Path to Follow Podcast

Elise Altschuler is a fifth grade teacher at Gilman School. Before coming to Gilman, she taught lower school at Park School and Greenwich Academy. Elise graduated from Kenyon College, where she studied psychology and played tennis. //

On the Path to Follow Podcast Episode #111, Jake and Elise discuss teaching lower school students at Gilman, playing tennis at Kenyon College, classes in psychology, and Elise's book recommendation: 'The Great Alone' by Kristin Hannah (2017). //

Enjoy the episode? Please follow @pathtofollowpod on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, Twitter, and more. //

A special thank you to our producer, Cesare Ciccanti. //

"Not a lot of people know about the situation in Afghanistan..." // 

"Hopefully I can be someone who can go to other countries and provide a medical service." //

Arezu Fayyazi '23 is a senior at Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Maryland. // 

On Special Topics Episode #4, Jake and Arezu discuss Arezu's interest and research in child and maternal health, the Hazara minority group in Afghanistan, restrictions on education in Afghanistan, the Edith Hamilton project at BMS, Arezu's interview with Fereshteh Forough, the Bridges program, Arezu's goals for the future, and "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini (2003). //

Many thanks to the producer, Cesare Ciccanti. //

Aaron Goldman is a dean, religious studies and Holocaust studies teacher at Gilman School. // 

On Episode #110 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake and Aaron discuss religious studies, the rise of Hitler and the Holocaust, baseball, Confucius and ancient Chinese philosophy, and Aaron's book recommendation, 'Empire of the Summer Moon' by S. C. Gwynne (2010). //

Enjoy the episode? Please follow @pathtofollowpod on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, Twitter, and more. //

A special thank you to our producer, Cesare Ciccanti. //

"Who am I hiring? Joyful people. What am I reading? Joyful books." //

"A lot of alums come back and want to teach or be a part of Hathaway Brown after they've left." //

Dr. Fran Bisselle is the 14th Head of School at Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Prior to joining HB, she served for nine years as the Head of School at Maple Street School, a K - 8 independent school in Vermont. // 

On Episode #109 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake and Fran discuss growing up in Philadelphia, sisters and siblings, the culture at Hathaway Brown, leadership at an all-girls' school, Fellowships for 21st Century Education, 10,000 hours in a classroom, mentorship during early years teaching, how competition and being a former athlete has enhanced Fran's career, what it is like to be a leader at an all girls' school, the amazing alumni network at HB, and Fran's book recommendations, 'The War for Kindness' by Jamil Zaki, 'The Positive Shift' by Catherine A. Sanderson, PhD, and 'The Upswing' by Robert D. Putnam. //

Enjoy the episode? Please follow @pathtofollowpod on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, Twitter, and more. //

A special thank you to our producer, Cesare Ciccanti. //

Bo Webster '23 is a senior at Gilman School. He plays ice hockey, lacrosse, and ping pong, and will attend College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts in the fall. //

On Episode #108 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake and Bo discuss Bo's senior year at Gilman School, Holy Cross, influences on Bo's athletic career, the club lacrosse landscape, the senior room, playing multiple sports, favorite movies, Bo's NCAA lacrosse final four projection, potential future guests, and Bo's book recommendation, 'Legacy' by James Kerr (2013). 

Enjoy the episode? Please follow @pathtofollowpod on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, Twitter, and more. //

A special thank you to our producer, Cesare Ciccanti. //

Andy Chappell is the ninth Head of School at Derryfield School in Manchester, NH. He spent twenty five years at the Roxbury Latin School in West Roxbury, MA, where he served in a variety of roles: dedicated advisor, Latin and Greek teacher, baseball and soccer coach, Chair of the Classics Department, Director of Admission, Director of Studies, and most recently, Assistant Head for Program. // 

