Director of Admission Andrew Bishop in conversation with Assistant Head of School Roxanne Stansbury about what it means to be a Stanford University Challenge Success School. Listen to learn more about the SPACE Framework and how Dawson is living its mission by re-defining traditional definitions of student achievement. Show Notes: Mood Meter 

Alexander Dawson School Podcast

Redefining Student Achievement Through Challenge Success At Dawson

Assistant Head of School Andrew Bishop is joined by Mark Crotty, the executive director of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS). They discuss the essential skills students need to thrive, what they hope schools learn from this pandemic year and advice for parents looking for the right school for their child. They also talk about the necessity for independent schools to engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion conversations in order to become part of the greater solution. Other topics include the purpose of independent school associations, the in-depth accreditation process, and how Dawson uses that feedback to enhance its strategic direction. adsrm.org/podcast

Independent School Associations & Education with Mark Crotty

In this episode, Dawson welcomes Sanje Ratnavale, founder and president of Online Education Strategies for Independent Schools (OESIS), to the podcast! In conversation with Assistant Head of School Andrew Bishop, Sanje discusses the opportunities presented by distance education in the past year, the capacity of schools to change, and project-based learning. Topics also include thinking creatively about time and space, competency-based education, assessing for skills versus content, and more. adsrm.org/podcast

Modern Learning & How Schools Can Evolve with Sanje Ratnavale

In this episode, Dawson welcomes Dean of UNLV's Honors College Dr. Andrew Hanson to the show! In conversation with Assistant Head of School Andrew Bishop, Dr. Hanson discusses the similarities between higher education and independent school education. Topics include active listening in the classroom, the future of standardized education, and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion work. They also talk about the future of education and the long-term changes in the post-pandemic classroom. adsrm.org/podcast

On the Similarities Between Higher Ed & Independent School Education

Dawson is proud to be Nevada's first and only school to partner with Challenge Success, which is affiliated with Stanford University and focuses on student wellbeing and engagement. In this episode, Assistant Head of School Andrew Bishop is joined by Challenge Success co-founder Dr. Denise Pope, Director of EC-Grade 1 Amanda Murray-Musgrave, teacher Matt Reynolds, and sixth-grade student Aarti. You'll learn how Dawson aligns with and uses the Challenge Success framework to live its Mission and Vision, the benefit of joining a partner school as a family, and more! adsrm.org/podcast

What's the deal with Challenge Success?

Assistant Head of School Andrew Bishop and Head of School Roxanne Stansbury are joined by Dr. Mary Choi Kelly in a conversation about instilling empathy in our children. Dr. Kelly is the parent of a current Dawson student and an alumnus and manages MCK Leadership Talent Group, an organization that works with leaders in global companies and diverse industries to help individuals develop courage, drive change, and build culture. Following Dr. Kelly's Parent University presentation on the Empathy Advantage, they elaborate on how empathetic behaviors can help grow our children into more resilient, healthy, and successful adults, and share practical tools for parents. They also reference the book UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World by Michele Borba, Ed.D.

The Empathy Advantage

In this episode, New York Times bestselling author and speaker Dr. Michael Thompson joins Head of School Roxanne Stansbury and Assistant Head of School Andrew Bishop. Following a Parent University virtual session with our Dawson community, Dr. Thompson elaborates on the nuances of parenting during the pandemic and in an election year. The discussion includes the resilience of children and treating one another with respect, civility, community, and dignity.

Parenting During a Pandemic with Dr. Michael Thompson

Assistant Head of School Andrew Bishop is joined by Head of School Roxanne Stansbury and special guest Dr. Douglas Harris, a senior fellow in the Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings and professor of economics at Tulane University. They discuss Dr. Harris' recent article, "When should schools reopen fully in-person?". Topics include Dawson's reopening plan in comparison to others around the country; navigating the decision-making process as a team; the direct and indirect effects of reopening; advice for parents making decisions about school; the things that may change because of the pandemic; and how the competencies that we're looking for in students continue to evolve.

Reopening Schools During a Pandemic with Dr. Douglas Harris

Dawson's Chief of Security & Campus Facilities Dennis Johnson in conversation with Assistant Head of School for Advancement Andrew Bishop about caring for our campus. From the logistics of afternoon carpool to the intentionality behind the landscape and design of our campus, Dennis works to keep our school and facilities both beautiful and functional. They also discuss the process of planning, designing and building our new middle school playground, a project led by Dennis in partnership with administration and faculty that was completed in fall 2019.

