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WELCOME FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear Families,
 

At this exciting moment in Hillbrook’s history, we are charting a clear path forward for the Scott Center—one that captures the energy, creativity, and pioneering spirit of our founding years. Our goal is to create a learning environment where students, educators, and social impact leaders can continue the trailblazing work begun when the Center was established in 2017. The Scott Center’s success would not have been possible without the visionary leadership and partnership of Shannon Hunt-Scott and Kevin Scott, who worked alongside Head of School Mark Silver and the Senior Leadership Team to bring this ambitious initiative to life. Their support has laid a strong foundation for our ongoing growth and impact.

As I begin my eighth year as Founding Director of the Scott Center, I am proud of the progress we’ve made and the relationships we’ve built with over 50 community partners, both locally and globally. Guided by two essential questions—“What matters to you?” and “What are you doing about it?”—and by our six core lenses of social entrepreneurship education: design, story, finance, civics, systems, and agency, we continue to evolve our programs. We create a student-centered learning environment that nurtures entrepreneurial thinking, student agency, belonging, well-being, and reflection. Our commitment is to ensure that all learners feel supported and empowered on their social entrepreneurship journeys. This work requires a unique blend of interdependence and mentorship, where individuality and imaginative thinking are celebrated.

At Hillbrook, students are encouraged to express their ideas, questions, and opinions, using their critical and creative thinking skills to reach beyond themselves and make a difference. While many schools talk about purpose and impact, our focus has always been on justice and action. Leadership opportunities, public speaking, competitive fellowships, outdoor exploration, and the application of our six lenses are integrated into every learner’s experience. These elements complement rigorous studies in literature, history, mathematics, science, world languages, and the arts. We value both work and play, recognizing that adolescence is a special period of growth that should be celebrated, not rushed.

It is my privilege to represent the Scott Center at Hillbrook School, alongside the many individuals who have shaped our work over the past eight years. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey. As we grow to be two campuses in Los Gatos and San Jose and expand our programming and events, we relish in opportunities to push the boundaries of what currently exists and hold a bold and visionary leadership approach to the future of K-12 education. If our mission resonates with you, we’d love to hear your ideas and collaborate with you to amplify our impact.

I look forward to welcoming you!

Warmly,

 

Recommended Reading from Annie makela

Systems Thinking for Social Change, Peter Stroh

We Do Things Differently: the Outsiders Rebooting Our World, Mark Stevenson

Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World, Jacqueline Novogratz