News

What an incredible week of opening meetings we’ve had! Our Head of School, Rachel Rippl, kicked off the year by unveiling our theme: “Leading with Purpose.” She challenged every member of our community to consider how they can shape our school with purpose, intention, and impact. At Charles Wright Academy, our mission and values guide everything we do, ensuring we create a school where every student is both nurtured and challenged. “When I think of purpose, it’s about being rooted in a common foundation such as our school’s mission, vision, and values. One of the phrases from our mission that resonates with me is we seek to “nurture and challenge our students.” I want every child to feel seen and known in our community. I want our students to continue to be stretched to grow as critical thinkers, both in their care for others and their understanding of their unique ability to impact our world. Our intention is the way we show up every day, focusing on bringing our best selves to our roles, and the impact is what’s possible when it all comes together to serve our students and families. I’m hopeful for the year ahead and how we can create a transformational experience every day.” Said Head of School, Rachel Rippl. 

Throughout the week, our faculty and staff engaged in meaningful professional development opportunities, blending collaboration with growth:

• Purpose Summit: On Monday, all employees participated in a Purpose Summit with Jessica Catoggio from World Leadership School, setting the tone for a year grounded in intention and connection—both with each other and with our students. Reflecting on the experience, Upper School Director Kevin Campbell shared, “The collaboration was inspiring, and I am confident it will enrich the academic experience for our students.”

• Beginning School Story Workshop: Our Beginning School team hosted its annual Story Workshop. Director Rixa Evershed explained, “Story Workshop explores how storytelling and play intersect, helping children learn the written word so that we can support their learning in the best possible way.”

• Lower School Project-Based Learning: Lower School faculty spent two days with Teton Science Schools, deepening their expertise in project-based and experiential learning. Director Stephani Crozier reflected, “We broadened our existing units, collaborated with specialists, and explored new ways to make learning more visible to students and families.”

• Middle and Upper School Innovation: Middle and Upper School faculty continued their collaboration with World Leadership School, refining their programs to launch the year with a shared sense of purpose. Middle School Director Crysta Swarts-Gillison noted, “The Purpose Summit allowed us to dive deep into the experiences students love: our robust elective offerings, while honing existing offerings and dreaming up new ones.”

This week was a powerful reminder of how our faculty and staff prioritize professional growth, collaboration, and innovation, all to ensure an exceptional experience for every student. We can’t wait to welcome our students back to campus this week!

Don’t just take our word for it, see our employees learning in action below!