Leadership interview with Terry Sheridan, Northmount School

At Northmount School, we define ourselves as a family school. I have the delight each day to work with a wonderful group of boys, from JK to grade 8, who come from very committed families. Parents are welcome in our building every day, which brings a lot of positive energy and interaction. It's exciting each day to come in, see the parents, and witness their deep investment in their sons' education. Our parent community is phenomenal, fostering a lot of positive conversations.

I'm privileged to work with true professionals at Northmount who are deeply committed to pedagogy. These educators view teaching as a vocation, and they fulfill their roles with passion and dedication. As faculty and staff, we believe that teaching is a vocation, and regardless of position, our core identity is as teachers first. We take pride in working together and supporting each other as a team to nurture and guide the students.

Our school day begins at 7:30 am, with families dropping off their children and interacting with our staff. Myself and a few administrators greet families at the curb and welcome them in each morning. By 8:30, we gather for our opening assembly, where we recite the Our Father, conduct the national anthem, and make announcements for the day. The day is structured around ten periods, each about 35 minutes, allowing the boys to focus on a concept, explore it, and then move on. Every day, the boys have physical education, which is essential for their development and energy release.

Character development is central to our mission at Northmount. The last period of each day is dedicated to character building, where students discuss the day’s events, celebrate successes, and acknowledge areas for improvement. This time is also used to unwind and prepare for responsibilities at home. Additionally, every month we focus on a specific virtue, allowing students to consistently reflect on and grow their character traits and values.

We aim to create a tight-knit, caring community where each student feels a sense of belonging. Through our big brother-little brother events, older students provide mentorship and role modeling for the younger boys, fostering a real sense of camaraderie. The boys interact across grade levels, often playing and guiding each other on the playground. This mentorship helps develop a strong moral foundation in our students, encouraging them to be compassionate and responsible leaders.

While Northmount is a Catholic school, we welcome families of all faiths or no faith, as they value the character education we provide. Our curriculum emphasizes fundamental virtues like integrity, honesty, and responsibility, which resonate with families seeking holistic development for their children. Our school environment encourages every student to embody these virtues as they grow and become active, empathetic members of society.

Northmount offers an advanced curriculum, particularly in the sciences and math, often teaching a year ahead to raise the academic bar. We are committed to helping each boy achieve his best, offering support to those with learning challenges while maintaining high standards. Success for us is not just about grades but also about the personal growth and confidence that come from overcoming academic challenges.

Service is a significant aspect of our school culture. Each year, we organize initiatives like the Thanksgiving food drive, Christmas baskets for single-mother families, and charity fundraisers. This year, for example, our student government led the knapsacks for Kenya drive and a fundraiser for the Fred Victor charity for the homeless. These activities teach our students the importance of compassion, empathy, and giving back to the community.

Our alumni maintain strong ties to Northmount, often returning to visit and share their experiences. Many students continue to visit during high school and beyond, attesting to the lasting bonds they formed here. Alumni also contribute back to the school, with some serving on our board or volunteering. This speaks to the impactful relationships students develop with faculty and staff, which become part of their lifelong journey.

A core element of Northmount's approach is our partnership with parents. We believe that parents are the primary educators, and we work hand in hand with them to support their sons' education. We actively encourage parents to engage with the school through our parents association, class coordinators, and everyday interactions during drop-off, assembly, and after school. This three-way partnership between the school, the student, and the parents is crucial to achieving success and building a supportive community.

At Northmount, if conflicts arise, we address them as learning opportunities. We guide students through discussions to help them understand the root causes of disagreements and practice empathy and conflict resolution. By fostering open conversations, we emphasize the importance of compassion, allowing students to reconcile and move forward together with a deeper understanding of each other.