A Quarterly Reflection from Dr. Anne T. Weston ’73
At Ashley Hall, each day brings new moments of discovery, connection, and growth. In this installment of The View from the Head’s Office, Head of School Dr. Anne Weston offers insight into the thoughtful work underway at Ashley Hall as we consider our school schedule.
Supporting Students Through Schedule Design
By Dr. Anne Weston
At Ashley Hall, we believe that time is one of our most precious resources. How we spend it should reflect who we are, what we value, and how our students learn best.
Over the past many months, faculty, staff, and administrators have been engaged in a deeply thoughtful and research-informed process to reimagine student schedules across our divisions, diligently led by Naa-Adei Kotey, Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning. This work is grounded in a simple but powerful goal: to ensure that our daily rhythms truly center our students—their intellectual growth, their health, and their overall well-being.
As a leading independent school, we are committed to understanding how children, and especially girls, learn best. Our approach draws on the strength of our academic programs—Reggio Emilia, the International Baccalaureate (IB), Harkness discussions, and experiential learning—while also recognizing that meaningful learning requires balance. Students thrive when their days include time to think deeply, collaborate, reflect, and simply be.
A well-designed schedule should have both rhythm and cadence. It should honor the focused time needed for academic inquiry while also creating space for social-emotional development, connection, and restoration. When students feel balanced and supported, they are better able to engage fully and define their own success.
To guide this work, Ashley Hall partnered with Dr. Shannan Schuster and Dr. Andrew Taylor, both experts in research-based scheduling. Dr. Schuster brings deep expertise and extensive experience with girls’ schools in particular; Dr. Taylor offers a global perspective and extensive experience within the IB framework. Together, they have helped us think expansively and intentionally about how our schedule can best serve our mission, which, at its core, calls us to know, value, and challenge each student, equipping her to lead a life of purpose. A schedule that is truly aligned—one that prioritizes time for deep learning, meaningful connection, and personal growth—is not just well-designed, but essential to ensuring our students thrive.
This process has included extensive reflection, conversation, and analysis, and has intentionally elevated student voice as a vital part of the work. Through conversations with students, we have gained meaningful insight into their experiences, needs, and hopes for how their days are structured. We have asked ourselves important questions: How do we make certain that our schedules align with our values? How do we ensure that our students are not only achieving academically, but also growing as whole, healthy individuals? And how do we continue to evolve as a School, boldly using research to improve how we operate?
What has emerged is a shared understanding that our schedule must be a living reflection of our vision—one that prioritizes our students, supports their growth, and prepares them to thrive.
We are excited about the direction of this work and look forward to sharing more details as our plans continue to take shape. In the coming weeks, Division Directors will provide additional information as specifics are finalized. While there will be meaningful enhancements to students’ daily experience, our start and end times will remain largely consistent. Our focus is on thoughtfully reimagining the time in between, when students are on campus, to better align with our mission and support their learning and well-being.
Thank you for your partnership and for entrusting us with your children each day.
Dr. Anne T. Weston ’73 Ashley Hall Head of School
Welcome to Panther Recap—your look at the latest moments, milestones, and momentum across Ashley Hall Athletics.
Spring sports are off to a powerful start at Ashley Hall, and the Panthers are building momentum across every level of competition.
For the latest on the Ashley Hall Panthers, click to view the video below, hosted by Felice Killian ’27.
Please join us to support the Varsity Soccer Team at the next PQV Night on April 21!
Thank you for following this month’s Panther Recap. Stay connected with @AshleyHallPanthers for ongoing highlights, announcements, and stories from across our athletic community. PQV, Panthers!
From their first days on campus, our youngest learners are thoughtfully connected to the life and work of Ashley Hall, invited into shared experiences that help them see themselves as part of something larger. Our work with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals provides a new lens, reminding us that even our youngest students can engage with meaningful global ideas. In this piece, Tyler Moseley, our Community Partnerships and Global Education Coordinator, offers a closer look at how these connections come to life through relationships, partnerships, and the everyday experiences of our Early School classrooms.
This year, our school-wide commitment to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals invited us to consider what it means to engage even our youngest students in work that is inherently global. Rather than simplifying these ideas, we grounded them in lived experience. Sustainability became something children could see, touch, and influence—from composting and conserving water to participating in food drives, exploring where food comes from, and caring for shared spaces. These were not isolated lessons, but meaningful contributions to a collective effort unfolding across the entire school.
This work is made possible through relationships. Partnerships with organizations such as the Lowcountry Food Bank, local parks, the Marsh Project, MUSC, and collaborations with other divisions like the Lower School Bee Club extend the classroom into the wider Charleston community. Equally vital are our families, who bring their expertise and passions into the school, helping children connect their questions to real-world contexts. In the Early School, learning is not contained within four walls—it is co-constructed through a network of relationships that expands what is possible.
One class’s study of airplanes offers a window into this process. What began as a spark of curiosity grew into model-building, conversations with pilots, and explorations of maps and global travel. Through community connections, an idea took flight—expanding from a single interest into a broader understanding of how people, places, and systems are interconnected.
