The Outdoor Academy Names New Head of School

Words from Michael:

“The trout lilies are coming up around Indian Village, the garden has been tilled, and the willow tree down by The Lake has begun its slow spring greening, though a little early this year. It is a time to think about planting seeds in preparation for the abundance of summer and fall. So, it feels like a perfect time to greet you as incoming Head of School for The Outdoor Academy. I am thrilled and humbled with the opportunity to lead our school into its next phase. Mark’s hard work and dedicated service have put us in a position of strength, and I am confident that continued great things are in our future. As our world becomes more and more wired and highly integrated, it is important for all of us to have a quiet place to feel rooted. These woods and buildings are that place for many of you and will continue to be so for everyone that comes through here. Students often express a sense of relief at being free of the stream of information they are bombarded with at home, instead finding a space where they can authentically connect with each other and the natural world that is always around us. At the same time that we are rooted in this place and its traditions, we must continue to find ways to connect with the wider world and build a sustainable future. At OA, we provide students with a versatile, valuable set of skills that prepares them to be flexible, resilient citizens of the 21st century. By taking ownership of their own experience and their own education, students develop the character they need to feel empowered to create change in their own lives and their home communities. The education we offer at Eagle’s Nest is an increasingly valuable resource in an unpredictable world, and we can continue to position ourselves as innovators in the field of experiential learning, creating engaged and influential environmental leaders. 

Over the course of my life and career, it is this kind of committed, integrated, and experiential education that has been exciting and inspiring to me. I grew up in Garland, Texas, playing in the creek behind our house and increasingly venturing out to Dallas and all the excitement and challenge that the city has to offer. Taking a break from SMU for my junior year, I studied English at University College London in the heart of the metropolis. Reading the Romantic poets on Hampstead Heath and Dickens on Fleet Street brought the history and beauty of literature alive for me, and I committed myself to the study of English and the profession of teaching. After college, I worked as a tutor and consultant for Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes, helping students with dyslexia and other learning challenges maximize their potential. It remains one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, and since then I have received training in Orton-Gillingham Multi-sensory Education and continue to have an interest in education for students with learning differences. I did my graduate work in English at Indiana University in Bloomington, earning my Ph.D. with a concentration in 19th century American literature and a minor in film studies. While there, I began to travel extensively in Central America during breaks, and I became increasingly attracted to the wild beauty of the jungle and cloud forest. My explorations informed my dissertation, which examined the relationship between photography and wilderness in the 19th century, particularly the contrast between images of the wide-open spaces of the American West and the tangle of the Central American Tropics. Also as a result of my travels, I became involved with Where There Be Dragons, and helped design and lead their first trip in Guatemala. My work with Dragons cemented my commitment to be an experiential educator. I remember exploring the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal with my students, watching them extend themselves out of their comfort zone physically and intellectually, and saying to myself, “This is the kind of teaching I want to do.” I met my wife, Susan Tinsley Daily, at the Dragons’ orientation a couple of years later, and we made our way to Asheville then down to Pisgah Forest. Susan had served as the English Teacher at OA for Semesters 7 and 8, and we both knew that it was a place we wanted to be when the chance presented itself. She has been the Dean of Students for 4 years now, and we have happily settled into our life here with our son Noah, 4 and half, and Wren, nearly two. We love this land, this life, and the work we do every day. Over the next several months, all of us here will be working together to provide a seamless transition in leadership, and I can’t wait to get to work. I look forward to meeting many of you in person soon, either this summer or next fall at our 85th reunion. Our community extends far and wide, and together we can continue the vital work of our mission. ”