July 31, 2023
By Jarrett Young, Head of School
This summer I was on a road trip with my son through the middle of our nation. The drive was great because the weather was outstanding, traffic was at a minimum and I had good company. The drive also presented a chance to engage in deep reflection on the previous school year, my first at City Academy, and also a moment to think about the year ahead. Glancing out of the car window, I was struck by the vast countryside filled with crops that farmers worked tirelessly to cultivate. At that moment the parallels between their work and the work done by professionals at City Academy was apparent.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, everyone at City Academy worked tirelessly to cultivate an academic environment and curricular experiences that lead to students’ academic and personal growth. I had an opportunity to witness the great work of City Academy faculty and staff daily, but I also had the opportunity to witness the hard work of our students and their families as they lived the mission of our school by having bold expectations for their students. This year was a reminder that being a member of the City Academy community is never easy, but it is always rewarding. The work that is required to fulfill our mission is all consuming, but as we witnessed at the 6th grade graduation on May 24, the outcome of that hard work is realized as students select the next best steps for the educational journey in outstanding secondary schools in St. Louis.
However, much work happens to make those outcomes a reality. This year faculty worked to integrate a new curriculum and revitalize the community’s culture post COVID. Faculty engaged in this work while enhancing our family/school partnership and improving students’ academic outcomes. The work faculty engage in at City Academy is the lifeblood of our school and their commitment to their craft allows our community to continue cultivating great students.
In addition, this year administrators committed to changes in their roles and responsibilities to support the cultivation of our school. Donna Hynes is assuming a new role in our community as Dean of Students and Families. Donna has amazing relationships with faculty and staff in the building, but also has outstanding relationships with families and students that have roots in her time as a Junior Kindergarten teacher. Donna will serve all grade levels in this role, which will give us a chance to have one culture and one set of expectations that applies for all students and families school wide.
Liesl Schnuck is also assuming a new role as Director of Teaching and Learning. We are fortunate to have her zest for supporting students and strong sense of accountability while being empathetic. Liesl will work to ensure that our curriculum appropriately supports our students and their academic needs, by using a data driven approach to ensure that our curriculum appropriately spirals vertically and horizontally. Liesl will serve all grade levels in this role, which will give us a chance to create a common culture for faculty and singular school feel.
There is only one City Academy and our school is stronger together rather than divided into Early Childhood and Upper School. The reason for the administrative changes is to bring our school together, strategically use our resources and collaborate to support students during their age three through sixth grade arc. That is our pathway forward to build upon our community’s collective wisdom and institutional strength, which will enable us to deepen our connections to one another and ensure the long-term sustainability of our academic model.
Sustainability of our model is vital to ensure that our indelible mark in St. Louis, Missouri is enduring. The impact of our school is measured in ways big and small. We not only cultivate outstanding students who are successful in secondary schools, but we also cultivate independent school families that are prepared to support their students in environments beyond City Academy and provide continuing support for alumni. I shared a powerful moment with a parent who realized that she wanted better for herself after seeing her son flourish at school. She completed her nursing degree this spring. She, too, is also a part of the City Academy story.
City Academy is many things to many people, but this year City Academy has been my north star. City Academy has given me so many things, including a deepened sense of professional purpose. I hope that my contributions back to the school through my work outweigh everything that I gained through my interactions with families, students, faculty and staff. Our school, City Academy, is truly special, but everyone reading this article already knows that to be true. However, I hope this summer you can take a moment to reflect on why City Academy is special to you.