Born in Uganda, raised in England, I've lived in France, Germany and Sweden, and now find myself here in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
I come from a family of educators; my father was the headmaster of a progressive, trail-blazing high school which I attended, eating educational philosophy every evening with dinner.
I have worked with students of all ages, from 1st grade through high school, in many different capacities. In England I taught high school with responsibilities for Theatre, English, and the school's Gifted and Talented enrichment program. Here in the States I have taught Elementary and Middle School students in a Montessori setting, as well as at Emerson, and here at Summers-Knoll.
I am also a theatre person; I have worked professionally as an actor, director, and playwright. I often feel that directing a school is a bit like directing a play: it's all about providing an arena where everybody can shine, everyone is secure enough to collaborate, everyone is working to the same script, and between us all we get to make magic happen.
Questions or comments? You can email me at jhastings [at] summers-knoll.org.
Today a student who knows my love of poetry brought me a book of poems by the Persian poet Rumi. At morning meeting we shared this poem with the school, a celebration of the inspiration others can give us through love and friendship.
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