The spirit of a school is forged in its history - in the community, achievements, and shared experiences of its alumni. This year, ASW welcomes a new School Director, Dr. Michelle Kleiss, whose forward-looking vision is deeply connected to the legacy our alumni helped build. In a recent conversation, Dr. Kleiss shared how her plans for the future honor the school's past while paving an exciting new path for generations to come.

A Philosophy of Belonging: The Foundation Built by Alumni
The powerful sense of community that alumni remember is a tradition Dr. Kleiss is committed to nurturing through her core educational philosophy: belonging and flourishing. She believes that for learning to happen, every student must first feel they belong. This principle echoes the close-knit environment many alumni experienced and helped create during their time at the school.
"I believe every student deserves to belong," she states, reinforcing the holistic and supportive atmosphere that is a hallmark of ASW. Her goal is to ensure this generation of students feels the same powerful connection to the school, providing them with the foundation to "flourish in their life" long after graduation.

Leadership That Honors Our Community and Drives Us Forward
Dr. Kleiss describes her leadership style as relational, situational, and transformational—an approach that will feel both familiar and inspiring to the alumni community.
Her relational focus on teamwork and the collective "we" honors the strong, people-centric community that alumni built as students and parents.
As a transformational leader, she assures the community that the school they love will continue to evolve. She is a leader of action who believes in "shining on solutions," ensuring that ASW remains a dynamic institution that its alumni can be proud of.
This leadership ensures that while the school moves forward, it will always be guided by the community-focused values that alumni remember.

Envisioning the Future, Inspired by Our Past
Dr. Kleiss’s vision for the future of ASW is an evolution of the student experience, aimed at preparing "future-ready" graduates. For our alumni, this vision is a commitment to elevating the institution that shaped them.

• Unlocking Our Spaces: Imagine the campus alumni knew, but with even more dynamic, collaborative environments. Dr. Kleiss plans to "unlock and reimagine our spaces," with input from current students, to enhance the learning and social experiences that past students cherished.
• Enhancing Our Rigor: The challenging academic curriculum that prepared alumni for university and beyond remains a cornerstone. Dr. Kleiss is focused on strengthening academic standards, using "productive stress" to build the confidence and resilience that alumni know are critical for success.
• Personalizing Our Support: Building on the personal attention that many alumni received from their teachers, her vision includes implementing multi-tiered systems of support to ensure every teacher has the "skillset and toolbox" to provide truly personalized learning for every child.

The Enduring Role of Alumni: An Invitation from Our New Director. 

The connection of alumni to ASW does not end at graduation; in fact, Dr. Kleiss sees their role as more vital than ever. She describes the alumni community as a source of profound inspiration for current students. "Kids will see their future selves" in our alumni, she explains, highlighting their unique ability to make professional and personal achievements feel tangible and attainable.
Dr. Kleiss envisions creating a "community of alumni" eager to share their journeys, mentor students, and offer invaluable real-world insights. Alumni are the living legacy of the school's mission. This is an invitation to reconnect, share your story, and partner with the school in this exciting new chapter. Your experience, guidance, and presence are essential as we continue to build a flourishing future for all ASW students, past, present, and future.