“The present was an egg laid by the past that had the future inside its shell.” –Zora Neale Hurston
Throughout my first two months at Belmont Day, I have returned to Hurston’s wisdom as I deepen my understanding of the school’s culture and rhythms. Through conversation, observation, and immersion, I am experiencing all aspects of the ‘egg’ that is Belmont Day. I feel fortunate to engage in this process as the assistant head of school.
Tuesday evening, I had the chance to meet with parents and share who I am and what I have begun working on since my arrival in July. I wanted to share a few key aspects here:
- I am the proud daughter of immigrants from India. My parents, both trained as scientists, taught me to join in community and seek knowledge through the lens of curiosity. As I shared with middle school students recently, I greatly enjoy the process of learning about others, a direct reflection of how I was raised.
- Curiosity deepens over time, one of many reasons why I have worked in just three different schools over the past twenty-nine years. Getting to know all students within a family system, whenever possible, is important to me. I see this year as just the beginning of our work together. With my arrival at Belmont Day, I will have worked as an administrator across the pre-kindergarten to grade 12 range and a classroom teacher in grades 6-12.
- My highest priorities this fall are: to be visible and present in classroom spaces and, in the process, to get to know our faculty and students, and to engage with you as part of my ‘listening tour.’ I look forward to learning about the strengths and capacities of our school as well as our growth edges.
- In my role, I supervise the division heads, arts team, student support team, and the associate director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. This role is both faculty and student-facing in that, through my work with these colleagues, I am focused on student and programmatic needs. I cherish my work as a supervisor and see the role as one in which I support colleagues in doing their best, mission-aligned work on behalf of students.
- “Inspire and challenge” are core aspects of the mission that resonate with me. As I consider the idea of “rigor with care,” a central priority and topic of discussion within the community this year, I return to the idea that when we feel cared for, seen, and known, then we can be challenged even more deeply. I am invested in exploring the dynamic relationship between rigor and care as a defining aspect of the program.
- Partnering with Brendan, the faculty, and all of you as parents brings me great joy. As an educator, I believe in collaboration and conversation, and I have seen many times the fruits that come from dialogue and the bridges we build.
I hope that as the year unfolds, you will seek me out to talk further. Please email me to schedule a time to connect. Or catch me at morning drop-off or at school events and activities, such as the upcoming lower and middle school curriculum nights. My office is located right next to Brendan’s in the Schoolhouse. In the meantime, know that I look forward to engaging in our present and our future together with an appreciation for the past that preceded my arrival at BDS.
My best,
Miss Divya (my student-facing name)
