Living Lovett

S10E7 Head of School Meredyth Cole returns to the Living Lovett podcast for the Season 10 finale. Associate Head of School Jessica Sant and Meredyth Cole reflect on the school's evolution during its Centennial year. After becoming Lovett's Head of School in 2018, Meredyth discusses the intentional work of clarifying the school's identity and strengthening its organizational systems while staying t...

S10E6 Heads of School Week continues on the Living Lovett podcast. Billy Peebles sits down to reflect on his 15-year tenure as head of school at the Lovett School from 2003 to 2018. Billy was at the helm when Living Lovett host and Associate Head of School Jessica Sant first joined Lovett , making this conversation particularly poignant. Peebles describes inheriting a strong foundation from his pr...

S10E5 Some of the most essential experiences of Lovett started under the tenure Dr. Jim Hendrix (Head of School, 1991-2003.) The four days in the Pisgah wilderness at the end of junior year (fondly known as JOE); the distinctive American Studies program; Siempre Verde; and what's now known as the Learning Lab all had their start during these years. It's Heads of School Week on the Living Lovett po...

S10E4 When Christina Dahabreh arrived on the riverbank as a sixth grader, she had to adjust: harder classes, new expectations, and new classmates who were not yet friends. But then, just seven years later, Christina received the Eva Edwards Lovett Founder's Medal , our highest honor for a senior. She also left behind a legacy of clubs that hadn't existed before, a class that felt like family, and...

S10E3 A new building is taking shape in the heart of Lovett's campus, named for one of our own. Rita Anne Rollins , the eldest child of Randall and Peggy Rollins, was a member of the Class of 1972, whose years at Lovett were cut short. Her brother and sisters, Pam, Tim, and Amy, all went on to graduate from Lovett, and through their generosity, Rita Anne's name will rest at the center of our campu...

S10E2 Some friendships start on a playground. The Little Lovett friendship of Fontaine Draper and Alan Elsas began on a first-grade stage, with one classmate in rabbit ears and the other playing the rabbit's mother. Now, just over 70 years later, Fontaine and Alan join Associate Head of School Jessica Sant on the Living Lovett podcast to offer a tour of what Lovett was like when it was under the l...

S10E1 Who is Eva Edwards Lovett? When we talk about whole child education , we are describing her approach to teaching. Every day on this campus, in classrooms, on the fields, and along the river, we live out ideas she set in motion a century ago. And yet for many of us, Eva Edwards Lovett remains a name we know far better than the woman behind it. Season 10 of Living Lovett is here, and as we cel...

S9E6 What does meaningful parent partnership look like when it's working? In the Season 9 finale of Living Lovett, host Jessica Sant sits down with Lovett Parent Association (LPA) co-presidents Alice Sheets and Malvika Jhangiani : two busy parents who will tell you that saying yes before you're ready turned out to be one of the best decisions they made. Alice and Malvika reflect on what surprised...

S9E5 What would it mean for every person on a school campus—the teacher, the department chair, the custodian, the grounds crew—to end the year knowing that someone truly saw them? Not through a trinket or a mass email, but something personal, specific, and lasting. It turns out the answer might be as simple as a handwritten note—and at Lovett , a team of colleagues decided to find out. In this epi...

S9E4 What does it look like when a leader pours herself fully into a place — and leaves it fundamentally better than she found it? In this episode of Living Lovett, Jessica Sant sits down with Associate Head of School Chelle Wabrek to celebrate seven years of growth, impact, and deep investment in The Lovett School community. Chelle reflects on what drew her to Lovett , what she learned about hers...

S9E3 What does it take to lead when the path forward isn't what you planned? In this episode of Living Lovett , Josh Moore '15 shares his journey from Lovett student to serving as President of the Black Alumni Council and being an Account Manager at Lockton Companies—a path shaped by unexpected setbacks, bold choices, and the confidence to say yes even when he wasn't sure he was ready. Host Jessic...

S9E2 What happens when you remove the performance pressure and simply let two students explore each other's leadership journeys? In this episode of Living Lovett, you'll hear something different—seniors Will Byrne and Ford Tedder interview each other as part of their Ethical Leadership class, an assignment that asks them to reflect on their values, struggles, and growth as leaders. Host Jessica Sa...

