I recently had a chance to drive for a few hours in the delightful company of a group of Nathan Hale students. I’m accustomed to the role of minivan chauffeur, and find that with teenagers I’m usually ignored, and left to listen to NPR. These students however were inquisitive and persistent. They had important questions to ask, and they didn’t accept easy answers! “Ms. Campbell,” they asked, “Why do you think that Public Schools fail?” I’m always quick to point out that our public schools do not fail. In fact,they succeed amazingly well, educating every single student who comes to us with ever-decreasing resources and budgets. But these students weren’t satisfied with the quick answer. They wanted to know more. “But students do fail sometimes,” they said. “How do you feel when your students drop out or disappear?” This is the deep question, the one that truly drives me in my work as an educator. The answer is not simple, but this month’s principle speaks to the work that has been done at Nathan Hale to address issues of systemic and individual failure. Our school is intentionally designed so that our students are known by name, by ability, by needs. We want our students to feel watched over, cared for, supported and believed in. Only then will we be able to address issues of individual failure. When we create a consistent academic program and a common instructional language, as we do in our inter-disciplinary teams, we build a unique culture, a genuine community, and a sense of belonging. I have been reading Culminating Project reflections written by our Seniors, and time and time again they write about the power of the unique Nathan Hale experience. One student wrote, “I had the five habits of mind so drilled into my head that I will never forget them!” We see success each day. We also see discouragement and, sometimes, failure. We work to improve each day, and we thank you for your advice, observations, questions, and honest feedback. Thank you for supporting the Nathan Hale community as we work toward success for each student! Marni Campbell, Principal *See www.essentialschools.org