what does excellence look like?

Some promises and expectations from the
new headmaster at McDonogh

It's a common goal we share as independent school parents, teachers, and students - the desire to achieve our best. What should we expect from those in our school communities? What does excellence look like?

 Here at McDonogh, excellence begins with the outstanding talents of the faculty. It is teachers' ultimate goal to inspire lifelong learners.

Teachers are determined to encourage and enable each student to reach his or her potential. In turn, students model their own passion to learn and to achieve from their teachers.

For excellence to thrive within any student body, learning must take place in a compassionate environment. As a headmaster who is first and foremost a teacher, I tell students this: I will support you. I will be fair. I will take interest in all that you do to bring life to the school community and to bring personal growth to yourselves. I also promise to bring humor, kindness, and empathy to McDonogh and to my classroom, specifically, because learning can be challenging.

Students have obligations, too, in a culture of excellence. It is absolutely crucial for them to be good citizens. It's not enough to be intelligent, to know how to learn well, to be independent and responsible, to relate well with others, and to act graciously when successful. Today's independent school students are preparing for a world in which they are going to have to be flexible, motivated, and able to work across cultural boundaries.

Successful school communities also include learners who take appropriate risks. The world is full of people too timid to "go for it." In fact, one of the most significant laments from senior citizens is regret for not pushing themselves to live their dreams. Independent schools like McDonogh push students to aspire even if failure looms for them every now and then.

Achievement ultimately comes, confidence along with it.

 The start of school brings great hope and expectation. If our teachers model enthusiastic scholarship, our school cultures remain supportive, and our children and students aim to be good citizens who take appropriate risks to achieve, we'll see what excellence looks like.

Mr. Britton, 45, who goes by Charlie, succeeded W. Boulton “Bo” Dixon this summer as headmaster of McDonough, the largest independent school in the Baltimore region. A native of Maine, he is an English teacher and long-time independent school administrator, and for the past five years, served as headmaster of the Casady School in Oklahoma City.