School Leadership
Agate Private School's leadership, under the guidance of its headmistress, emphasizes fostering independent thinking by providing students with the autonomy to chart their own learning paths. The school's approach highlights the importance of choice and play in developing decision-making skills and creativity, supported by leadership with significant expertise in alternative education and self-directed learning.
Page Contents
Facts and analysis
MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERSHIP
We invited Gayle Hanlon, Headmistress at Agate Private School, to share a message.
The overview highlights the vision, values, and guiding principles that shape leadership and the student experience at Agate Private School.
Gayle Hanlon, Headmistress
Life
In 1996, I became the owner and principal of Agate Private School. I was blessed with the opportunity to allow families and children to choose their own learning paths.
One of the most important skills for students to learn is how to think independently. This can be difficult in a world where we are constantly inundated with messages telling us what is right and wrong, what we should believe and how we should behave. In order to develop this skill, students need space to explore their own curiosity.
One way you can help your students develop this skill is by creating spaces where they have a choice about what they do, when, and how they do it. Allowing them to make choices will allow them to develop the ability to make good decisions for themselves and will give them practice at being responsible for those decisions.
Another way we can help your children develop independent thought is by allowing them plenty of time for play. Play allows children's imaginations to run wild and gives them opportunities to explore new ideas without any pressure from adults or peers telling them how things "should" be done.
I have been the headmistress of Agate private School since 1996
As a Public Speaker, Educational Agent for NASA and Guest lecturer at various Universities on the subject of Alternative Education, I've recently represented Canada at an international conference on Self-Directed learning.
I have 6++ kids, four grandchildren, two cats, and a passion for Egyptology.
I began University at age 14 and hope to never stop learning.
