One Year at Walker: Reflections from our Head of School

One year at Walker:

Reflections from our Head of School part one of three

THE WALKER SCHOOL

The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark. – Michelangelo

When I arrived at Walker last summer,

I walked into a school already full of wonders wonders as numerous as our 1,050 students.

The strength of the fine arts program, the superior foreign language curriculum, the challenge of the academics at each level, the opportunity to participate in sports every season, the fact that 100% of Walker graduates are accepted to four year colleges or universities, the degree to which the teachers at Walker want each student to succeed.

Walker showed itself to be one of the best schools in the area, and I continue to feel fortunate to be part of this community.

There is a yearning for excellence at Walker, in every area, that draws us in, challenges us, and keeps us here. Such a desire for excellence has been shaped prior to my arrival by Don Robertson, Patty Mozley, Dixie Bowden, Michael Coles, Gerald Pouncey, Nancy Calhoun, Dan Stephens, and many, many others. Our school community will always be grateful for the dynamic leadership that has created such a strong foundation.

It is upon that very foundation that this community is, right now, building an even brighter future. This has been a year filled with strategic decisions and actions that will continually strengthen our school in the coming years. We’ve engaged in very intentional consensus-building, a process that’s essential to move us forward in leaps and bounds, rather than slow increments.

From a personal standpoint, my year has been shaped by a strong desire and commitment to get to know as many faculty and staff members, students, and parents as possible. In doing so, I’ve committed a great deal of time to listening – learning about the strengths and weaknesses of Walker, as well as the opportunities to build upon our existing wonders.

It has been my pleasure to get to know so many of the people who make Walker tick every day, and to match names with personalities and faces with minds. At the end of my first year, I realize that the true wonder of this school lies in the people.

From a big-picture standpoint, the Walker Board of Trustees initiated a community-wide strategic planning process this year. Nine different strategic planning committees, filled by more than ninety faculty and staff members, parents, alumni, board members, and administrators, have diligently worked throughout the school year to identify key issues and associated goals that will create an even stronger Walker.

No one has shied away from the extra work or challenge to go above and beyond their usual level of commitment and dedication.

I have seen energy, even excitement, as we have all rolled up our sleeves to go above and beyond to shape Walker’s future. Early in the year, so many quickly asked me, “How can I help?” The Walker community, from day one, stood ready to do their part.

I have learned a great deal over the last ten months. As I said, I’ve been astonished by the degree to which the “Wonders of Walker” are universally present. However, the articulation of those wonders seemed somehow diffuse, somehow less powerful than what I observed, firsthand, day in and day out.

Walker at Work: Highlights from the past year We’ve reached consensus on a revised

Mission Statement that more accurately captures and describes our core educational philosophy, culture, and student outcomes.

We’ve crafted a new Promise Statement:

an internal, inward-facing covenant of what we promise to deliver to each and every Walker student and family.

We’ve formed nine strategic planning subcommittees, and many of them have already concluded their comprehensive meetings and defined clear, actionable goals to work toward over the next five years.

We’ve filled several key academic positions – notably new principals for both Lower School and Middle School – who bring impeccable qualifications and a passion for curricular and professional development that will further strengthen these already strong divisions.

We’ve defined, for the first time, the

“Portrait of a Walker Graduate”– the core competencies and habits of mind that every Walker student will carry with him or her to college and life beyond.

As a result, we have worked conscientiously on refining our vision, revising our Mission Statement, crafting a new Promise Statement, and defining the “Portrait of a Walker Graduate.” Suffice it to say that we’ve been hard at work since last fall, and already our after-school meetings, Saturday workshops, consulting partnerships, and trustee sessions are paying dividends for our school and our students.

We are in the process of ensuring that we do, indeed, continue to stand apart. This year has made us all realize that the many wonders of Walker combine and bond and react to form a singular school experience–unmatched in Cobb County or metro Atlanta – beginning with our youngest pre-kindergarteners and extending up to our graduating seniors. It’s an exciting time to be at Walker. I couldn’t be more thrilled about all that’s just beginning to unfold.

Thank you for your continued loyalty, support, and efforts on behalf of our school.

All the best,

Jack Hall

Mission Statement The Walker School is the college-preparatory independent school for families seeking an engaging educational experience within an intimately scaled, caring and diverse community where opportunities abound and meaningful relationships inspire transformative learning.

walkerwonders.org

700 Cobb Parkway North Marietta, GA 30062-2404

where wonders await.

THE WALKER SCHOOL