On Friday, Aug. 8, I had the privilege of hosting our Teaching & Learning Center team retreat at the Home-on-the-Hill – a day that perfectly captured why this work fills me with such purpose.
We were fortunate to welcome Dr. Paul Cohen, director of The Sandy Springs Center for Psychological Services, and his exceptional team to our retreat, where they shared their thoughtful approach to supporting families through the psychoeducational evaluation process.
Our retreat's food theme perfectly captured our mission: just as great meals combine diverse ingredients to nourish and satisfy, the Teaching & Learning Center blends different approaches and expertise to support each student's unique learning journey.
Between Dr. Cohen's valuable presentation and meaningful discussions about seeing the whole child through a psychoeducational lens, we also savored the joy of beginning a new school year together – complete with good food, warm fellowship, and the energizing buzz of a team united in purpose.
A Sweet Success Story
The heart of our retreat unfolded when Whit Molnar (’25), a recent Darlington graduate preparing for Auburn University, took command of the stunning kitchen at the Home-on-the-Hill. A passionate baker with dreams of studying culinary arts, Whit led us through an extraordinary maple bacon cinnamon bun demonstration that was memorable not only for its mouthwatering results, but for the powerful story it represented.
Whit embodies everything we strive to achieve for our students. With the carefully crafted accommodations and support our Teaching & Learning Center provides – anchored by our targeted Orton-Gillingham approach and literacy-based accommodations – he has blossomed into the confident reader, writer, and critical thinker we always believed he could become.
As I watched him orchestrate that kitchen with infectious enthusiasm and quiet authority, flour dusting his hands and pride lighting his face, I felt a profound reminder of our true north. While psychoeducational evaluations and evidence-based interventions are essential tools in our work, students like Whit – thriving, confident, and ready to chase his dreams – are always our ultimate measure of success.
Partnership in Action: How We Support Each Student's Journey
The artistry of what happened in that kitchen with Whit, and so many Tigers, doesn't rise overnight – it was the result of a thoughtful partnership between home and school.
We couldn't do our work without parents as our essential partners. When families notice learning differences, academic challenges, or simply want deeper insight into their child's learning potential, they can pursue a psychoeducational evaluation with a private psychologist. These rich, comprehensive educational assessments become an essential starting point for service by the Teaching & Learning Center.
At one point during Whit's baking demonstration, my team and I invited him to tell us about his process. Does he write his own recipes? Does he like to adapt favorite ones? He was so pleased to answer, pulling out his simple black recipe book and encouraging us to flip through the pages. Just like Whit creates his own culinary masterpieces by adapting recipes to his style and preferences, we use the essential information from evaluations to craft individualized support plans that help each student thrive.
Throughout our Pre-K to 12 community, the Teaching & Learning Center customizes its support with four service levels: Direct Service, Consult Service, F.L.E.X. and Discovery Service. Our Discovery Service often serves as a starting point, allowing us to get to know students and families while determining whether a psychoeducational evaluation would be beneficial. Like master bakers who adjust their techniques for the perfect outcome, we thoughtfully select each pathway to help every student rise to their fullest potential.
When Challenge Meets Care: Our Recipe for Success
At this time of year, I savor all of our school's thoughtfully designed beginning-of-year events – from Upper School Orientation Day, Back-to-School Night, to our Pre-K to 8 Ice Cream Social. During these welcome gatherings, we extend a warm invitation to families to discover what makes Darlington special. At our recent "New to You" event at Thatcher Hall, Head of School Brent Bell spoke thoughtfully to new families about an important reality: while we know students face hardships and encounter challenges, at Darlington, we believe these moments become opportunities for connection and growth.
Just as the perfect recipe combines different ingredients to create something nourishing and satisfying, the Teaching & Learning Center is a unique part of Darlington where we blend support, understanding, and partnership to help our students flourish. When we face difficulties together with these essential elements, our students don't just overcome obstacles; they develop the confidence and resilience that will serve them throughout their lives.
For some families throughout the Darlington Community, the Teaching & Learning Center becomes a key ingredient in this recipe for success, and I'd love for you to discover how our special blend of services contributes to each child's unique learning journey.
A Confident Contributor Ready to Rise
As Whit heads off to his next adventure, he takes his Tiger spirit with him – and leaves us with the beautiful reminder that our greatest success stories aren't just about overcoming challenges, but about turning that growth into a gift that lifts others.
