At Fairhaven School, our approach to learning is fundamentally different from traditional models, and so is the role of our dedicated staff. Embracing Sudbury Valley's nomenclature, our faculty are known as “staff members” rather than “teachers”, reflecting their diverse and dynamic responsibilities within our unique educational environment. Fairhaven currently has five staff members, keeping a student to staff ratio of roughly 12:1, ensuring personalized engagement with our students.
The Role of Staff
Fairhaven staff members support students' self-directed learning and ensure the safety and smooth functioning of the school. They wear a variety of hats throughout each day, blending administrative and supportive roles with unique responsibilities central to our democratic community. They are:
Mentors and Guides
Offering support, resources, and connections when students seek assistance, much like a librarian provides access to knowledge without imposing a curriculum.
Engaged Community Members
Actively participating in the democratic process, where staff hold an equal vote with students, and contributing to the rich tapestry of school life through their own interests and conversations.
Role Models
Staff embody the qualities we expect of our graduates, demonstrating problem solving, adaptability, and responsibility, as well as respectful interaction, active listening, and a genuine engagement with the world.
Beyond their roles as mentors and facilitators, Fairhaven staff members collectively manage all the essential administrative functions that keep our school running smoothly. This vital work is democratically divided into roughly twenty clerkships, each overseeing a specific area such as admissions, bookkeeping, building maintenance, and grounds.
Ensuring Safety
While our school is run democratically, staff members also hold the crucial responsibility of acting as responsible agents, ensuring a secure environment for our students. When a student's safety is at immediate risk, staff will intervene directly and immediately.
Hired by Students
Fairhaven's staff are democratically hired for one year terms, and must reapply each year. Through their equal vote in the Staffing Committee and School Meeting, students play a direct and powerful role in evaluating and hiring staff members. This ensures our team is truly responsive to the needs of our students.
Committed to The Sudbury Model and Our Values
A profound understanding and commitment to the Sudbury Model’s philosophy of trust and student autonomy is critical for every Fairhaven staff member. They are careful not to push personal views or impose learning, consistently prioritizing and respecting each student's self-directed journey. Yet, as active and equal members of our vibrant community, staff passionately contribute to the school's culture and values, enriching conversations and fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and continuous discovery.
