IDE Teacher Values “Learning and Growing” Alongside Students

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IDE Teacher Values “Learning and Growing” Alongside Students
Danny Carlson

Lower School Innovation Lab coordinator Danny Carlson answers the question, “Why do you love teaching at Ravenscroft?”  

 

In May, as the school kicked off Teacher Appreciation Week, three teachers shared with the community their answers to the question, “Why do you love teaching at Ravenscroft?” Here is the response from Lower School Innovation Lab coordinator Danny Carlson, a member of the cross-divisional Innovation, Design and Engineering Department. 

I love teaching at Ravenscroft.

One of the most exciting aspects of teaching at Ravenscroft is that it’s not just the students who are learning and growing.

During my five years at Ravenscroft, I, too, have experienced significant growth in all aspects of my personal and professional selves. I am surrounded by a community of educators and leaders that inspire me to reflect, grow and challenge myself. The freedom to teach as well as learn, lead as well as follow and share my ideas and experiences is something I value greatly in my professional environment. It has been equally moving to have witnessed and experienced incredible growth in those around me, and I am inspired by the dedication of my colleagues I see on a daily basis.

Clockwise from top left: Danny Carlson guides students including Caroline Eisen ’33 in constructing a tower in the Lower School Innovation Lab; Carlson evaluates a fifth-grade science project in which students were challenged to create geometric structures that could withstand a simulated earthquake; Carlson takes a selfie with fellow teachers Lauren Wieczorek and Michelle Schulze during a fifth-grade Rise Against Hunger service project; Carlson (at back, center) with colleagues from the Middle School during the seventh-grade field trip to Black Mountain in October 2023.

At top: Carlson works with Georgie Shaw ’33, Kate Rivers ’33 and Margaret Ishizawar ’33 in the Lower School Innovation Lab.


I’ve seen Ravenscroft’s commitment to growth produce a leading Innovation, Design and Engineering program that continues to evolve while bringing rich experiences to our students. As a learning community, we’re engaged in the important work of fostering the ability and willingness to test our knowledge and adjust our position based on the growth we’re making. We keep pressing forward and making gains. The more we grow, the further the goal moves as we set a new standard for ourselves and our learning community. This mindset is present in our Lower School leadership team, also, and I see its effects permeate the division daily. I am fortunate to work alongside strong leadership as well as gifted teachers who are inspired to lead. In the spirit of innovation, our teachers cultivate curiosity and a desire to gain knowledge and experience new things. We see these qualities put in practice by the amazing students we work with and witness their growth every day.

I am inspired and amazed by the professionals surrounding me every time I step through the doors of the building. Witnessing our constant growth, continually incremental but significant over time, makes me excited to see how my departments — Lower School and IDE — will continue to flourish in the years to come. I often revisit a quote by Walt Disney that has become a mantra for me personally and professionally: “Around here we don’t look backward for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious … and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

I look forward to moving forward and exploring new paths with the Ravenscroft community.