Presenter: Leslie Wales, Associate Director of Admission and Freshman Dean, Worcester Academy
Bio: Leslie has spent many years in education and admissions, both at the college and independent school levels, including Lewis & Clark College and Cushing Academy. Currently, she’s the Associate Director of Admission at Worcester Academy. She’s worked with students from Grade 6 to college seniors; teaching, advising, admitting, and supervising as part of internship programs. Leslie brings a commitment to student growth and increased self awareness through intentionally designed experiences, be these in the classroom, on the rim of Crater Lake or through the experience of running a visit program.
Description:
Many schools have embraced project-based learning and real world, or skills-based education to begin to reframe how we approach teaching, and what we expect as learning outcomes in our independent schools. Often this learning is limited to the classrooms, however our schools are ripe with opportunities for students to learn about their own strengths and passions through well-crafted and managed internship-style programs, providing your school with needed brain powered work...and students with significant responsibility and leadership opportunities. These can often be mission-aligned tasks or programs, helping to justify what might seem like a big risk. Join us to see how Worcester Academy took the leap, learn about the risks and the need for tolerance for learning opportunities. Explore timing, expectations, and who to choose to lead such an innovation. You’ll leave with a handful of materials to kickstart your new program!
Contact Info:
Leslie can be reached by email at leslie.wales@worcesteracademy.org