From Pop to PhDs
New Roads teachers’ talents shine in and out of the classroom
Upper school biology teacher Kimberly Austin recently defended her dissertation to earn a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from California Lutheran University. Kimberly says that research “was directly inspired by working at New Roads. I have been able to teach students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and work closely with our Spectrum Program. I know how much we do to support our students and help them develop skills to use later in life, but I wondered what support they would receive in higher education. I was able to capture personal characteristics and pedagogical approaches to successfully teach and mentor college students with ASD.”
Upper school music production teacher Mark Popeney has just released an album with his band, Dream Hydra. Mark says, “Our new album, Radiant, has been two years in the making and was really a labor of love for me- I wrote most of the songs, play on them, and recorded/produced them. We’re really proud of the result and can’t wait to share it with the world!” Mark was also awarded his Doctorate in Music from USC last year.
Upper school social science teacher Ronan Hallowell is a lead investigator on the NASA-funded Beautiful Earth science education project. Beautiful Earth illuminates the connections between natural systems and human activities to inspire audiences to act as stewards for our shared resources and stimulate greater interest in STEM and NASA careers. Ronan recently helped present the program for students from the Chemawa Indian School in rural Oregon, using singing, drumming and storytelling to discuss how Western scientists can learn to listen to Native wisdom so their work can enhance the well-being of Earth’s life systems. Ronan recently earned his doctorate in educational leadership, educational psychology and media studies at the USC Rossier School of Education. He has studied Native American cultures through participation in Lakota Sun Dance ceremony communities since 1996.
New Roads School is a college preparatory K-12 private independent school in Santa Monica, CA, serving over 514 elementary school, middle school and high school children from the greater Los Angeles area. New Roads School provides an inspired educational program from which an authentically diverse student population, mirroring the rich diversity of Los Angeles, develops a personal dedication to learning, a respect for independent thinking, and an expanding curiosity about the world and its people.
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS New Roads School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.