Front Row to the Magic: A Conversation with Head of Middle School Jen Schuckman
What makes the Middle School years at MICDS so magical? Head of Middle School Jen Schuckman recently answered a few questions about her approach to educational leadership, her love for the MICDS community, and her passion for guiding middle schoolers through these transformative years. Dive into her responses below!
Q: How did you come to lead the Middle School at MICDS?
A: I started my career at MICDS right out of graduate school in 1998, teaching Middle School science. Over the course of my 16 years in the classroom, I also served as a coach, advisor, dean, and Bridge program coordinator, along with engaging in a myriad of other institutional committees and endeavors. I stepped into the Interim Head of Middle School role in the summer of 2014, and I quickly found myself embracing the new challenges and opportunities that were presented to me. I still continue to grow professionally and find new ways to further enhance our division. Each day is a new adventure, and I am deeply grateful to be entrusted with a role that brings me such joy.
Q: What is special about being the Head of Middle School at MICDS?
A: When I tell people that I work in a middle school, they often say, “I don’t know how you do it” or “you are brave.” And my response is always the same. It is an incredible privilege to have a front row seat to some of the most magical and transformative years of development. Our students are wading through so many challenges, and they do it all with grace, curiosity, and integrity. I am continually amazed by the caliber of students at MICDS and learn from them every day.
Q: Describe your philosophy on educational leadership.
A: Having been in the classroom for so many years, I came into this role understanding the support and guidance teachers need to thrive. As educators, we recognize the importance of keeping ourselves versed in best practices and collaborating with one another to provide an exceptional program. We dedicate institutional time and resources to engage in reflective practices and professional growth. As the leader, I want to be sure faculty continue to seek out opportunities to grow and learn alongside their students. At the same time, I want to promote a culture of wellness and balance for all students and adults in this community because I know it is not always easy to maintain in a high-achieving independent school like MICDS.
Q: Beyond the academic curriculum, what are the three most important things you hope students learn before they advance from Middle School to Upper School?
A. The Middle School Vision Statement names and explains these perfectly: The MICDS Middle School is both a bridge (between Lower and Upper School) and a door (to new students) where all students gain perspective on themselves and others through community building; prepare for higher learning through cultivation of academic curiosity, executive function, and critical thinking; and engage in creative and playful learning.
These middle school years are a critical stage of a student’s social-emotional development, and we maximize the opportunities to make neural connections and help our students understand their place in the wider community. From friendship building and executive function strategies to healthy self-care, we want them fully equipped for the next chapter of their education in the Upper School.
Q: How do you navigate as the middle division in a JK-12 school?
A: The MICDS Middle School must be grounded in the School’s Mission while also serving the unique developmental needs of our students. All students follow our LEAD motto: Learn with curiosity and joy, Embrace challenge, Advocate for self and community, and Demonstrate collaboration and teamwork. We developed LEAD as a way to give students actionable language for how best to support the School’s Mission and our Middle School Honor Code. We want students to reach beyond just earning grades. They must navigate interactions with peers and adults, they must find what sparks their interest, and they must learn how to struggle and push through. The LEAD elements equip them for success in Upper School and beyond.
Q: What makes the Middle School at MICDS distinctly unique and special?
A: We love the idea of being at the center of a JK-12 school while still offering a true middle school experience. Our students can see what is ahead for them, and they can also relish in their middle school years in their own space and community. Our community is big and small on these 100 acres. The Middle School is tucked away in a nurturing south corner of campus that we call home where we are also connected to the larger campus and other divisions. And our Middle School is truly in the middle—in the middle of MICDS, in the middle of growing up, and in the middle of the chaos and fun. We have an incredible faculty who demonstrate a passion for their subject area, love their craft, and also understand and thrive in the complexities that our students navigate through these delicate years. Our teachers appreciate the fact that middle schoolers are not a finished product, but they are getting them as close to ready as they can.
Q: What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing middle schoolers today, and how does our school address it?
A: We intentionally included the word “play” in our vision statement because we very much want to protect these formative years of childhood for our students. Middle Schoolers need to savor the simple joys of these important years and not manage the stressors and pressures of adulting just yet. We want them to have recess every day; we want them to dress up for Halloween and spirit days; we want them to enjoy time with their peers in sports and activities; we want them to enjoy local field trips in our amazing city. Being very intentional with how we spend our days beyond the classroom is deeply valued and thoughtfully designed.
Q: How do you ensure that every student feels a sense of belonging in the Middle School?
A: It starts with the structures—we have small class sizes, small advisories, grade level neighborhoods, one-on-one check-ins with advisors, cross-grade level activities and events, and full Middle School events. We make sure there are a variety of touchpoints where students are connecting with each other while also building meaningful relationships with adults. We are fortunate that our PE and arts programs allow for students to have the same teachers year over year, so they can continue that important mentorship in arts and athletics.
We also have intentional layers of support among the faculty and staff to be sure we are paying close attention to every student. Classroom teachers and advisors have daily contact. Our grade-level deans support the teams and meet regularly to review academic progress and monitor social-emotional challenges. We have the most incredible student support team, which works alongside all of the grade levels and can offer individualized support as needs arise. It’s layers upon layers keeping students centered, happy, and successful.
Q: What are you most proud of at MICDS?
A: The people. It all comes down to the people here–my colleagues, the students, and the families. Everyone is committed to the School’s Mission, and we believe in it wholeheartedly. Each person shows up with a shared sense of community, knowing we all want to be our best selves. We help each other stand up for what is good and right and strive to lead lives of purpose and service. The spirit of our community is truly one of a kind!
Q: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at MICDS? What are you passionate about outside of education?
A: I love my time with my family and friends the most—those moments are definitely good for the soul. Foodie adventures, travel, baking, gardening, reading, needlepointing—these are my favorite go-to hobbies when I am not focused on my school responsibilities.
Get to know our ambitious, passionate Head of Middle School even more when you view her Fun Facts graphic or meet her at one of our Admission events.