On Episode #107 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Andy and Jake discuss Andy's journey to the Derryfield School, what Derryfield is like, support groups and mentorship, building community, the balance between tradition and innovation at independent schools, Roxbury Latin, leadership skills Andy picked up from valued mentors, advisory programs, technology and challenges of the 21st century, ChatGPT, Andy's habits of acquiring information, and some terrific book recommendations: 'Legacy' by James Kerr (2013), 'The Nightingale' by Kristin Hannah (2015), and 'The Power of Moments' by Chip Heath and Dan Heath (2017). //

Enjoy the episode? Please follow @pathtofollowpod on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, Twitter, and more. //

A special thank you to our producer, Cesare Ciccanti. //

"If you don't like my ideas, come up with your own." // 

"School should be more like the way the world works." // 

"Every day, I walk into class without the microphone, and I podcast." // 

Edward Brown is an English teacher at Loyola Blakefield, semi-professional pickleballer, professional troll, and lifelong member of the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English community. //

On Episode #106 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake and Edward discuss authenticity, strategies when teaching writing, technology in the classroom, sports literature, experiential memoir, the difference between emotion and empirical evidence as a sports fan, 'Heaven is a Playground,' writing about things you care about, issues facing teenagers today, and Edward's book recommendation, 'Switching Fields' by George Dohrmann (2022). 

Enjoy the episode? Please follow @pathtofollowpod on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, Twitter, and more. //

A special thank you to our producer, Cesare Ciccanti. //

Camila Vasquez was born and raised Palo Alto, California. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Mills College in Oakland, California, and a master’s degree in pure math from the University of Washington (Seattle). She currently teaches mathematics and advises the speech and debate team at Gilman School. //

On Episode #105 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake and Camila discuss snow in California, pursuing a master's degree in mathematics, Palo Alto High School (Paly), speech & debate exercises, constructing an argument, memorable teachers and professors, moving to Baltimore, weather and mental health, what Camila appreciates about Gilman, high-level mathematics, what "pure math" even is, 'The Muppet Christmas Carol,' Berkeley, and Camila's book recommendations: 'Gods of Jade and Shadow' (2019) by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and 'Strega Nona' by Tomie dePaola (1975).

Enjoy the episode? Please follow @pathtofollowpod on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, Twitter, and more. //

A special thank you to our producer, Cesare Ciccanti. //

"There are always silver linings in challenging times." //

"While structure and rigor are essential, encouragement is, too." //

Charlie Cahn '88 is the 25th Head of School at Suffield Academy in Suffield, CT. Since his appointment in 2004, Suffield has experienced unprecedented levels of admissions rates and fundraising successes. Charlie is a native of Baltimore, and he graduated from Gilman School in 1988. He then matriculated to the University of Michigan (and later, graduate school at Wesleyan University) prior to joining the faculty at Suffield as an English teacher and coach in 1992. //

On Episode #104 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake and Charlie discuss memories from Gilman, teachers and coaches who made an impact, the school spirit at the University of Michigan, correspondences with Redmond C.S. Finney, the structure, rigor and encouragement valued at Suffield Academy, senior speeches, fundraising and building at Suffield, studying the humanities, playing multiple sports, the role of a school's board of trustees, the bond between the head of school and the president of the board, and Charlie's book recommendation: 'Summers With Percy" by Redmond C.S. Finney (2002). //

Enjoy the episode? Please follow @pathtofollowpod on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, Twitter, and more. //

A special thank you to our producer, Cesare Ciccanti. //

"You can never be wrong approaching a situation and leading with kindness." //

"The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground." - G.K. Chesterton //

Bartley Griffith is the President and alumnus of Shady Side Academy, a PK-12 independent day and boarding school in Pittsburgh. He has spent time as an administrator, teacher, and coach at Gilman School in Baltimore, Maryland, and The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA. //

On Episode #103 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake and Bart discuss social media and technology, Bart's entry into the world of education, leadership during Covid-19, reading and writing at Bread Loaf, Shady Side Academy's mission and guiding principles, leading with kindness, G.K. Chesterton, and Bart's book recommendation: 'Heaven is a Playground' by Rick Telander (1976). // 

Enjoy the episode? Please follow @pathtofollowpod on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, Twitter, and more. //

A special thank you to our producer, Cesare Ciccanti. //