There is a poster on Ms. Rees’ door, and it was one of the first things I came across on the morning I arrived at Harker.  It contains a quote from John Green, and I viewed its existence and my stumbling upon it as an affirmation that I had landed in a community whose collective ethos mirrored my own.

It is, after all, the spirit of a place that most matters in the lives of those who live in it.

Though the start of school is a busy time, there have been many moments that have afforded me the opportunity to observe some of the special elements of the Harker community.  Among my favorites have been visits to classes, and brief but enlightening conversations with students and teachers.  Also at the top of my list has been the presence of the various instrumentalist groups in the auxiliary gym.  When my office door is open, the music from the rehearsals permeates the space, in the same way that culture permeates and enhances our collective existence. I also know that while I will be happy for the musicians – and for all of the performing arts students and teachers – when they move to the spectacular Rothschild Performing Arts Center, I will miss the sounds and melodies which currently grace the front hallway.  However, programs, places, and people benefit from the opportunity to evolve, and embracing that evolution is and will remain a cherished component of the culture that defines Harker.

It has also been humbling and inspiring to learn of the efforts of the staff at Harker, both past and present, from the Harker sisters (Sara and Catherine) to the Nichols family, to the numerous dedicated men and women who provided an environment for learning that has been continuously excellent.  As we prepare to celebrate them and their stories in Harker’s upcoming anniversary year, I also look forward to continuing to get to know this place and all of the people who are here now, and to our collective journeys in the years to come.

This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on October 12, 2017.