Living Lovett

S5E8 If you are a Living Lovett audience member, you’ve heard the title “Chief Engagement Officer” in every episode. But what are the responsibilities of that role? What does Jessica Sant do (besides serve as our podcast host)? Meredyth Cole, The Lovett School’s Head of School hosts this episode of Living Lovett and turns the tables on usual host Jessica Sant. How did the Office of Engagement come to be? What other departments of Lovett are covered by the office? How did this podcast start? What does it say about Lovett as a school to work so intentionally to engage with parents, families, and even Lovett employees? You’ll learn all this and more on this special bonus episode. (Our podcast producer even pops in to talk about the show.) - Learn more about Leadership at Lovett on our website: https://www.lovett.org/about-lovett/leadership - Read about the Office of Engagement: https://www.lovett.org/community/engagement - Listen to Meredyth Cole’s previous interview on Living Lovett: Link to the Episode We hope you enjoyed this special bonus episode! Listen to all episodes of 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.

S5E7 What is best for Lovett? There is one group of people at our school who must answer this question every day. While everyone involved in our community obviously has an interest in our success, The Lovett School’s Board of Trustees is charged with ensuring that what is best for Lovett is actually realized. As we wrap up season five of the podcast, there is no better way to introduce you to the work of our trustees than by sharing a conversation with Lovett’s board chair, John O. Knox. John O. (Lovett Class of ’88) joins Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer on this episode of Living Lovett and explains what role the Board of Trustees serves for our school, and shares insights about how the long-term, strategic vision of Lovett is developed and carried out. As this is John O.’s final year serving as Board Chair, we are grateful for this opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved over the years, and celebrate John O.’s contribution. Learn more about the Lovett Board of Trustees on our website’s Leadership page: https://www.lovett.org/about-lovett/leadership That’s a wrap on Season 5! (But stay tuned for a special episode, coming soon.) Listen to all episodes of 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.

S5E6 Things have come a long way for students with learning differences, and at The Lovett School, the Academic Resource Center exists to walk alongside students and parents alike to support the learning styles of all our students. Whether a child has a learning difference diagnosis; or is struggling in a particular area of school; or is not making progress in a way they’d like—the Academic Resource Center is equipped with staff and skill building techniques designed to help students achieve. Carrie Stafford, Director of the Academic Resource Center joins Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer on this episode of Living Lovett. Carrie describes how the center serves as a support network for the Lovett community—meeting students and families where they are, and explains how students learning needs are assessed and addressed. Are you enjoying Season 5 of the podcast so far? Listen to all episodes of 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.

S5E5 The generosity of The Lovett School community has unquestionably shaped our near 100-year history. Driven to deliver on the Lovett promise, giving has always been key to supporting critical needs like student financial aid, campus enhancements, and teacher salaries. In fact, philanthropy is the cornerstone to Lovett’s excellence and ensures our school fulfills its mission for all students we enroll. On this episode Courtney Ferencik, Senior Director of Development joins Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer on Living Lovett to share the role Development and fundraising plays at our school. From what the annual fund is, to endowments, to what is learned through a spirit of giving, Courtney and Jessica’s conversation is informative and forward-focused on Lovett’s next 100 years. Reach out to Courtney by email: courtney.ferencik@lovett.org Make a contribution to The Lovett School: https://www.lovett.org/support We are thrilled to bring you Season 5 of the podcast! Listen to all past episodes of 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.

S5E4 Did you know that The Lovett School is considered to be a 24/7 facility, 365 days a year? All the activity at our school—including students in classrooms; athletes using sports facilities; play across our beautiful setting; and more—mean that every part of our grounds, every building must be maintained. One of the people who makes sure Lovett is running smoothly all day, every day is Scott Russo. On this episode of Living Lovett, Scott, a Maintenance Tech talks to Chief Engagement Officer, Jessica Sant. Listen to this episode to get a sense of what goes into making Lovett run, and learn how Lovett values extend to Scott and his colleagues. We are thrilled to bring you Season 5 of the podcast! Listen to all past episodes of 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.

S5E3 A position like an office manager is critical in any organization. While the title may suggest a focus on administrative tasks, the Lovett Upper School Office Manager’s responsibilities extend far beyond. On this episode of Living Lovett, you’ll meet Kelly Scott. In addition to working in the Upper School as an administrator, Kelly also oversees a sophomore advisory and sponsors several (!) student groups. Kelly discusses all these roles with Living Lovett host (and Lovett Chief Engagement Officer) Jessica Sant. We are thrilled to bring you Season 5 of the podcast! Listen to all past episodes of 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.

