ACS Teachers Pursue Summers of Learning

For many, summer break is a time to step away from the classroom and take a break from learning. But at The Avery Coonley School, learning never stops. For many of our faculty members, summer is an opportunity to explore new interests, pursue passion, continue learning, and find inspiration and new skills to bring back to their classrooms.

This summer, Kindergarten Teacher Sarah Kampbell, Orchestra & Music Teacher Konrad Pawelek, and Director of Innovation & Sustainability Kenny Bae each used their time to dive deeper into personal interests, explore new passions, and develop skills and knowledge they plan to bring into their classrooms in the upcoming school year.

From Marseille to the Math Museum: Sarah Kampbell

Sarah was provided a unique experience to travel abroad to complete an 11-day Fund for Teachers Fellowship in France. Being selected from a national pool of applicants to design and pursue a self-directed professional learning experience abroad, this national grant program was an incredible opportunity for her to collaborate with partner teachers and conduct cultural research across France. An experience she plans to use to strengthen Kindergarten French cultural instruction within our school’s K–8 language program.

“I applied because I wanted to build the kind of firsthand cultural understanding that no textbook or secondhand source could provide, and then bring those authentic experiences directly into our Kindergarten French program.” said Sarah

She traveled through Marseille, Toulouse, and Paris, visiting sites including Cosquer Méditerranée, Parc national des Calanques, the Musée d'Orsay, and La Halle de la Machine, gathering photographs, museum guides, maps, and other authentic materials along the way. 

“As soon as I returned, I spent the remaining weeks of summer weaving those experiences directly into this year's curriculum. My goal is to help students see mathematics as something connected to the real world while introducing them to another culture through meaningful, hands-on learning experiences,” she shares.

Sarah has also ambitiously designed three exhibits rooted in what she saw and learned in France which students will be using in the upcoming school year, creating opportunities for students to learn in unique, exciting, and adaptive ways.

Exploring Professional Development in Austria: Konrad Pawelek 

Konrad Pawelek also embarked on a one-of-a-kind summer opportunity, taking part in an international professional learning experience centered on music education by attending the Orff Institute Summer Course at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria, the world's leading center for the Orff Schulwerk approach to music education.

This week-long intensive course brought together approximately 100 music educators from around the world, with faculty from the Orff Institute as well as Finland, Australia, and Germany. In this course he was able to build upon his previous three summers of Orff Schulwerk study at VanderCook College of Music, where he completed all three certification levels. 

This internationally recognized approach invites children to experience music through singing, movement, improvisation, and instrumental performance, all practices Konrad continues to bring to life in his classroom and throughout the Fine Arts Department.

The learning continued beyond Austria. Konrad then traveled to Poland to study with Joszko Broda, a renowned musician and educator whose innovative “School from the Forest” program brings together nature, folk traditions, storytelling, and music to create meaningful learning experiences for children.

“I am excited to bring new ideas, teaching strategies, and international perspectives back to Avery Coonley to further enrich our music and orchestra programs.” Said Konrad

 

Exploring the Future of Quantum Computing: Kenny Bae 

For Kenny Bae, it was especially rewarding to have the opportunity to work alongside leading scientists and researchers at Argonne National Laboratory and explore the future of quantum computing.

This summer, Kenny participated in QCaMP, a prestigious program within the Quantum Systems Accelerator supported by Q-NEXT at Argonne National Laboratory. The program provided him with the opportunity to spend a week at Argonne, collaborating with leading scientists from Argonne, Sandia National Laboratories, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the University of Chicago who are advancing the field of quantum computing research.

Kenny shared that one of the highlights of the week was touring Argonne's quantum computing facilities with Dr. Alan Dibos, a Materials Scientist at Argonne's Q-NEXT National Quantum Information Science Research Center. Dr. Dibos shared how his team is advancing quantum technologies through cutting-edge research in nanofabrication, cryogenic optical measurements, quantum networking, and photonic devices that will help shape the future of quantum information science. While certain areas of the laboratory could not be photographed due to research confidentiality, the experience provided an inspiring look into the groundbreaking work taking place behind the scenes. 

From this experience, Kenny brings back new knowledge, resources, and real-world applications that will help our students explore quantum computing in the classroom. From developing new quantum algorithms using the IBM Quantum Simulator to understanding the future of quantum information science, our goal is to prepare students to become the next generation of innovators and researchers.

“Experiences like these reinforce why it is so important to connect gifted K–8 students with authentic scientific research,” said Kenny Bae, Director of Innovation & Sustainability at The Avery Coonley School. “By building these partnerships today, we can inspire curiosity,  innovation, and empower our students to become problem-solvers of tomorrow.” 

We are grateful for our dedicated faculty and staff, who continue to inspire, learn, and grow both personally and professionally. As they return from a summer professional development, they bring with them new ideas and fresh perspectives that will deeply impact their classrooms. Their commitment to learning helps create meaningful experiences for our students and ensures that every school year is filled with purpose and possibility.