Being on a chairlift is a common experience for most of us in the Upper Valley. I prefer riding with my brother-in-law. We don’t have to say much to communicate, and we are equally tuckered from traversing the widest, flattest “green” so there’s a gentle rhythm to the lift—the low hum of the cable, the soft creak of the chair—it slows your breathing; it’s a reflective and calm few minutes. A few weeks ago, we mistimed our entry into the queue, and I had to ride with a skier from out of state. He asked what I did, and when I told him that I was a school principal at an independent school, he scoffed and asked why someone would choose an independent school. Pulling my elevator speech out for the remainder of our ascent came easily.
I told him that independent schools, especially Crossroads Academy, operate with a unique mission and values, which allows them the freedom to design curricula and educational experiences tailored to their community rather than meeting state-mandated standards. This autonomy allows them to develop programs aligned with their mission and student needs.
I explained that standardized testing regimes are not the primary measure of success and talked about how we provided greater personalized attention and individualized feedback, leading to stronger relationships between teachers and students. Those relationships at school nurture personal, social, and civic growth, offering wide opportunities in arts, leadership, and community involvement. This approach gives independent schools latitude to create a different definition of “student success.”
I could see my co-rider considering my answer from behind his goggles as the chair crested the hill. We unloaded quietly and headed our separate ways, and as my brother-in-law skied toward me, I realized I wasn’t making a case for independent schools in the abstract—I was describing Crossroads Academy.
