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.

Alexander Dawson School Podcast

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

Each summer, Dawson College Bound happens on the campus of The Alexander Dawson School! This summer summit program serves high-achieving Clark County School District middle school students and is funded by the Alexander Dawson Foundation. Learn all about this phenomenal program from Director of Admissions Andrew Bishop in conversation with DCB Director Matsuko Freeman. For more information about Dawson College Bound, visit dawsoncollegebound.org.

Dawson College Bound

Director of Admissions Andrew Bishop in conversation with Dawson Performing Arts Faculty Sue Boyum and Chrystal Miller. You’ll learn more about the department programs straight from the experts who teach choir, theater, musical theater, and music tech and orchestra respectively.  Topics include performance curriculum, helping students get comfortable with risk-taking in the classroom, teaching as an ensemble, the transferable skills that come from the arts program and what they’re looking forward to for next year and in the future at Dawson. 

Performing Arts At Dawson

Dawson’s Director of Admission Andrew Bishop in conversation with Allied Esports International’s Chief Creative Officer Paul Chamberlain about the transferable skills and career opportunities that are opened up by the progressive entertainment industry called esports. From inside the one-of-a-kind HyperX Esports Arena at the Luxor Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, they discuss where the industry is going and how schools can think about using esports as a vehicle to teach the important storytelling, development, business, marketing, and innovative skills needed.  To learn more about The Alexander Dawson School, visit adsrm.org.

How Schools Can Use Esports As a Vehicle to Teach Transferable Skills

Director of Admissions Andrew Bishop in conversation with authors Minh Le, Axie Oh, and Aida Salazar, author/illustrator Daria Peoples-Riley, author/librarian Brittany Thurman on why diverse books matter.  The group was on campus in March for Dawson’s 2nd Annual We Need Diverse Books Day, a school-wide event with workshops, readings, a student-led panel discussion and other enriching activities.  For more information about The Alexander Dawson School visit adsrm.org.

Why We Need Diverse Books

Education consultant Jen Cort, host of Third Space podcast, in conversation with her new Dawson Middle School colleagues about the ways that adults can approach difficult topics with children. Then, she sits down with Dawson parents to get their perspective on navigating the subjects they did not grow up talking about, and how important it is to model asking for help.  Subjects include technology, race, gender and loyalty conflicts between home and school. 

Jen Cort with Dawson Students and Parents on Navigating Tough Conversations

Assistant Head of School Roxanne Stansbury in conversation with students of Dawson’s Sleep Week Committee about sleep awareness and the upcoming Sleep Week Campaign.  The Sleep Week idea originated when a few students attended the Challenge Success Fall Conference and learned about the impacts of stress on sleep.  They returned to campus with the desire to raise awareness among the Dawson community.  In this episode, they discuss the causes of irregular sleep patterns, extracurricular activity schedules, the need for unstructured time and quality family time, and the correlations between sleep and mental health.  They also introduce the plans for Sleep Week, including a No Homework/Electronics Night, a Late Start Day, a visit from a certified Sleep Doctor, and a pajamas and overnight diapers drive for Foster Kinship.

Why Healthy Sleep Habits Matter

Dr. Carola Wittmann joins Director of Admissions Andrew Bishop to reflect on her third year as head of school, and discuss what she sees as the Dawson Difference. 

A Conversation with Head of School Dr. Carola Wittmann

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.

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Alexander Dawson School Podcast

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