S7E8 BONUS - Thousands audition... Millions vote... Could it be a Lovett senior who wins?? Lovett’s own Slater Nalley is a current contestant on American Idol. He joins us on this bonus episode of Living Lovett with upper school English and American Studies teacher Michele Davis to recount their unique story of bringing the song Traces of You to the American Idol stage.

It all started in 10th grade with Michele's support for Slater's struggles and evolved into a touching collaboration after Michele shared the tragic story of her son Carter. Slater transformed Michele's poem about Carter into a heartfelt song, Traces of You, which led them to an unforgettable experience on American Idol in Nashville. They discuss the process, the emotional impact, and the invaluable lessons in empathy, character, and faith they have experienced at Lovett with Chief Engagement Officer and Living Lovett host, Jessica Sant.

Slater reflects on the importance of teacher support throughout his time at Lovett, while Michele emphasizes the significance of fostering creativity and empathy in education. Both share their deep gratitude and mutual respect, showcasing the powerful bond that has marked their journey.

  è Click here to vote for Slater Nalley on American Idol: https://idolvote.abc.com/

  è Read the article about Slater in the Lovett News: https://www.lovett.org/about-lovett/news/news-detail/~board/news/post/slater-nalley-25-is-headed-to-hollywood

Living Lovett is an award nominated podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Visit The Lovett School website Lovett.org for more information. Lovett is on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Email host Jessica Sant.

S7E7 Middle school is a time of tremendous growth, discovery, and transition. An exciting yet challenging period when young people begin to define who they are beyond their families. For parents and educators alike, finding the right balance between support and independence makes the middle school years both rewarding and complex.

Alisha Fisher, the new Head of Middle School at Lovett, shares her vision for cultivating a vibrant middle school on this season finale of Living Lovett, hosted by Jessica Sant, Lovett’s Chief Engagement Officer.

Living Lovett is an award nominated podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Visit The Lovett School website Lovett.org for more information. Lovett is on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Email host Jessica Sant.

S7E6 Meet Dr. Jennifer Reynolds and Alex Reynolds, two noted educators at The Lovett School. Jennifer, the ninth-grade dean and marine biology program leader, shares her passion for ocean life, cultivated from childhood and seasoned through extensive academic and professional experiences. Alex, who oversees the Siempre Verde program in Ecuador and teaches biology and botany, illustrates his journey from a life-changing ecology study to becoming a key figure in conservation education.

Speaking on this episode of Living Lovett with Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer, the Reynolds discuss their unique science programs that offer students immersive experiences in marine biology and cloud forest ecology, emphasizing the importance of long-term data collection, conservation, and real-world applications. Both educators highlight the significance of fostering a lifelong love for learning and meaningful student relationships, making Lovett an exceptional environment for education.

Learn more about Siempre Verde here: https://www.siempreverde.org/

Living Lovett is an award nominated podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Visit The Lovett School website Lovett.org for more information. Lovett is on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Email host Jessica Sant.

S7E5 Sports and athletics can play a critical role in student life, from skill development, learning resilience, to unifying friends, family, and the entire community. Roney Eford Director of Athletics and Physical Education at The Lovett School joins Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant to discuss Roney’s first months at the school and to share his vision for the future.

Highlighting the excitement and interpersonal bonds formed during various athletic contests, the discussion touches on the engagement of families and the shared experiences of students. The sense of community and unity fostered through sports is celebrated as a significant aspect of school life, whether on the field or cheering from the stands. Roney even shares his thoughts on club sports plus the real story about college athletics (and criteria for families to consider.)

Living Lovett is an award nominated podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Visit The Lovett School website Lovett.org for more information. Lovett is on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Email host Jessica Sant.

S7E4 Kalen Waterman '25, completing his final year as a Lovett "lifer," joins his mother Shivana, a dedicated school volunteer, for a heartfelt conversation about their thirteen-year journey in the Lovett community. Speaking with Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer at The Lovett School, the mother-son duo reflect on how their Lovett experience has shaped not just Kalen's education, but their entire family dynamic.

When choosing a school for five-year-old Kalen, Shivana was drawn to Lovett's whole child philosophy, which deeply resonated with their family values. Throughout their time at Lovett, mother and son reflect on how their expectations and relationship with the school have evolved, highlighting the importance of community and personal growth. Kalen offers insight into his academic experience and the opportunities for exploration that have defined his time at Lovett, while Shivana shares how the school has influenced her approach to parenting.

Both Watermans discuss their involvement with Challenge Success, a school-wide initiative focused on student well-being and balanced achievement. Their perspectives on managing academic pressures while maintaining personal growth offer valuable insights for current and prospective families considering Lovett. Their story embodies the school's commitment to fostering not just academic excellence, but also strong character and lasting community connections.

