“Stories are a communal currency of humanity.”–Tahir Shah, in Arabian Nights

Walking around campus these last couple of weeks, I’ve been collecting images, sounds, and moments, tucking them away as if they were precious artifacts. Some highlights:

  • A construction paper star with a wish and advice for a new sixth grader from a rising seventh grader.
  • A summer adventure story told in excited voices over lunch with old friends.
  • A handshake between a confident senior and an awed middle-schooler.
  • A nervous laugh between new CA parents sharing first day anxieties.
  • A round of applause for faculty sharing transformational professional development experiences.
  • A supportive critique of a student’s impressive TEDx presentation.
  • A smile of delight at learning the cool things a new tablet can do.
  • The determined, red-face of exertion while giving it your all in the Middle School Tug-of-War.
  • Countless thuds from the ceiling above my office (I’m told these are courtesy of robotics.)

Small moments, to be sure, but each hinting at a larger story to explore. Each a single thread in the larger fabric of our shared community, our shared community experience.

As your new Director of Communications, I like to say that I am Cary Academy’s Chief Storyteller. I’ve been drawn to the power of storytelling since I was a child, when I would spend hours immersed in books (often under the covers with a flashlight, long after it was lights out).

It is a passion that I’ve pursued throughout my academic career. First with a degree in English, then with a MA in Technology and Communications, and later through my professional pursuits in digital innovation, publishing, information design, marketing, and communications.

For me, part of the magic of storytelling lies in its community-building power. Stories are how we make sense of the world, how we relate to one another, and how we define ourselves. Stories enable us to connect with others, develop empathy, and learn from one another. They can challenge us, requiring us to stretch our own thinking and assumptions. A sense of shared story is integral to cultural and communal identity.

Looking forward, this year will be dedicated to collecting and sharing Cary Academy community stories, both internally with each other, and externally to the world.

To collecting those tiny moments and following them to larger stories that exemplify and embody our mission and commitment to discovery, innovation, collaboration, and excellence.

To elevating diverse voices within our community so that we can build new connections, embrace multiple perspectives, and grow together.

To bringing our strategic plan to life by connecting the dots and illustrating with real stories how we are tracking on our goals together.

And to sharing those stories across a variety of channels in ways that inform, inspire, and engage our community, while supporting our academic, admissions, and development goals.

There is much exciting work to be done. On the horizon: A completely redesigned website. More robust social media featuring rich digital content. Three new issues of ?, The Magazine of Cary Academy. A re-tooled CA Weekly. Ongoing improvements to internal communications. And redesigning all of our materials to reflect our new CA Curious brand. . . just to name a few projects.

Thankfully, storytelling is a communal and collaborative effort (another reason I love it!). In the months to come I’ll be enlisting help from students, faculty, staff, and parents to collect and amplify those diverse stories that define and characterize Cary Academy. Whether that is by asking you to share your own stories–big or small–with me, inviting me into your classrooms, opening yourselves up to interviews, or sharing your feedback. However you participate, I hope you will join me as we create the story of this year together.

In the meantime, if you see me around campus, I’m listening, observing, and carefully collecting those precious moments, seeds of stories to be explored.