From the Desk of the Head of School- March 6, 2020

3/2/2020

Dear Harding Academy Community,

I am hopeful that all of you will be able to have some time this weekend to rest and relax as we come into the last week prior to Spring Break. We are also very aware that for many families in North and East Nashville and beyond that is not an option. Over the last few days since the devastating tornadoes hit us, the school has been reaching out in partnership with our peer independent schools to identify where we might help most effectively. We are now in a position to leverage our collective spirit of support to help our neighbors in need.

Tornado Relief Efforts

Spearheaded by our Harding Parents Association under the leadership of HPA President Misty White, P ‘20, ‘22, Harding Academy will be hosting a food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank Monday, March 9 through Thursday, March 12 collecting the following items.

Pop top canned meats, vegetables and fruit
Ready to eat soups and stews
Peanut butter and crackers
Cereal
Breakfast and energy bars

We will also be collecting clothes and shoes through Thursday, March 12. Any size, in good condition can be donated which will be taken to Bellevue Middle and donated to the Northwest, Margaret Maddox and Putnam County YMCA according to need.

Parent Volunteers will be in the morning hookup line to collect donated items.

We understand that not everyone can bring supplies to campus so if you would like to support Nashville in other ways, here are a few resources for organizations in need:

Martha O’Bryan Center Amazon Wish List
Nashville Humane Association Amazon Wish List
Want your family to get out and help with clean up? Visit Hands on Nashville, hon.org, to sign up to volunteer.

Faculty and Staff Updates

On another front, this is the time of year when we begin to plan in earnest for the next school year and that includes identifying our needs in terms of teachers. Harding Academy has an average teacher tenure of fifteen years and 70% of our teachers have a Masters or PhD in education. We are exceptionally proud of our teachers. Unfortunately, as in life, they can’t all stay forever and so I’d like to announce the following departures:

Katie Mullinix came to Harding Academy in 2017 in a very difficult situation as the long term sub for our beloved Camille Gift. She immediately made a deep connection with her students and our school and she stayed on as our fourth grade math teacher. Katie has decided to focus on her soon-to-be family of four as she is expecting twins this summer. We wish her the best of luck.

In the early stages of setting up a framework for a search for her replacement, we are thrilled that one of our own, Grace Wilkinson, is poised and excited to take on this 4th grade math role. Having said that, we are now in a search for a new second grade homeroom teacher.

Elizabeth Snyder ’04, arrived at Harding Academy in the summer of 2016 and elevated our 5th grade writing program to great heights. Her warm and engaging demeanor endeared her to students and parents alike. Elizabeth will also be focusing on her family and staying home next year. We have started a search for a new fifth grade writing teacher and look forward to communicating more in the future.

Sara Hartley began in the third grade at Harding Academy in 2017. Her classroom is always one with plenty of hustle and bustle in the pursuit of learning. Sara has decided to stay at home and focus on her family and we wish her the best of luck. We have started a search for a new third grade homeroom teacher as well.

We will miss our friends and teachers and wish them all well on the next stages of their journeys. We are looking forward to welcoming new faces into our Harding Academy learning community and I will be communicating through the spring as these searches move along.

Have a great weekend!

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