You might have seen their signatures on a Lovett communication; you may have caught their names mentioned when Meredyth Cole offers school-wide updates, but the truth is many parents never meet Lovett’s Chief Financial Officer or Chief Operations Officer—in spite of the fact that both roles are critical to keeping Lovett running smoothly and efficiently 365 days a year. On this episode, you'll meet John Mongelli, CFO and Gray Kelly, COO at The Lovett School. John and Gray speak with Living Lovett host Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer, and share how each of their respective roles contribute to the individual student experience at our school. - Learn more about the Georgia GOAL Scholarship program, mentioned on the episode: https://www.goalscholarship.org/ We are thrilled to bring you Season 5 of the podcast! Listen to all past episodes of 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.

S5E1 One of the most influential forces shaping our community is The Lovett School’s admission team. The five-person team are responsible for guiding prospective families on a journey that begins before the Lovett application is completed and extends beyond graduation day for a student. At Lovett, a special emphasis is placed on making the enrollment process not just seamless but also relatable, warm, and kid-centered; our admission officers extend a uniquely personal touch to navigating the complexities of what can feel like a daunting process. Gopi Shammas, Director of Enrollment (and Lovett Class of ‘95 alumna) joins Lovett Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant on the Living Lovett Season 5 premiere. If you’ve ever wondered what the acceptance rate is at Lovett or how acceptance decisions are made, this episode answers those questions and more. More about Admission at Lovett: https://www.lovett.org/admission Meet the Admission team: https://www.lovett.org/admission/admission-team We are thrilled to bring you Season 5 of the podcast! Listen to all past episodes of 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.

For four seasons, Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer at The Lovett School has brought you stories from the riverbank. The response has been nothing short of tremendous. Now, as we prepare to bring you Season 5 of Living Lovett, we are speaking to a variety of the people who make Lovett thrive as an organization. From admissions, to administration, to maintenance, we’ll bring you some stories that you may never have heard before. Season 5 launches January, 2024. You can listen to all past episodes of 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.

S4E7 At Lovett, cultivating faith and spirituality in our students is foundational to the whole-child philosophy. Our mission extends beyond academics to honor the significance of developing a child's inner being—including learning about God, faith, belief, and spirituality. On the Season 4 finale episode of Living Lovett, Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer has a conversation with Lovett’s Interim Lower School Chaplain Rev. Ashley Carr. How do we talk to young children about faith and God? What can be expected of chapel for the Lower School students? How do pancakes relate to belief and belonging (listen to the episode to find out.) Jessica and Ashley discuss how Lovett talks about God and even have some tips for how parents can continue the conversation at home. Find 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.

S4E6 Lovett students are encouraged to explore, question, and critically engage with a wide range of perspectives. Within our school walls, our teachers ensure students maintain an equitable and open-minded stance working to promote independent and critical thinking. The absence of a singular perspective in the classroom allows learners to form their own opinions, ultimately preparing them to become informed and responsible citizens who can actively participate in the diverse and ever-evolving global discourse. Kevin Randolph (Lovett’s History Chair and a 43-year teaching veteran) and Dr. Alex Douglas (AP Economics; AP Government; Intro to the Old Testament) speak with Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer of The Lovett School. This episode is sure to give parents insight into intellectual inquiry and student discovery in the classrooms of Lovett. Find Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts 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.

S4E5 Creative expression is an integral part of the whole child education. Whether a student is articulating thoughts, new ideas, or feelings, being able to write, or speak, or tell stories are skills all of our students require. On this episode of Living Lovett, Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer speaks with two faculty members who are known for their storytelling superpowers: Jonathan Newman and David Silverman. Jonathan is a twenty year veteran of Lovett’s Upper School English Department and the creative mind behind the Lovett Short-Short Stories Contest. David has called Lovett’s Fine Arts Program home for eighteen years as a Theater, Film, and Religion teacher; he brings a fresh and unique perspective to Lovett students by drawing from his real-life experiences as a professional actor.. Whether you have a child who loves to read and write or you are simply hoping to grow their interest in those skills, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. Find Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts 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.

S4E4 For kids, motivation is the guiding light on their learning journey. It's the inner spark that ignites their curiosity and fuels a desire to grow. When students are motivated, they not only perform better academically but they also develop essential life skills such as resilience, determination, and self-discipline. On this episode of Living Lovett, Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer speaks with Chelle Wabrek, Associate Head of School at Lovett. Chelle is a 25-year veteran of independent schools, and brings her breadth of experience (having taught elementary through high school) to our school and to this conversation. Chelle shares her perspective on how motivation works in the lives of our students. If you are eager to explore strategies and approaches to grow a motivated learner in your home, this is the episode for you. Find Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts 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.

