St. John’s Episcopal School Announces Grace Cicardo as New Head of Middle School
“I am guided by a steadfast commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, equity, innovation and joy where every student and educator can thrive.” - An excerpt from new Head of Middle School, Grace Cicardo educational philosphy.
As a result of our five-month search for the next Head of Middle School, we were fortunate to introduce a deep and varied pool of talented educators to St. John’s. With our consultants’ recruitment efforts, the 17-member Middle School Hiring Team’s extensive review, and unanimous support from the Leadership Team, we are thrilled to announce Grace Cicardo, who currently serves as the Academic Director for Uplift Infinity High School, has accepted our invitation to be St. John’s next Head of Middle School! Ms. Cicardo will officially join St. John’s in June and will visit campus throughout the spring to begin her transition work with Pam Jordan, faculty, and students.
Ms. Cicardo’s Education Philosophy
I am guided by a steadfast commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, equity, innovation and joy where every student and educator can thrive. At the core of my leadership philosophy are several foundational principles that shape my approach to education:
Service as Learning: I believe in the transformative power of service-learning as a means to cultivate empathy, civic responsibility, and a deeper understanding of community issues among students. Collaboration: Collaboration is essential to achieving educational excellence. I prioritize creating collaborative environments where educators, students, families, and community partners work together to support student success.
Resilience and Reflection: Resilience and reflection are not only integral to personal and academic growth, but also key to agility at post-secondary institutions or in a global marketplace. Through challenging and supportive experiences, students learn to persevere through setbacks, develop grit, and embrace a growth mindset. Reflection fosters metacognition and self awareness, empowering students to set goals, monitor their progress, and continuously improve.
Nurturing Curiosity and Fostering Critical Thinking: Education should spark curiosity and inspire a thirst for knowledge. I am dedicated to creating dynamic learning environments where inquiry-based learning and hands-on experiences ignite students' curiosity and creativity.
Lifelong Love of Learning: I believe in nurturing a lifelong love of learning among students and educators alike. Education should instill a passion for exploration and discovery, fostering intellectual curiosity and a desire for continuous learning beyond formal schooling or our local communities.
As educators, we have the immense privilege and responsibility of empowering students to embrace challenges, serve one another and be a light to the world.