Post by Seattle Academy

How do we help students learn deeply and thrive in a rapidly changing world? This year, our faculty tackled this central question with heart, purpose, and a lot of innovation. From navigating the complexities of AI to investing in new professional development and our already-underway transition to Canvas by Instructure as our new learning management system, our focus remains clear: supporting our students as ethical, capable, and independent learners. Dean of Teaching and Learning Alison Ray reflects on the philosophy guiding this work: “Teaching has always required heart, creativity, sensitivity, and a willingness to innovate on behalf of students. In a moment when helping young people grow and thrive feels both more important and more challenging than ever, we are committed to continually assessing the tools, systems, and practices that best support learning with purpose.” Next year, we are excited to launch two new professional development initiatives, including both action research and “curiosity” grants. These grants will support teachers in conducting structured inquiry into their own classrooms by testing strategies, gathering evidence, reflecting on outcomes, and sharing what they learn with colleagues.