New Teacher Nook

Our Special Guest this month is… Mrs. Horn!

Mrs. Horn is the Assistant Head of School, Student Affairs.

How have you been enjoying your time at Ashley Hall?

Well, I love being at Ashley Hall. I really enjoy being in a new school, and I love my new role. I was a division leader for sixteen years, so this is my first time being in an Assistant Head position. I love trying new things. I love working with Dr. Weston and the admin team. I like learning new things, especially in my new role. I was in counseling, and I felt very competent in it. There is so much more to learn about diversity, equity, and belonging. So I am constantly learning.

How do you think Ashley Hall stands out from other schools?

One thing that really stands out to me is how intentional Ashley Hall is about students of different ages connecting. There are big sister and little sister events. The physical space on campus attracted me to the school when I was interviewing, because throughout the day, you're seeing three-year-olds and four-year-olds. Because there are people of many different age groups, it gives the younger kids someone to look up to and keeps the older students in check and reminds them that they are role models to the younger students.

Do you have a favorite tradition so far?

It’s too early to tell. I can’t name a favorite tradition yet, but one thing I really like is big sister/little sister, and the fact that you stay together for so long is something that is super special. I also think that the PQV motto is very catchy. I love that it’s used in all parts of speech. Some people end an email with “PQV” or some say “you’ve got PQV.”

Do you find yourself using "PQV"?

Yes, sometimes I use it with people who don’t even know what I am talking about! So then I have to explain it to people, who don’t attend or work at Ashley Hall.

What is a typical day for you at Ashley Hall?

Well, I have not found a typical day here yet. Something I love is that sometimes in the morning I won’t know what I will be doing that day. I try to always make it to the Upper School Morning Meeting or Assembly. I’m always at the Lower School Morning Meeting on Thursdays. Really it kind of flows with what is going on at school and my other work in terms of training with teachers. So it is really always different.

Would you consider yourself a morning person?

I really am a morning person, and that is difficult for my family.

Why did you decide to work at an all-girls school?

This is the second all-girls school that I’ve worked at. I always attended co-ed schools. When I was a principal in Houston, Texas, I met Jill Muti. We met at a conference, and she was assigned as my mentor, and at the same time I was doing a lot of research on single gender education. I was getting very interested and passionate about the topic. Around the same time, my husband and I adopted three boys. So all those things happened in such a way that the constellations aligned, and I really wanted to look at all-girls schools. My masters degree is in counseling psychology with a minor in women’s studies. So I always thought, ”how can I lift up girls and women in my work that I do as an educator”? In the Philadelphia area I was the Middle School Director at an all-girls school, and I fell in love with girls' education! I found that especially in a co-ed middle school classroom, generally in 3rd or 4th grade girls will stop playing at recess time. So the girls typically remove themselves from the situation, because they say that the boys get too rough. They still want to play at recess, but it becomes more of a safety thing. But at all-girls schools I see that even older girls are playing during recess. The playing field is more level (pun intended). So those kinds of things got me interested in all-girls education.

Where did you attend University?

University of Toronto.

Where are you originally from?

I am from Winnipeg, Canada.

Where are all the places you have lived?

1. Winnipeg, Canada

2. A little town called La Malbaie in Quebec

3. Toronto

4. I spent a couple of summers in Switzerland.

5. I call it my U.S. tour, so Savannah, Houston, Philadelphia, and now Charleston.

Where is your favorite place that you have lived?

Charleston! I love coastal living, the Ravenel bridge, and I love the beach. So living here for me is a dream.