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Reflections on a College Admissions Scandal: A Teachable Moment
News broke yesterday that several wealthy parents have

Help Your Students Slow Down, Reach Higher
Most schools and education systems are not serving

Authoritative Parenting vs. Helicopter Parenting: What Parents Should Know
A recent article from the Opinion section of

For students choosing college, it takes a village to avoid the ‘Prestige Trap’
It was a December morning in Northern California – warm yet grey, as if ambivalent about whether it belonged to fall or winter. Cara, a senior in high school, sat across from me at the small table in her living room.

Stressed Students need SPACE to Thrive
The 10-month sprint of academic and co-curricular activities that we call the school year can overwhelm even the most well-adjusted students. In fact, high achieving

Challenge Success: A Dawson Parent’s Perspective
A parent from one of our partner school shares what she learned at our Fall Conference.

One Senior’s Reflection: Three Elements to a Meaningful Education
In June of 2018, I graduated from a small independent school in Southern California, which I attended from kindergarten through twelfth grade. My thirteen years there were a journey filled with struggle and joy, anxiety and curiosity.

And Most of All – Be Kind
What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self? When my son graduated from high school in June, I wondered what advice might

Messages Matter
I believe that what we say and how we say it matters, and that we need to provide more stories of ways that students can succeed that aren’t within the conventional norm.

Dear My Freshman Self
I recently read the letter you wrote to me, your senior self, when you were about to start high school at Menlo. You were long-winded, idealistic, and, yes, very nervous. You included two pages of motivational quotes, a long list of goals including a 4.0 GPA and a desire to start on the water polo team, and even predictions about the four years that lay ahead.