By: Kristin Kipp Why D’Evelyn As both a teacher at D’Evelyn and a parent of D’Evelyn students, my answer to the question of “Why D’Evelyn” may surprise you. I could go on and on about the high expectations, rigorous curriculum, dedicated teachers, or amazing extracurriculars, but the real reason I chose D’Evelyn is simpler. It’s about the culture among the student body. I’ve taught in public schools for eighteen years. One of the thorniest issues I’ve faced as an educator is a stigma around being smart. Even bright, curious, motivated students will sometimes hold themselves back to prevent being seen as “too smart” or a “nerd.” It’s maddening for teachers and parents alike, but D’Evelyn is different. I chose D’Evelyn because there’s no stigma about being smart. Within this school, it’s respected to work hard at learning. It’s the norm for students to dedicate themselves to their studies. Students who “geek out” about WWII, studying the violin, or the etymology of a word are not marginalized. They’re a valued part of the culture, and this is part of the reason that students at D’Evelyn excel. Yes, they’re exposed to a rigorous curriculum, steeped in challenging, enduring ideas, but students at D’Evelyn are also surrounded by kids who think like them, who want to learn. Because of the high value placed on learning, every student is able to achieve at a high level. It’s the norm rather than the exception, and it’s not stigmatized. Earlier this year, I received a new D’Evelyn t-shirt. It’s a throwback from a shirt that used to be common among the students years ago. You can see mockup of it below: The back identifies us as the “D’Evelyn Nerd Herd.” Originally the term was intended as an insult, used to taunt D’Evelyn at a sporting event. Instead of being insulted, the student body embraced the name and had shirts made. This is a place where it’s ok to value learning. It’s ok to “geek out,” and it’s ok to be a “nerd.” For this self-proclaimed nerd, that makes it a place I can belong, and it’s why I chose D’Evelyn.
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