On today's podcast episode, we have our Head of School, Dr. Jeff Williams. He talks with our host Cynthia Yanof about the new prefect system, junior leadership inauguration, curriculum updates, new coaching staff, and parent survey results. We are so glad to have Dr. Williams on the podcast to update us on everything happening at TCA. Dr. Williams tells us about April's Junior Leadership Inauguration for our TCA juniors. It is a program designed to call students into the school's leadership for the following year at the end of their junior year. We ask parents to come to a ceremony and to come alongside them. We are calling students to be the best that they can be, where they can influence and impact the student body at TCA. We give the student a medallion with the TCA logo and this scripture on the back. (To whom much is given, much will be required. Luke 12:48). Parents stand and pray a blessing over them to lead well the following year.

The prefect system is also a new program for the upper school next year. This program came from the Oxford Educational System. This program gives students more ownership and voice in the culture and daily life of the school. Dr. Williams thinks students must have a voice – they impact morale and school spirit. Dr. Williams has used this system at the last two schools he has led, and its influence on school culture is impressive.

Dr. Williams met with the junior class in February to introduce the program based on character demonstrated through leadership. Seven prefects will oversee seven different areas of the school. Each prefect will have a faculty mentor for the year and a committee of students. This program allows upper school students to be involved in leadership through these committees. Thirty-nine juniors applied for the seven positions and were interviewed by a selection committee of nine, including five faculty selected by the junior class. Prefects will be announced after the junior leadership inauguration.

Another new program beginning next year is the Biblical Immersion and Worldview Initiative, headed by Bob Dyer. We want to ensure our students are equipped to enter the world. We want our students to know what the scriptures say and how to apply it to the decisions and choices they are making in life. Practically this will help to equip and train our faculty to be more intentional.

The results of the parent survey were emailed out to parents. The email talks about areas where parents believe TCA is doing well and those areas that need improvement. The results have been circulated to the board of trustees, school heads, and department heads.

We will be doing a homework survey for middle and upper school students. We will be intentional about change and only change what needs focus to use our energies wisely.

Here are a few more updates:

• Tonja King has been hired as the new volleyball coach and dance coach.
• Fran Legband introduced a new Humanities Core Curriculum in a video a few weeks ago.
• Jon Millet introduced new art courses in a video that makes our art program accessible to more students.