A Commitment to Lifelong Learning

Greg Mueller, Intermediate School Science Teacher and Dean

I had contemplated pursuing a postgraduate degree on and off since 1995 when I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Science Teaching from Clemson University. Since then I have been working in the classroom and the field with students during the school year and honing my leadership skills as the director of our summer programs and robotics in summers and for extracurricular activities. In the Fall of 2020, I entered into a two year program for an MEd in Education Leadership at George Mason University. As an online program, it afforded me an opportunity to connect with colleagues from other independent schools around the country, and continue my work as a director in the summer. Our independent school cohort was composed of twelve students and the course of study mirrored that of the principal licensure curriculum for Virginia public schools.

With courses in organizational theory and leadership development, educational law, managing finances and human resources, evaluation of instruction, leading schools and communities, governance, and motivation and conflict management, I have been able to look at independent school leadership through multiple lenses and better understand some of the “street smarts” that I have picked up over the years. The internship module of the program focused on using research to lead school improvement. For this I turned to my experience on the Health and Wellness Committee to narrow my focus of research and school improvement plan to building community and connectedness and developing a sense of belonging among students, faculty, and families. As a core commitment of our strategic roadmap and an area which needed attention after time spent in distance and hybrid learning models, I am using my new position of Grade 7 Dean to implement some strategies to connect community through Advisory and our new Community Time in the IS.