Four of Darlington’s staff members recently gave presentations at The Association of Boarding Schools’ 11th annual conference in Baltimore, Md. The conference theme was “Leading Schools.”
“An important and cost-effective way of marketing our school is by presenting the great things we’re doing at national and international conferences,” said Associate Headmaster Mark Carleton. “Folks come to our sessions, learn from what we’ve done, and then go back to implement our ideas while singing our praises all the way. Also, the only way to get better in the idea business, which is what education really is all about, is to share your good ideas with others and then to receive input on them.”
Carleton co-presented a session titled “Scholars, Servants, Leaders: Independent School Renaissance,” along with Heads of House Reba Barnes and Tara Inman. In their session, they talked about the opportunity independent schools have to enhance students’ intellectual quality by intentionally deepening their moral purpose with programs focused on servant leadership. They also offered Darlington’s servant leadership initiative as an example of a comprehensive program that is multidisciplinary, cross-cultural and developmentally appropriate, while also rooted in thought-provoking essential questions.
“One participant told me it was the most important conversation he had at the conference,” Carleton said.
Barnes, who also serves as director of servant leadership, also heard positive comments. “Several other schools were interested in how we connected our spiritual life and servant leadership programs together through our essential questions,” she said. “I expect we will receive even more inquiries about our programs.”
Also presenting at the conference was Libbie Zimmer, director of Darlington’s Learning Center. At a session titled “Learning Differences … by day and by night,” she discussed ways to support and empower boarding students in both academic and residential environments. She also gave specific examples of ways Darlington blends academic and student life efforts, encourages student leadership, and shares program successes and challenges.
"I was thrilled to have such a large crowd at my session. Probably 50 people came to learn more about what we are doing here at Darlington," Zimmer said. "They were impressed with Darlington’s commitment to students with learning differences, as well as our emphasis on creating more student leadership opportunities. To know that the good work we are doing at Darlington is respected by so many - and that they want to learn from our model - is extremely rewarding."
