Page 36 - Baltimore Fishbowl - 2017 School Guide
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leadership
Joe LePain
Roland Park Country School
IN HIS NEW ROLE at Roland Park Country School (RPCS), Director of Information and Innovation Joe LePain stands at the crossroads of technology and curriculum.
“We are at a crucial point in time when students, even at a very young age, are not only comfortable with technology, but they understand it incredibly well,” he says.
Since assuming his role in July 2016, LePain has continued to look for new and exciting ways to integrate technology into the curriculum. Seizing on RPCS’s student body of preschoolers through 12th graders, he has found innovative ways to into his students. The fact that RPCS is “constantly evolving” allows for this.
He points to the innovation space that initially opened in the fall of 2016 and was renovated to a much larger and more dynamic space that was re-opened to students in the fall of 2017. Here, students think creatively and problem-
AFTER SERVING IN THE BALTIMORE CITY
school system, Michael Wright came to The School of the Cathedral in 2007 as a middle school math and science teacher. He also coached soccer and served as social studies department chair and assistant principal before becoming head of school.
Transitioning from teacher to administrator gave Wright “an acute understanding of the expectations placed on the school for student achievement as well as the demands and accountability placed on the faculty in pursuing their vocation while guiding the students to spiritual strength and academic excellence.”
a Catholic education. A graduate of Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., he earned his B.A. in history from Wheeling Jesuit University and M.A.Ed. in educational leadership
“By educating the whole child, intellectually and spiritually, we can best prepare that student to enter the high school of their choice and
solve in a space that both looks and feels very different than a traditional classroom.
Within the space, LePain inaugurated a series of design challenges that encouraged students of all ages to consider and present problems in the “problem bank,” for which they look for solutions without the pressure of a grade.
The program speaks to what drew LePain to RPCS.
“This is a school made up of people who believe in students and their power to meaningfully impact the world,” he says.
He recognized this quality within an environment that was “both warm and empowering.”
As a result, LePain is excited about the school’s future and, especially, that of his department. He envisions a program driven by what his students will need and want to thrive in an ever-changing world.
give them the foundation they need to have a positive impact in a rapidly evolving world,” he says.
At Cathedral, this means developing strong foundation skills in the younger grades, promoting 1:1 iPad and Chromebook programs, and providing middle schoolers with opportunities for leadership, self-advocacy and growth. A maker’s space with 3D printers and a Lego robotics program help foster an environment of inquiry.
Wright encourages his faculty to serve as models of lifelong learning, especially through professional development opportunities. Cathedral’s Teacher Excellence Fund, supported by parents, acknowledges the importance of the school’s teachers by providing funding to pay for their education.
“More than any textbook, curriculum or standards, teachers have the biggest impact on student achievement,” says Wright.
From teacher to administrator, he lives this mission every day.
Michael Wright
The School of the Cathedral
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