The STS Blog

St. Thomas School is proud to share that fourth-grade math and science teacher Austin Marsh has been selected as a 2026 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow through the National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions.

Chosen as one of just 36 educators from across the United States and Canada, Austin will take part in a two-year professional learning experience centered on exploration, geographic education, and field-based discovery. This summer, he will travel to the Galápagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II, where he will engage directly with scientists, naturalists, and expedition leaders while exploring one of the world’s most extraordinary ecosystems.

Students recently traveled to San Francisco to compete in the World Scholar’s Cup. Across events, including debate, collaborative writing, Scholar’s Challenge, and Scholar’s Bowl, they earned an impressive 17 gold medals and 14 silver medals.

At St. Thomas School, we know that great teaching rarely happens in isolation. Like other professions, teaching requires a high degree of collaboration to be at its best. Without intentional structures for shared planning, reflection, and problem-solving, teachers’ work can become siloed, even in a community as strong as ours.

This school year, families may have noticed that our daily schedule looks a bit different than in years past. One of the most significant changes is the addition of longer, more uninterrupted blocks of learning time in the Elementary Center and Middle School. This shift is more than a logistical update—it reflects what we know about how children learn best and the kinds of experiences that help them thrive.

One of the wonderful features of life in a school is the cyclical, annual rhythm of summer breaks and start of year energy. Each fall opening invites new possibilities, deeper learning, and undiscovered connections. Having spent all my professional and personal life in schools, I have not known any other rhythm, although the optimism and reflection that comes from this renewal is not something I take for granted. For me, now, starting the year in a new school, home and community all provide the backdrop for personal reflections on change and stability. I bring these reflections to my intention of learning the story of St. Thomas School and the people who make up this community.