Caring For Our Campus

Director of Innovation Hubert Ham in conversation with Assistant Head of School for Advancement Andrew Bishop about innovation at independent schools, ways in which Dawson improves, and using esports as a gateway to curriculum, community, and STEM skills. They also discuss partnerships with UNLV, Blackfire Innovation, and Allied Esports, Dawson's esports EDU lab, an esports league for independent schools. Learn how Dawson is sharing its experiences, resources, and information with other schools.

Innovation at Dawson

Three Dawson parents join Assistant Heads of School Roxanne Stansbury and Andrew Bishop in conversation about Dawson's Parent University series and Parent Education Pieces. The Alexander Dawson School hosts and facilitates Parent University workshops to provide current research in parenting and child development, as well as Parent Education Piece curriculum sessions as a means to more deeply involve each parent in their child’s educational experiences. Julio Melendez, Susan Perry, Susan Archibald reflect on the impact of the presentations in their daily lives as parents and therefore their children's lives. They also discuss the feeling of community and support at Dawson, including the sense of belonging they gain as parents.

Parent Education at Dawson

Following episode 14 on measuring things that matter, Director of K-8 Chris Estrella and Director of Student Life & Diversity Meg Aumann discuss how Dawson utilizes intentionally diverse focus groups and surveys to make student-centered decisions. In this episode, you’ll learn more about their presentation from the NWAIS regional conference on Using Data to Make Student-Centered Decisions. They discuss what this looks like at Dawson—how we gather information, what we do with the data, who we share it with, and how we set strategic goals. In addition, topics include Dawson’s mission and vision on campus, the climate of care in our School, maintaining a culture of sustainability, and our value of professional development.

Part 2: Measuring Things That Matter

Rosalind Wiseman in conversation with Assistant Head of School for Advancement Andrew Bishop following her Dawson Parent University presentation. Rosalind is the author of Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World, and founder of Cultures of Dignity. In this episode, they discuss and define happiness, friendship, respect, and treating people with dignity. Topics also include focusing on relationships and how social media is affecting social-emotional wellbeing.

Rosalind Wiseman on Happiness, Friendship & Dignity

Dawson’s Head of School Dr. Carola Wittmann joins Assistant Head of School for Advancement Andrew Bishop in a conversation about surveying parents and students, as well as faculty and staff. As Director of Student Life & Diversity Meg Aumann and K-8 Director Chris Estrella take off to present on the topic at NWAIS this week, Dr. Wittmann discusses how small and large decisions in institutional planning can be influenced by student data at Dawson. They discuss how our students have gotten used to providing quick feedback and know that we value their voice in our decision-making processes, whether it’s about food services, recess areas, curriculum or social-emotional learning. Learn more about The Alexander Dawson School at adsrm.org. 

Dawson Head of School on Measuring Things That Matter

Dawson’s Head of School Dr. Carola Wittmann joins Assistant Head of School for Advancement Andrew Bishop to talk about institutional growth. They discuss why supporting institutional growth is important, how Dawson faculty and staff will learn more throughout the 19-20 school year about the School’s growth, and how the self-study accreditation process informs the School’s growth planning going forward. Dr. Wittmann shares her goals for growth and succession planning, as well as her take on professional development. Learn more about The Alexander Dawson School at adsrm.org.

Dawson Head of School on Institutional Growth

Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning Roxanne Stansbury sits down with three new Dawson teachers during the weeklong Teacher Academy. Art teacher Jesa Townsend, second-grade teacher Shane Marsan, Mandarin teacher Kirsty Lim, and first-grade teacher and Dawson alum Amanda Brazell discuss their first impressions of the School, reflect on the comprehensive interview and on-boarding process, and the overwhelm of a new school. They share thoughts on Challenge Success, the layers of support shown in the Dawson community, and what they’re most looking forward to this school year. Learn more about The Alexander Dawson School at adsrm.org.

A Conversation with New Dawson Teachers

A weekly education podcast brought to you by The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain. Located in Summerlin, a suburb of Las Vegas, Nevada, Dawson is a non-sectarian, non-profit school offering students in preschool through eighth grade an inspired and meaningful education. Students achieve their individual potential while savoring life and meeting the challenges of the world.

Redefining Student Achievement Through Challenge Success At ...