A Historic Day for a Historic Year
by Vince Durnan
While much of the country watches the Super Bowl, five of my school head colleagues will travel to Nashville to talk shop. Fair to say it’s a dream come true—and you can listen in next Monday.
While much of the country watches the Super Bowl, five of my school head colleagues will travel to Nashville to talk shop. Fair to say it’s a dream come true—and you can listen in next Monday.
Here’s the premise: for many years my graduate study tended in the direction of school-university partnerships. That curiosity drew me to USN initially, fueled my enthusiasm when the chance to work here appeared, and formed the basis for my commitment to actually finish a doctoral dissertation project, even in my geezerhood.
Specifically, I loved speaking to colleagues at other independent schools with research university neighbors, in search of the perfect iteration of that relationship. What I learned in that Aristotelian search could help us answer the question of the ideal USN/VU partnership.
Specifically, I loved speaking to colleagues at other independent schools with research university neighbors, in search of the perfect iteration of that relationship. What I learned in that Aristotelian search could help us answer the question of the ideal USN/VU partnership.
Last spring during my dissertation defense (which was far friendlier than that term would suggest), one of my dear committee members, Dan Cornfield—sociologist and parent of Hannah '08—suggested that I invite the schools in my sample to a summit conference of sorts. I promised to try, knowing it to be a long shot given the pressures of schedules and distance. Miraculously, we found a date, and the celebrities signed on.
So who are they? A-List figures all, experienced heads from a range of the country’s finest schools—just look them up, I dare you. Working roughly North to South, Jim Berkman from Boston University Academy, Barbara Riley from Hopkins School in New Haven, Amani Reed from The School at Columbia, Dave Magill (recently retired) from U of Chicago Lab School, and Jerry Chermak from University School at Nova Southeastern in Ft. Lauderdale. Enrollments in these schools range from fewer than 200 to more than 2,000. Some are direct units of their neighbor universities; others, like USN, are wholly autonomous. All are defined in part by communities connected to higher education.
We'll gather as a group at Buhl House, where I live, to share dinner Sunday night for the first time. My guess is that we’ll talk about programs and governance and finances and culture as we come to understand each other’s schools better. Then on Monday we’ll tour the USN campus, take a look at Vanderbilt, and dig in to discussions on the topics mentioned above. We’ll meet with USN administrative team members for lunch and keep the conversation moving in this rare opportunity to sit around the same table.
Then at 4:30pm on Monday we’ll adjourn to the Auditorium for a panel discussion open to the public. Friends from other schools, from Peabody, from the wider community, and any of you who care to be there are encouraged to join us. There may be some media attention, in fact. Our moderator, Patrick Schuermann, not only launched Vanderbilt’s Independent School Masters’ degree program but also served on my dissertation committee. I know he will ask the right questions. Then you can ask some.
Why go to this trouble? Ours is a stunningly uncommon story as a school, a story we celebrate this year as never before. Central to our past is the connection to our higher ed neighbor, and I’d submit that our brightest future potential includes active exploration of that connection for coming generations. Here in our midst will be experts on different elements of getting that defining relationship right—and they also happen to be fascinating people. If you wonder what gets my imagination engine really running, come take a look and a listen.
Can’t wait to see what we learn,
Vince
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
-
3rd graders hatch chicks in classroom
Students were able to see new chicks hatch in class as they completed their lesson on the life cycle.Read More -
May 3 is USN Night at Parnassus
Local bookstore Parnassus will share a percentage of its profits with USN between 3 and 6 p.m. to support faculty and staff professional development.Read More -
HS Spring Instrumental Concert April 30
Chamber Ensemble, Concert Band, and M.I.C. Ensemble will perform 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 in Durnan Auditorium.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.