è Listen to the Living Lovett episode about Challenge Success here.

Living Lovett is an award nominated podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Visit The Lovett School website Lovett.org for more information. Lovett is on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Email host Jessica Sant.

S7E3 What does it look like to carry your school's values with you when life leads you thousands of miles from home, even decades into the future? Two Lovett alumnae, Wade Morris ‘00 and Megan Kota Morris ‘00, have pursued careers in education, currently serving at United World College, an international boarding school in Moshi, Tanzania. 

Nearly 25 years on, The Lovett School experience has had a notable impact on these two Lovett grads— on their careers, relationships, and even life experiences. Wade and Megan talk with Lovett Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant about what their years at Lovett mean to their lives today and possibly for their family in the future.

• Learn more about Lovett Alumni Expeditions here: https://www.lovett.org/community/lovett-alumni-expeditions

• Read Wade’s book, Report Cards: A Cultural History: https://a.co/d/0bim4lk

Listen to award nominated podcast Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Visit The Lovett School website Lovett.org for more information. Lovett is on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Email host Jessica Sant. 

S7E2 Alisa Evans, founder and CEO of Mission Enrollment, joins Lovett Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant to have an open, clear, stigma-free discussion about financial aid.  

Many myths and misconceptions surround the financial aid process. On this episode, Alisa and Jessica cover financial aid details including the application timeline, budget planning, and decision-making in financial aid. Alisa emphasizes the importance of approaching the financial aid process with calmness, clarity, and confidence and reassures families about how a realistic tuition payment is determined.

Additionally, Alisa underscores Lovett's unique commitment to providing supplemental support, ensuring all students have access to educational experiences. The episode also touches on the procedural confidentiality and advises families on how to handle changes in financial circumstances. Alisa concludes with encouraging words, stressing the long-term benefits of investing in an independent school education.

Listen to Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Visit The Lovett School website Lovett.org for more information. Lovett is on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Email host Jessica Sant.

S7E1 How does Admission work at The Lovett School? You may have heard rumors or myths (often shared by well meaning people) but in this season 7 premiere of Living Lovett, you’re going to hear directly from some of the people involved in the Admission process, ready to debunk myths and misconceptions, providing reliable Lovett Admission information to prospective families and current Lovett families alike.

Melinda DeMaria, Head of Enrollment Management joins Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant; followed by a discussion with Jessica and Chelle Wabrek, Associate Head of School.

Both conversations provide insights into how Lovett selects students as well as how the mission of the whole child education shows up in Admissions. Prospective families will get an understanding of how the process works; current families will understand deeper how Lovett values are woven into every aspect of the school’s administration.

 è More information about Lovett Admission here: https://www.lovett.org/admission

Listen to Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Visit The Lovett School website Lovett.org for more information. Lovett is on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Email host Jessica Sant.

S6E8 Creating a balanced relationship with technology is part of nurturing the whole child experience, and Lovett’s phone-free policy is a big step in that direction. For families, this policy has highlighted the power of the family-school partnership by uncovering new ways to connect and rethink how devices impact daily life, fostering healthier digital habits for students of all ages.  

Host Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer at the Lovett School speaks to three parents from the Lovett community - Atira Goodwin, Lou Izquierdo, and Kerry Izard. The parents share their experiences and advice on adjusting to Lovett’s phone-free school policy. The discussion covers the impact on students and families, the challenges and benefits of limiting smart device usage, and the importance of modeling healthy tech behaviors.

This is the season finale episode of Living Lovett, Season 6. Thank you for another great season!

Listen to all the past episodes of award nominated podcast Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Visit The Lovett School website Lovett.org for more information. Lovett is on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Email host Jessica Sant.

S6E7 History and social studies classrooms at Lovett aren’t just spaces where memorizing facts and dates occur—they are where students begin to understand the world and their role within it. Through historical analysis, classroom discussions, and immersive learning experiences, our faculty design environments where students feel empowered to explore, question, and connect. 

Dr. Jeff Turner, Chair of the Upper School History Department and American Studies teacher, and Kai Parham, teacher of Global Issues, Civics, and Civic Leadership in the middle school join Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant on this episode of Living Lovett to outline the unique ways our history and civics teachers engage students in critical thinking and real-world applications. Jeff and Kai offer parents insights into the classrooms of Lovett as well as practical topics to introduce ideas to kids. 

Listen to award nominated podcast Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Visit The Lovett School website Lovett.org for more information. Lovett is on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Email host Jessica Sant.