Meet the Head of School Pamela Dockter Head of School
What is your philosophy about education? Students are the most important members of any school community. The nature and quality of learning experiences must be exemplary, inclusive and joyful for the students. Staff members must establish high expectations for all their students, then provide the necessary instruction and guidance to help students achieve their goals. I believe education is for the whole child: mind, body and spirit. What changes have you seen in education during your career? For one thing, students used to start school at age 5 or 6; now formal education starts much younger, at about age 2 1/2. No longer are classrooms filled with desks in straight rows with a teacher at the front of the classroom. And teachers are now not having to follow a curriculum that literally gave an exact script to teachers. Before, when teachers had to follow this strict curriculum, there was no room for creativity, utilizing teachable moments and re-teaching. When I started, the focus was purely on academics, with no consideration of social or emotional learning or moral growth. Now in the Information Age, there is an emphasis on computers in the classrooms and in labs. Our students must be digital citizens, using technology and the internet effectively and there is an entire emphasis on programs like STEAM, robotics and coding.
What makes St. Mary’s a quality choice for students and their families? Our emphasis with students is on fostering life-long learning and academic success, with students expected to think critically, demonstrate good character, communicate effectively and collaborate with their classmates. Class size is intentionally very low, from six students per teacher for the youngest students and 18 per teacher from 2nd through 5th grades, allowing for more one-on-one attention and meaningful interactions. Instruction is grounded in the core subjects but hands-on activities and real-life examples make those subjects more meaningful. The curriculum we use is generally about a year ahead of public school curriculum and we also offer after- school programs for students, including clubs such as chess, tumbling, art and French. Our families are very involved and it’s very much a team effort between teachers, students and parents. Finally, our 51-acre campus environment is a huge asset and includes athletic fields, walking trails, an engineering garden and state-of- the-art playgrounds. What makes you most proud to be the head of school at St. Mary’s? I have the privilege of seeing our students come in at a very early age, some at just 2 1/2, watching them blossom and grow, following their talents and interests, until they are graduating 5th graders who have the tools to be successful and are just all- around good people. Being a part of that transformation is incredible.
Pamela Dockter, head of school for St. Mary’s Episcopal School in north Edmond, has experienced many areas of change in education since she began her career in 1981, with the last eight years being at St. Mary's. We recently asked her about those changes, her education philosophy and what makes this school stand apart from other education choices in the metro area.
St. Mary’s Episcopal School 505 E Covell Rd, Edmond 405-341-9541 smesedmond.org
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