Cheryl Miller, Director of Enrollment Management, Winter 2020
Ginger not only displays an openness and comfort with visitors observing class, she invites visitors in warmly, understanding the learning that can take place both in, as a result of, their presence. She understands that visitors can gain insights into students’ learning and her teaching, and she also sees that students can learn through the presence of visitors. I observed this mindset recently, happening upon students’ voices wafting from the TALI Theatre. It was concert prep time, but rather than maintaining a closed rehearsal to keep students focused, Ginger invited me to bring our tour of admitted students and families in to here the students perform. Ginger’s energy in these types of moments is infectious. The group had not yet performed on stage their mash up of “Dream On” by Aerosmith and “Sweet Dreams” by The Eurythmics, so Ginger asked “should we try it out for our visitors?” This technique of asking is encouraging for the students, and creates an opportunity for them to buy into the opportunity. Furthermore, it demonstrates how Ginger doesn’t lead student rehearsals and performances with her ego! She’s open to things not being perfect, not going as planned, and that in this, students have the opportunity to learn and grow. As a result of creating this atmosphere, things do go very well, because students are relaxed, feel free to be themselves, and they model her graciousness. I’m always grateful for Ginger’s attitude of warmth and curiosity, which set the tone for visitors’ understanding of what education looks like at EPS.