S9E1 Curious about what really happens behind the scenes in Lovett's admission process? In this Season 9 premiere of Living Lovett, you'll hear directly from the people who welcome families into our community every day: Dr. Tim Pitchford (Senior Director of Admission and Financial Aid), Virginia French (Lower School Associate Director), Jack Parrish (Middle School Associate Director), and Carolina...

S8E9 One value, dignity , has the capacity to build bridges during disputes, build stronger communities, and honor other human beings. The power of dignity is what brings Donna Hicks, PhD to this season finale of Living Lovett. Dr. Hicks is an expert in international conflict resolution, and discusses with host Jessica Sant the profound role of dignity in resolving conflicts and building stronger...

S8E8 How does the parent perspective fit in with The Lovett School's partnership with Challenge Success? Three parent leaders join Living Lovett host and Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant to discuss their experience volunteering for the Challenge Success initiative, and the importance of community, intentionality, and partnership between families and the school. Christopher Cooper, Bliss Stone...

S8E7 Students don't just attend Lovett, they are known by teachers and staff; they are appreciated for who they are and who they are growing to be . Meredyth Cole, Head of School , joins Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant for a reflective conversation on Lovett's core values and educational approach. Together, they discuss the importance of clarity and intentionality in defining who Lovett is a...

S8E6 The challenges and opportunities of parenting and educating children in a technology-saturated world are significant. Family counselor Teddi Bair joins Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant to talk about the impact of screen time on children's development, the importance of modeling healthy technology habits, and the need for emotional connection between parents, educators, and kids. Drawing...

S8E5 Janet Gibbon , Director of Strategic Partnerships at Gallup, joins Jessica Sant , Chief Engagement Officer at the Lovett School, discuss our multi-year partnership focused on enhancing engagement and well-being across the Lovett community. Using Gallup's data-driven tools, including the Q12 employee engagement survey and the Clifton Strengths assessment, the experiences of students, staff, an...

S8E4 In this episode, recovering gambling addict and speaker Saul Malek shares his personal experience with gambling addiction, describing how a casual bet in college escalated into a serious problem that affected his finances, relationships, and academic life. Saul discusses the increasing accessibility and normalization of online gambling among young people , the role of social media and peer in...

S8E3 Colleen Dieselhurst a registered dietician with extensive experience in both acute and primary care joins Chief Engagement Officer and Living Lovett host Jessica Sant to talk about eating and nutrition for our kids. The discussion spans the challenges of feeding children and teens, from toddler food fears to the nutritional demands of puberty.  Colleen shares practical strategies for involvin...

S8E2 While the landscape of adolescent substance use continues to evolve, parents who stay informed and engaged have more power than they realize to guide their children toward healthy choices. Dr. Brian J. Dew , Department Chair of Counseling and Psychological Services at Georgia State University , joins Living Lovett host and Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant to discuss substance use trends,...

S8E1 At Lovett , we believe that when students are seen, supported, and valued for who they are, remarkable things happen. This kind of thriving requires more than excellent teaching: it requires intentional collaboration across every aspect of student life. Lovett's newly formed Faith and Flourishing Team embodies those values, and the members of this team are our guests on the Season 8 premiere...

S8E0 Kicking off next week: it's Season 8 of Living Lovett! For seven seasons, we've brought you stories from the Riverbank. Now, in Season 8, Lovett's Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant brings together inspiring experts to tackle the topics that matter most: substance awareness, digital wellness, healthy relationships with food, and creating environments where every child can thrive. Through r...

S7E8 BONUS - Thousands audition... Millions vote... Could it be a Lovett senior who wins?? Lovett's own Slater Nalley is a current contestant on American Idol . He joins us on this bonus episode of Living Lovett with upper school English and American Studies teacher Michele Davis to recount their unique story of bringing the song Traces of You to the American Idol stage. It all started in 10th gra...

S7E7 Middle school is a time of tremendous growth, discovery, and transition. An exciting yet challenging period when young people begin to define who they are beyond their families. For parents and educators alike, finding the right balance between support and independence makes the middle school years both rewarding and complex. Alisha Fisher , the new Head of Middle School at Lovett , shares he...