Look Who’s Talking Carol Moore
Director of Upper School Tell us about yourself. I have two children, both married, who live in the area. My son is a Virginia Tech graduate, and he owns his own company, while my daughter is a West Virginia University graduate, and she teaches first grade. I taught middle school science (grades 6-8) before moving to the high school level as an assistant principal. Because my children were athletes and active in high school, I waited until they were at the end of their high school careers before pursuing an administrative position. I was a dean of students and assistant principal for five years, and I have served as the principal at Lee-Davis High School for the past four years. When you aren’t at school, what do you like to do? I am blessed that most of my extended family lives in the Richmond area, so we spend quite a bit of time together. Sunday lunch is a big deal and is rotated among five families with attendance ranging from 5-20 relatives. There is never a dull moment! I like to read, walk, and swim, and I love to be outdoors, especially at the beach. One of my favorite pastimes is having pajama parties and spending time with my four year-old grandson. As a science teacher at heart, it is natural that I love to take him to the Richmond Metro Zoo, the Children’s Museum, and the Science Museum of Virginia. What have you enjoyed most about working with students or in a high school setting? I love working with children. As a career middle school teacher, I appreciated the spontaneity and honesty of the students and the fact that they were always operating at 110 percent. However, it was when I made the transition to high school that I found my niche. High school students are distinct individuals who are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to become. It is inspiring to me to get to know students and their families and to work alongside them during their years in high school. It is a joy to help them through challenging times, to share in their successes, and to send them off into the world where they will make their marks. I cannot think of a better way to spend each day than with enthusiastic, passionate young adults who will be our leaders of tomorrow! What drew you to Steward? Educating today’s youth is about far more than just academics. It is about helping students to realize, develop, and celebrate their gifts and talents and teaching them to be self-advocates. As educators, we want to help students develop respect for themselves and for the community and the world around them, and the best way to do this is to get involved and give back. Steward is a place where I will get to know students as individuals and work alongside them as we serve the community. What is your vision for the Upper School? My mission and vision are naturally aligned with the mission and vision described in The Steward School’s strategic plan. The Upper School team will pay close attention to the strategies where we can have the greatest impact. I believe that it is important to recognize and celebrate our students. At the same time, we will take a look at how we can strengthen current programs and strategies to take the Upper School to an even higher level. As the director, I plan to work in collaboration with the administrative team to preserve the tradition of what is working well and to enhance areas where we can grow. I firmly believe that the sky is the limit and that we must continue to aim higher, so that all students can realize their potential as they graduate from Steward and take their places as contributing members of the community. Crossroads
Spring/Summer 2014
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