S4E3 Math. At some point in our lives, it’s likely that most of us were told (or we told ourselves) that we were either math people or we weren’t. On this week’s episode, you’ll meet Bob Amar, Lovett’s Upper School math department chair, and Corey Gray, Lovett’s Middle School department chair. Whether you have a student intimidated by math, or a student eager to dive into calculus, Mr. Amar and Mr. Gray have positive perspectives to share about the math experience at Lovett. Your host: Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer at The Lovett School The New Deal of Education: essay, Eva Edwards Lovett Find Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts 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.

S4E2 Did you know The Lovett School has a team of professionals whose sole mission is to support the teachers of our school? The Lovett Teaching and Learning Team—affectionately known as TLT—is comprised of four professionals: PJ Miller, Director of Teaching and Learning in grades K - 2; Ashley Treiger, Director of Teaching and Learning in grades 3 - 5; Ashley Guianillo, Assistant Head of the Middle School for Teaching and Learning; and Amanda Lucas, Assistant Head of the Upper School for Teaching and Learning. Jessica Sant (host and Lovett’s Chief Engagement Officer) speaks with each member of the TLT, and discusses how to identify what Lovett does especially well and where there are opportunities to do things even better. On this episode, you’ll learn how TLT is collaborating with teachers to develop engaging lessons and create meaningful experiences for students, cultivating joyful learning, promoting a positive and engaging environment for students and teachers, alike. Find Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts 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.

S4E1 Children's authors and teachers have a lot in common. They both possess the unique ability to ignite a young mind's curiosity and imagination. How about a teacher who is a children’s book author? Meet Kelly Young-Silverman, a Lovett kindergarten co-teacher and author with a new Georgia-themed book coming in Spring of 2024. Jessica Sant (host and Lovett’s Chief Engagement Officer) speaks with Kelly about the importance of reading and how to encourage a love of learning in young people, as well as the process of writing. Kelly’s new book, Hot Boiled Peanuts: A Georgia Food Tour is due out Spring 2024, from Pelican Publishing. To learn more about Kelly’s other books and projects, visit her website here. Find Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts 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.

S3E7 The College Admission Summit—Lovett's annual event where our college counseling team strategically invites admission deans and directors from a wide range of universities to visit with students, parents, faculty, and trustees. This unique gathering is one of the many initiatives Lovett's college counseling team offers each year. On the season finale of Living Lovett, you'll learn more about how Lovett is preparing students and families for the journey to higher education. Jessica Sant (host and Lovett's Chief Engagement Officer) speaks with a group of six college admission deans who share their insights about the current landscape of college admissions and what working with Lovett looks like from their perspective. Visit the Lovett College Counseling page on the Lovett website here: https://www.lovett.org/academics/college-counseling Special thanks to Eric Ahlstrand, Melissa Cline, Nate Crozier, Jeff Gallant, Calvin Wise, and Mary Tipton Woolley. Find Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts 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.

S3E6 For the past ten months, a trio of students—Anna Mefford, Copeland Stukes and Kennedy Crane—along with a combination of teachers, administrators, parents, and a trustee have been exploring the question, “How might we broaden the definition of success at Lovett?” On this episode of Living Lovett, you’ll get to hear from these students as they speak with Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer at The Lovett School. You’ll also learn how this group was formed through Lovett’s work with an organization called Challenge Success, how we have approached our efforts, and the tools we’ve used through Challenge Success—most notably its surveys. Find Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts 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.

S3E5 Purpose. No matter the Lovett alum, it’s almost always the first of our values that comes to mind when meeting a Lovett graduate. It’s impossible to miss how connected they are to why they do what they do. Regardless of the life path they’ve chosen, Lovett alumni live fully into our community’s vision of leading lives guided by deep and clear collective purpose. On this episode of Living Lovett, Drew Stockton (Lovett Class of ’10) speaks with Chief Engagement Officer (and host of Living Lovett) Jessica Sant. Drew is an entrepreneur; a cancer survivor; a health advocate; and a meditation and yoga coach, too. How did his time at Lovett create a foundation for this kind of life? Drew and Jessica discuss all this and more on this episode. Learn more about Drew and his MÁS Health work here: https://www.bemashealth.com/ Find Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts 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.

S3E4 Adam Nelson has quite the list of bona fides: he’s a Lovett grad; he was a Lovett athlete; he was a professional athlete; and he’s an Olympic gold medalist. Add to that: he’s now a Lovett dad and Lovett’s Athletic Director. Athletics has a lot to do with the whole child promise, and educational based sports offer different opportunities than club sports. Mr. Nelson and Living Lovett host Jessica Sant (Chief Engagement Officer at The Lovett School) discuss how sports positively impact resiliency and help students learn more about themselves as they do their best on the court, track, or field. Find Living Lovett on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts 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.