This article appeared as “Indy Spirit” in the Spring 2025 issue of Independent School.
I have long believed that being an educator is the ideal way to spend a joyful life. I know of no greater joy, no greater motivator, and no greater reward than a day well-spent in school.
What makes joy in a school environment possible? The people. I come from school people. My dad and stepmother were both heads of independent schools, and my mom was a second grade teacher. My earliest years were shaped by the clear-headed sense of purpose and earnest dedication that characterize educators and the transformative power of independent schools.
One of my favorite memories is one my dad has shared often. He recalls a particular night when I was reading before bed. “Your teacher has done a wonderful job teaching you to read,” he remarked. My 6-year-old self was taken aback, and I was quick to respond. “She didn’t teach me. I learned!”
What I didn’t know then was that my teacher at Little Red School House (NY) had guided my literacy journey in such a way that centered my own autonomy and self-discovery. I truly believed that I had taught myself to read, and I was so proud of my discovery.
Years later, and with many other meaningful school experiences along the way, I realize the power and poignancy of that moment. Placed in a challenging and nurturing environment and equipped with tools to persevere, a child’s possibilities are truly endless.
As I complete my first year as head at The Wellington School (OH), I am inspired each day by the ways our teachers create this same environment for all our learners, from wide-eyed 3-year-olds to self-assured high school seniors. Learning is active and engaging. It’s joyful and challenging. It’s sometimes messy and sometimes even by design. And it’s shaping curious, capable, confident, courageous students who own their learning and are ready to take on tomorrow’s world.
Eliza McLaren, with balloons, on the shoulders of her father, Andrew McLaren, then-director of LREI (NY) in 1988.