For the last 29 years, New Roads School, founded by visionary educators Paul Cummins and David Bryan, has delivered progressive education toan authentically diverse community reflective of Los Angeles.
This year, the private, independent K-12 school was voted Best Private School among readers. Here’s a Q&A with the school’s new head of school, Dan Vorenberg:
How does the school feel about being voted best private school?
Vorenberg: We are very humbled to have received this recognition and are starting to announce this honor to our community. Werecognize that there are several wonderful independent schools in Santa Monica and feel very fortunate to share the dynamic Santa Monica educational landscape with our colleagues.
Tell us about New Roads, its mission, philosophy and academics:
Vorenberg: New Roads School was founded by Paul Cummins and David Bryan, who saw an opportunity to impact progressive education in our region. It’s been nearly 30 years since New Roads’ founding, but I think the mission is as relevant and important as ever. To create an authentically diverse environment that curates curiosity and learning in all dimensions for children. To celebrate not only childhood but what it means to be a significant, and a significantly thoughtful, college preparatory school that looks beyond just getting kids into college by recognizing that college is only one step in what it ultimately takes to become a fully self-actualizing and thoughtful participant in our society.
What are some programs at New Roads that students enjoy?
Vorenberg: I think it’s really the integration of a number of programs that are causal to learning. We extol the virtues of a strong program in the theatrical and visual arts. You’ll see strong programs in the sciences, in the integration of mathematics and the arts. You’ll see a strong emphasis on kids making connections in their lived experience, through writing, through their own experiences of studying history and culture. I would say that it would be a quick fix to point to one program. It’s the integration of programs that match the electives with core curricular classes andI would say that it would be somewhat superficial to point solely to one program.
To learn more about the school, visit NewRoads.org.