These experiences are woven into the fabric of each day. From shared meals and conversations that build belonging, to collaborative inquiry and reflection, children are constantly practicing what it means to be part of a community. They learn that their ideas matter, that their actions have impact, and that they are connected to something larger than themselves.
By intentionally looping Early School students into the work of the broader campus, we cultivate more than knowledge—we nurture a sense of agency, empathy, and responsibility. Community becomes the classroom, and in that classroom, children begin to understand themselves as citizens of a shared and ever-expanding world.
Tyler Moseley
Community Partnerships and Global Education Coordinator
Join us for PQV Nights to cheer on Ashley Hall Spring Athletic teams.
Let’s go, Panthers!
When: 5 P.M. on Tuesday, March 31 (Lacrosse) and Tuesday, April 21 (Soccer)
Where: Ashley Hall Athletics Complex (3289 Plow Ground Road, Johns Island, SC 29455)
What: Wear your purple and white to cheer on our athletes! Light concessions will be available for purchase.
PQV Nights Schedule:
4:45 p.m. | Get your pom poms! Pawley the Panther will be welcoming the crowd
4: 50 p.m. | National Anthem + Lineup
5: 40 p.m. | Half-time Fun with Pawley!
Post game | Team meet and greet and poster signing
Ashley Hall Day of Giving
March 19, 2026
Join the many Ashley Hall families, alumnae, trustees, faculty, and friends as we unite to celebrate our School by supporting the Loyalty Fund on Giving Day 2026! Your generosity fuels each Ashley Hall student’s academic excellence and exceptional learning experiences.
Ashley Hall’s Middle and Upper School students spent a recent morning exploring big questions, bold ideas, and exciting career paths during this year’s STEM Day. It was a dynamic celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math that highlighted not just what our students can do, but who they can become.
The day began with a full-panel session featuring an impressive group of leaders from fields spanning pediatric neurology, aerospace engineering, AI, environmental science, cybersecurity, water quality, design, and engineering leadership. Student moderators guided the conversation with thoughtful, probing questions that brought out personal stories, unexpected career paths, and practical advice.
Dr. Lela Lewis, Division Chief of Pediatric Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina shared a vivid childhood memory of her mother (also a physician) bringing home a sheep’s brain after teaching a hospital class; a moment that sparked her lifelong fascination with the human brain. “Seeing a child’s development over time and how the brain changes over time has always been fascinating to me,” Dr. Lewis shared. That early curiosity led her through medical school, Air Force service, and advanced training at Johns Hopkins, and ultimately to her leadership role at MUSC. Her story was a powerful reminder that big careers often begin with small moments of wonder.
Students also heard from Rebecca Gleason, Head of Global Industry Engagement for AI & Business Messaging at Meta, whose path to tech leadership was anything but traditional. A liberal arts major who didn’t grow up dreaming of a career in AI, Ms. Gleason emphasized that success in STEM isn’t limited to one specific degree or background. “No matter what degree you choose to pursue, the most important thing you can do is be able to communicate with people in a language they can hear,” she said. A message that resonated deeply with students who are considering how their own interests might intersect with STEM fields.
The panel showcased a remarkable range of expertise. Dr. Lynn Sargent, a structural analysis engineer at Boeing, spoke about research and innovation in aerospace and AI-driven digital transformation. Cole Rise, Director of Design for Microsoft AI and designer of the original Instagram icon, shared how creativity and technology intersect in powerful ways.
From The Citadel, Dr. Deepti Joshi, Dr. Shadi Sadeghpour, Dr. Farhath Zareen, and Dr. Nahid Vesali highlighted cutting-edge work in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, bioinformatics, engineering leadership, and machine learning, and emphasized the importance of undergraduate research and mentorship.
Environmental leaders also took the stage. Allison Montgomery, Conservation Planner at Westervelt Ecological Services, described using data-driven analysis to protect wetlands and natural resources. Olivia Flynn, Environmental Engineer and Associate Vice President at Hazen and Sawyer, and Guinn Wallover of Mount Pleasant Waterworks, demonstrated how engineering and environmental science directly impact community health and sustainability.
Rounding out the healthcare perspective, Lauren Fogelgren, Head of Health Services at Ashley Hall and a practicing physician assistant, connected clinical care with evidence-based practice and compassion, reminding students that STEM careers are ultimately about improving lives.
After the morning panel, students broke into grade-level groups for smaller, more interactive sessions. These in-depth conversations and hands-on activities allowed students to dive deeper into topics like AI ethics, water treatment systems, cybersecurity threats, neurological research, and engineering project management. The smaller setting created space for candid questions, mentorship, and meaningful dialogue about internships, college majors, and work-life balance.
Throughout the day, one theme rose above the rest: there is no single path into STEM. Whether sparked by a childhood memory, a love of the outdoors, a passion for problem-solving, or an interest in storytelling and design, each panelist demonstrated that curiosity, resilience, and communication are just as important as technical skill.
STEM Day at Ashley Hall did a wonderful job of highlighting the different career options available to students, but it was also about possibility. It was a celebration of leaders in complex, innovative fields and an invitation for our students to imagine themselves doing the same.
Ashley Hall is a K-12 independent school for girls, with a co-ed preschool, committed to a talented and diverse student population. We consider for admission students of any race, color, religion, and national or ethnic origin.
