brilliant, educational philosophy and is an intrinsic part of Dalton’s DNA. Fortunately, our inventive, dynamic faculty and staff are always up to the task of developing new curricular initiatives to best serve our students.

Our newest spaces, opened in Fall 2019, facilitate 21st century learning. The entire 13th floor is dedicated to Engineering, and I’m astounded to see our students’ creations in our Makerspace — from building intricate robots for competitions to mastering laser cutters and 3D printers. It’s especially heartening when students translate these skills to engage beyond the classroom in kind and empathetic ways; a standout example is the high school’s Helping Hands club where members built wheelchairs and prosthetics for animals with disabilities and donated them to local shelters. Up in the 14th floor’s Teaching Kitchen, another transformative, heavily-used facility, students are enjoying food centric explorations into different cultures — from baking cornbread and making chutney with visiting chefs to preparing breakfast tortillas for Spanish class.

Throughout the year, visitors share their perspectives and stories, enriching our students’ educational experience. Our librarians collaborate with the Creative Writing department to host impressive annual Poetry and Prose Festivals bringing luminaries to Dalton such as Ukrainian-American Poet Ilya Kaminsky and Pulitzer prize-winning Author Colson Whitehead to do readings and student workshops. High school students recently welcomed Vijay Vaitheeswaran who discussed Global Energy and Climate, middle school students heard from Holocaust survivor Susan Kalev, and First Program students enjoyed the music of Latin Grammy awardwinner Silvana Estrada.

Yet while some things may look a little different to previous generations of Alums, beloved Dalton traditions and special events endure. Mainstays continue such as the 6th grade Greek Festival, the 3rd Grade Archeology Dig, the Parent Association’s annual First Program Multicultural Festival and Homecoming Family Fun Day, and Warren Hines ’88 Night at the Phys. Ed. Center. I participated in my first Candlelighting Ceremony in December and look forward to Arch Day in June.

Looking ahead, as I partner with Dalton community members, faculty, and staff in service to our wonderful students, what’s clear to me is that we must always work to connect the school’s mission and values to our student experience. Part of my mandate this year is holding conversations and conducting data analysis to create a clear roadmap to sustain the Dalton Plan for generations to come. I’m also focused on incorporating equity, inclusion, and belonging into the very fabric of our school and am taking a close look at our health and wellness resources and structures to make sure that our students feel supported as they navigate their often complex world. Most importantly, my priority is simply to continue reconnecting as a broader community in common purpose.

Our students’ curiosity, humor, and humanity never cease to amaze me. From our Kindergarteners’ ingenious 100th-day museum exhibits using Fruit Loops and marshmallows; to our talented middle school thespians performing in the latest original mainstage musical “Every Inch an Earl”; to 180 high school students engaging with our youngest Daltonians in a fun week of coding (picture drones flying in the First Program’s gym!) — Dalton students go forth unafraid every day making my job the best in the world.