FROM THE Head of School – September 23, 2026

Flint Hill Community,

As we round out the first month of the school year, we have already enjoyed so many moments of connection across our community. Back-to-School Nights have highlighted our outstanding faculty and academic program; fall athletics have brought spirit, competition, and growth for our student-athletes; and last week’s All-School Gathering gave us the opportunity to begin the year together, grounded in the voices and aspirations of our own students.

During the All-School Gathering, we heard from three Huskies, one from each academic division. Sixth grader Dilan encouraged his fellow Huskies to keep an open mind — to try, explore, and discover the many opportunities available to them at Flint Hill. Eighth grader Reese challenged our community to show up for one another, reminding us that someone else’s success does not diminish our own; rather, our collective wins make the entire community stronger. Finally, senior and SCA President Bensten encouraged us to work hard and look ahead to what comes next, while never taking for granted the great moments happening right now.

Different ages. Different perspectives. But each carried a similar message: be present, be intentional, and recognize the importance of the people around you.

That message feels especially important today.

In a world increasingly shaped by AI and other emerging technologies, it can be easy to prioritize efficiency over experience — to find the quickest answer rather than wrestle with a difficult question, or to substitute a digital interaction for a human one. I recently wrote about Flint Hill’s approach to AI in a blog post. These are powerful tools that our students must learn to understand and navigate in developmentally and age-appropriate ways if they are to thrive in the world ahead. At the same time, their growing presence makes it even more important that we remain purposeful about authentic voice, human connection, and the productive struggle that is essential to meaningful learning.

Our Mission, Vision, and Core Values are fundamentally human-centered. At Flint Hill, our focus remains clear: creating the relationships, experiences, challenges, and opportunities that help our students grow into confident, thoughtful, and capable young people.

As we look ahead to Homecoming, early assessments and projects, performances, competitions, and everything else the coming weeks will bring, I hope we continue to appreciate those distinctly human moments along the way. Smile and say hello. Cheer for someone else's success. Work through the tough problem before turning to a shortcut. Enjoy the conversation in the hallway, around the lunch table, or on the sideline.

Those moments matter. And together, they are part of what makes Flint Hill such a special community.