Great Hearts Leaders Are “Walking the Walk” as Parents

It’s not unusual to walk the halls of the Great Hearts Home Office and hear members of the leadership team speaking passionately about the mission of the public charter school network and the impact classical education has on its students. For many though, that belief goes far beyond their professional roles. Many members of the Great Hearts leadership team don’t just dedicate their careers to advancing the Great Hearts mission. They entrust the minds and hearts of their own children to it, a powerful reflection of how deeply they believe in the education Great Hearts provides.

Chief of Schools and Arizona Superintendent, Brandon Crowe has three children who attend a Great Hearts academy. “Like every parent, I want my children to live a full and meaningful life, not a minimal life. Much will influence that aspiration — some entirely outside of our control — but, the school community in which my children spend their days is fundamental to determining who they will become. I can think of no better place for my own children than a school that demands much of their intellect and character. I am both delighted and grateful that my children come home every night better than they when they left in the morning. This is surely the result of the culture of the school, the commitment of the teachers, the intelligence and humanity of the school leaders, and the wonderful curriculum set before our children every day,” shared Crowe. “The fact that I am fortunate enough to also work in Great Hearts is simply a blessing doubled.”

As the Network Director of Athletics, Jon Rickey was inspired to go into education because of his parents. “My mom was my high school principal, and my dad was the vice president of admissions at the college I graduated from,” he said. But even more so, they showed him the importance of working somewhere that you would send your own children to. “My two Great Hearts graduates both spent as many years as they could at a Great Hearts school from the inception of Archway academies for elementary through their prep school years. They both agreed that they were stretched in good ways and more than prepared them for their college journeys.”

Rickey said he sees the same love of learning in his fourth grader. “He is challenged daily and knows he is cared for and known,” added Rickey. “Great Hearts is unique, and it requires commitment from the entire family, not just the students. But any challenges or struggles are so worth it with the good times and the shaping of our children’s lives. There was never any question in our house where our children would be attending.”

“As a leader, of course I believe deeply in the mission of Great Hearts, but the real test is whether I trust the school with my own children. I do,” said Jerilyn Olson, an alumnus of a classical school and now Chief People Officer. “I received a Great Hearts education myself, taught in our classrooms, and have spent more than 20 years working alongside the people who make this network what it is. I’ve seen not only the academic excellence, but also the way our schools cultivate virtue, affirm dignity, and fight for the hearts of my kids. I don’t just serve the mission, but I trust our people to serve our family and partner with me to shepherd my kids.”

Olson appreciates that the schools have become places of stability and belonging for her children as they navigate the often-complex seasons of adolescence. “The other night my 8th grade son talked meaningfully about how books help him want to be a better friend in a real-life situation, and I felt overwhelming gratitude that our school partners with me as a parent,” she shared.

Neil Gillingham, Vice President of Academics, and his wife, Julia Gillingham, Human Resources Director, have made Great Hearts a full family affair. “As a teacher I first chose Great Hearts as an employer because of the strong community, inspiring mission, and the support provided to all students. Neil and I chose Great Hearts for our children for those same reasons. What has continued to make that decision even more meaningful is the way we see the education come alive long after the work and school day are over. The great ideas, virtues, and conversations our children encounter in their classrooms continue around the dinner table and in our daily lives. Great Hearts is a place that shapes how our family thinks, lives, and talks,” said Julia. “We are so grateful.”

These are just a few great-hearted families who have their kids enrolled at our schools, but there are many more like them. At Great Hearts academies, we can talk the talk, but we also walk the walk.

There’s still time to send your own children to a Great Hearts academy for the current school year. You can learn more at https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/. 

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.