The Association for LD Schools held its annual Leadership Retreat in Seattle this summer. ALDS’s mission is to “connect and support schools that specialize in education for students with learning differences such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and executive dysfunction.” Head of School André Del Valle was there, as a member of the planning committee. And this year’s conference boasted a presentation by Lower School Co-Director Franziska Laskaris and Director of Admissions Tiffany Huggins. Their talk, “Why Intentional School Culture Building is Critical,” showcased their work as co-clerks of the MMFS School Culture Team.
The School Culture Team was formed in response to a 2022 survey performed by the firm Independent School Management (ISM), which reported some post-pandemic disconnect among various constituencies of our community. The School Culture Team’s mandate was to help unify our three divisions—lower, middle, and upper school—with events and activities designed to build a greater sense of community and shared purpose.
Tiffany and Franziska shared how they built their team, and then how they collaborated with the MMFS faculty and staff to plan and orchestrate events both in and outside of school: Faculty Fun Day; Field Research opportunities for faculty members to observe work in other divisions; a Wellness Hike for faculty; and Club-A-Palooza, in which students ventured outside their buildings to mix with students of other ages who shared a particular interest.
They shared some of the roadblocks they encountered in their work with the School Culture Team: time limitations, volunteer burnout, evolving goals, and coaxing people from different departments to coalesce as a team. But they also shared what ultimately made the team so successful: emphasizing fun, the support of senior leadership, consistent communication, the dedication of the team members, and the enthusiastic participation of MMFS teachers and administrators.
We are proud to have the work of the MMFS School Culture Team shared with the educators at this national conference for LD school leaders. Thank you, Franziska and Tiffany!
