After seven years at a single-gender middle school, Shivani Savdharia was ready for a change and leaning towards working with older students and in a coed setting. She was particularly interested in 6-12 schools where she’d be able to support students' transition from middle to upper school. The fact that Athenian was a 6-12 school all on one campus, was appealing. It was her visit to campus though that truly informed her decision to join the Athenian faculty this fall.
What were your impressions of Athenian during the interview process?
“Amy [Director of People and Culture] and Howard [Math Department Chair] were such amazing hosts–they checked in with me throughout the day and really showed an interest in my experience of the school,” says Shivani. Their curiosity about her professional interests, experience, and their genuine concern for the quality of her visit, made an impression. “I also felt an immediate ease with Meadow, [Assistant Head and Head of Upper School] who took a break from her day to meet me and walk me around campus. Having a walking interview really helped me feel comfortable to ask questions that may not have surfaced in a more formal interview setting. She also showed me where faculty and administrators live on campus–another unique aspect of Athenian.” Shivani adds, “I had two of my former students in the demo class [part of the faculty interview process] and I was able to see how much they’d grown since middle school–a testament to Athenian.”
What surprised you most during your visit/interview?
“There was a humbleness about Athenian that surprised me,” says Shivani. Having learned about The Athenian School from afar, she’d noted the school’s commitment to environmental stewardship and academic rigor; coming to campus gave her a deeper and more nuanced understanding of what that looks like at Athenian. “I was immediately struck by a sense of familiarity. I noticed the open space, trees, and trails. As students toured me around campus, they each shared their favorite place…it was apparent that learning happens in different pockets here, not just in the classroom.” She adds, “it was clear to me that the heart of this place isn’t the things, it is the people. Sure, there are some nice new buildings, but the school doesn’t chase the shiny objects, it really showcases the people that make up the school.”
What surprised you most once you started at Athenian?
Shivani was quick to point out the strength of Athenian’s international community. Though she had read about it online, it took being here to really understand that aspect of the school. “I was surprised by the international community. As someone who travels a lot, who is from an immigrant, multicultural and multilingual family, this was a nice surprise.” Shivani was quick to get involved. She is the faculty sponsor for the South Asian Student Affinity Group and will be attending the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference (POCC) later this month along with a cohort of Athenian faculty and staff. She is also eager to parlay her experience and background into supporting Athenian’s international students in the classroom and eliminating some of the obstacles for non-native English speakers in particular. Shivani notes, “there is a real desire for teachers and others at Athenian to recognize their bias and blindspots and people are really open to growth, even if they are not there yet.” She looks forward to joining the school’s professional development committee to train as a peer facilitator for the faculty’s upcoming work with Dr. Liza Talusan, author of The Identity Conscious Educator: Building habits and skills for a more inclusive school.
What are your hopes for the year and future years here at Athenian?
“I’d like to find ways to spend more time with colleagues,” says Shivani. Coming from a much smaller school, she was looking forward to connecting and learning from a much bigger team of colleagues across disciplines and divisions. The start of the year at an entirely new school has kept her focus on developing rapport with her students and with her Upper School math department. It is hard to find time for the adults on campus to collaborate with so many demands on the daily schedule–a perennial challenge at most schools. Looking ahead, she would like to connect more with student interests beyond the classroom -- in athletics and in the arts -- and, similarly, looks forward to building relationships with her colleagues throughout the school.
Any other final thoughts or observations about Athenian?
“Athenian is a place that has values, where teachers are really seeing every single student. You can tell that when you walk around campus and in how students greet their teachers–by their first name–there is an informality that is comfortable and full of mutual respect.” She adds, “Athenian students say thank you to me at the end of every class! A true, genuine thank you!”
