From the Horse's Mouth

In 2021, College Board announced that I would be piloting a new AP African-American Studies course beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Since this announcement, the course has been the target of both celebration and consternation across the country. Upper School English and history Department Chairs Marcus Smith and Ted Dickson, respectively, are at the helm of PD's effort to bring AP African-American Studies to the classroom. How'd they do it? Hear from them in this special Black History...

As the New Year begins, the latest episode of "From the Horse's Mouth," PD's official podcast, tackles lessons learned in 2022 with a panel including host Jay Barron, Upper School Theatre director Brooke Fulton, and award winning students Astrid James '23 and John Carter Krell '23.

A year ago, Providence Day launched a Teaching Fellows Program to recruit recent college graduates to learn teaching and leadership and bring more inclusion and belonging to the teaching profession. So how's the first year going? Hear from PD's five Teaching Fellows in an episode guest-hosted by Fellow Will McCorn.

What does PD mean by "health and well-being"? Tune in to "From the Horse's Mouth," the official PD podcast hosted by World Language teacher Jay Barron, to hear a health-minded discussion! Strength & Conditioning Coach Tom Caruso; Kristie Oglesby, chair of PD's Physical Education department; Student Services Learning Specialist Emily Young; and Easton Pransky '24, founder of student group Thrive, talk about wellness resources available at PD.

As the Fall Sports season gets underway, hear from a panel of some of Providence Day's most high-profile coaches - Varsity Football's Chad Grier; Boys' Varsity Basketball's Ron Johnson; Girls' Soccer's Dan Dudley; and Athletic Director Nancy Beatty along with host Jay Barron as they go "Beyond the Scoreboard" to tell the stories behind the teams. Go Chargers!

As the new school year begins, hear from national independent schools expert Rob Evans, along with two members of Providence Day's leadership - Head of Lower School Erin Harper and Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs Michael Magno - as they talk with host Jay Barron about their hopes for the year and how students are coping in a post-pandemic world.

Should PD be using solar energy? Can PD's plastic be recycled into bricks? What can we all do to be more sustainable? Hosted by Scarlet Greer '22, this lively discussion panel also includes Libby Barron '26, Laura Plata '24, Jodi Yan '24, and Jennifer Todd of Little Diversified Architectural Consulting.

Hear from a 20-year PD administrator and a PD "lifer" student as they compare thoughts on their PD experience with a newcomer student and administrator, and discuss what makes the Middle School experience at PD unique. The two Middle School deans, Bobby Thompson and Dr. Kendrick Liles, and students Olivia Desmond and LJ Dawkins share their impressions with Host Jay Barron.

Where does PD want to be by 2030, and how do we get there? Hear host Jay Barron discuss the school's new Strategic Framework with Tom Seddon, the former member of PD's Board of Trustees who helped develop it.

Two students in the Middle School Broadcast Media class - Bridget Brewster '26 and Daniel Ahmadivarji '27 - turn the tables on their teachers and serve as podcast hosts! They interview a panel consisting of Jay Barron, their teacher Rebecca Roemer, and Head of Middle School Lee Tappy. Hear their burning questions, and some occasionally surprising answers!

The new episode of the PD podcast, "From the Horse's Mouth," arrives just in time for exam season! Hosted by Mr. Jay Barron, the panel includes Upper School Counselor Claire Bell and students Scarlet Greer '22 and Pavan Thakkar '24. They discuss the pressures of PD, and issues facing students in general amid the pandemic, as well as helpful resources and ideas for self-care.

Just in time for the end of the school year, a podcast panel convened to discuss the silver linings of the past year's pandemic, as well as some predictions for what the next school year might hold. Join host Jay Barron; Head of School Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw; Lower School counselor Margot Brinley; and Upper School teacher Joe Grabenstetter for an entertaining discussion to send you off on summer vacation.

As a follow-up to Episode 4, which detailed the legacy of Providence Day's founding history, a distinguished panel of alumni and current students at PD met with community activist Justin Perry and moderator Dr. Nadia Johnson, Director of Equity and Inclusion, to talk about how the PD community can support our Black students and move forward.

Meet two of the key figures helping our students stay safe and healthy amid the global pandemic: Anne Smyth and Emily Rusniak. They speak with host Jay Barron about the latest CDC guidelines, common student ailments, tips for parents, and more.

Hear from panelists including Dorothy (Dot) Counts-Scoggins, the first Black student to integrate Harding High School, civil rights figure, and great-aunt of a PD alum; community activist Justin Perry; historian Dr. Pamela Grundy; and 37-year PD history teacher Roy Garrison. Moderated by Dr. Nadia Johnson, Director of Equity & Inclusion at PD, this discussion sheds light on Providence Day's founding as a "white flight" school, and discusses the lessons to be learned from history.

In a politically-polarized era, is it possible for two politicians on opposite sides of the fence to have a friendly disagreement? We put that question to the test by inviting two Charlotte City Council members to have a discussion with the officers of the nonpartisan SPAM (Students for the Political Advancement of Mankind) club. Hear from Democrat Braxton Winston, an at-large member and PD parent, and Republican Tariq Bokhari, whose District 6 includes the campus of Providence Day, in a...

Join Part 2 of our discussion between two Charlotte City Council members and the officers of the nonpartisan SPAM (Students for the Political Advancement of Mankind) club. Hear from Democrat Braxton Winston, an at-large member and PD parent, and Republican Tariq Bokhari, whose District 6 includes the campus of Providence Day, in a discussion with students moderated by host Jay Barron. In episode 2, the student questions tackle protests, policing, and decisions on attending public vs....

Gene Bratek, the Head of School who led Providence Day School from 1986 through his retirement in 2007, reflects with podcast host Jay Barron, in an episode recorded last spring, on the school's growth and the establishment of the nation's first independent school Global Studies Diploma. It's a walk down memory lane as Providence Day School observes its milestone 50th anniversary.

Joanne Compton is about to retire following 34 years of teaching at Providence Day. Her son John Compton '04, a PD lifer, teaches in Upper School. And Emma Hedinger '22 has been a student of both. On their final day on campus this spring, the three gathered with host Jay Barron to reflect on the Compton teaching legacy.

In honor of Earth Day, we share this pre-recorded conversation with our Providence Day School sustainability team - Olga Mawougbe from Lower School, Sarah Goodman from Middle School, and Jack Hudson from Upper School. They discuss recycling both on and off campus and how young people - especially PD's students - can make a difference.