Inspiring Connections

When Upper School English Teacher Stephanie Arnold visited Japan earlier this year with her family, she met Dr. Naomi Kagawa, a professor of education at Shimane University in Matsue. The meeting turned out to be serendipitous. 

Dr. Kagawa mentioned that she would be bringing six of her students (all of whom plan careers in education) to Richmond for a month — something she does each year to help students expand their thinking about teaching and learning.

“I spoke with excitement and passion about innovation at The Steward School and was thrilled when Dr. Kagawa said she wanted to visit our campus with her students,” recalled Ms. Arnold. On February 25, Dr. Kagawa and her students spent a day at Steward. 

“The students were really impressed and had a lot of questions about our mission and philosophy,” shared Ms. Arnold. “They were also interested in how we celebrate differences in America and at Steward. It was inspiring to watch as they engaged in a meaningful conversation about individualization with Cheryl Lafferty, division assistant in the Center for the Advancement of Learning (who greeted them in Japanese!) and Yaa Agyekum (director, Center for the Advancement of Learning, and assistant director of Lower School).”

A tour of Steward’s campus, and visits to several classrooms, gave the university students opportunities to ask questions and chat with Spartans of all ages.

“They were fascinated by our arts department and the variety of resources available,” said Ms. Arnold. “We stopped in to see Lower School Music Teacher Sandy Dacus, who was using singing, dance, and instruments to help students learn about rhythm. Our visitors were amazed by the theatre tech students and the size of the set [for the upcoming show ‘Oliver!’] they were building. They were curious about the innovative activities in the Bryan Innovation Lab. For example, lots of questions popped up about design thinking in conjunction with a cardboard chair project that Bryan Innovation Lab Program Specialist Megan Young was leading.” 

The Japanese visitors had the opportunity to see some examples of the Steward experience.

After Middle School Science Teacher Claire Bailey shared details about her brook trout release lesson, Middle School Science Teacher Betsy Orgain invited the six university students to participate in a hands-on activity teaching genetics using jelly beans. Middle School Social Studies Teacher Craig Redmond-Cilley explained his unit on governance to our new friends, who were then charmed when they walked by Lower School Librarian Carlee Smith reading to young Spartans in the library. 

“Upper School Mathematics Teacher Jennifer Maitland invited us in to see a lively math graphing lesson,” noted Ms. Arnold, “and when we stopped in Upper School English Teacher Peter Hurley’s class, he was teaching a lesson to help students interpret ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ Then we were off to lunch, where our guests enjoyed classic American food (burgers and fries!) while visiting with Upper Schoolers.”

Sarah Vermaaten ’25, who chatted with some of the university students during lunch, said, “Any time you get the chance to speak with visitors from different cultures is a chance to broaden your knowledge of the world. Steward does a good job of bringing awareness that there are traditions and events in every country that are just as important as those in America.”

In Ms. Arnold’s class, students presented research projects to enhance their understanding of the era in which “The Great Gatsby” was set. 

“Our visitors were intrigued that in addition to taking quizzes and writing essays, students participate in lively discussions and hands-on research,” said Ms. Arnold, whose “Gatsby” readers danced, dressed in period costumes, and enjoyed popular food from the era. “They were interested in how this project is designed to immerse students in a collaborative celebration of individual learning,” said Ms. Arnold. 

One favorite “Gatsby” presentation led by Turner Hurst ’26 and Linkin Rose ’26 inspired a collaboration with Middle/Upper School Instrumental Music Teacher John McAlister, who brought his entire band class to perform a few jazz standards to help students learn more about the Jazz Age. 

Turner, who plays the flute, said, “This project enabled me to further develop my understanding of how music works to better people’s lives, and how that, in turn, helps shape the world today. It was also a great opportunity to spread my love of music to a larger group.”

Ms. Arnold hopes to invite another group of Shimane University students to Steward next year.

“I appreciate how warmly the Steward community welcomed our guests,” she said. “ It was awe-inspiring to share the work my colleagues are doing and to see our core values (innovation, inspiration, care & respect, individuality, academic achievement, and civil discourse) in action.”