Joy In Learning, The Harley School's Podcast

"A community grows one seed at a time."   Middle School English students recently brought the book Seedfolks to life! Under the guidance of Mrs. Leary, students planted a dedicated garden in the Harley MicroFarm, bridging the gap between the written word and the natural world.   By researching seeds that matched their characters' backgrounds, students created a living map of the story. At Harley,...

What does it look like when biology leaps off the page and into the MakerSpace? Join 7/8 Grade Science teacher Carli Rivers as she discusses one of Harley’s Middle School projects: building 10-foot-tall oversized plant and animal cells.   Instead of just labeling a diagram, Carli’s students took to the MakerSpace to engineer life-sized models. Working in pairs to tackle specific parts of a cell, s...

In this episode, we sit down with Head of School Dr. Ryan Kimmet to tackle a growing crisis in modern education: the disappearance of play. While many schools view play as a luxury for the early years, The Harley School treats it as a critical engine for learning from Nursery through Grade 12. Dr. Kimmet dives into the science and strategy behind "protecting the sandbox." We discuss: Why Harley ma...

Beyond the Lens: The Storyteller Behind Harley’s Biggest Moments What does it mean to capture the "heart" of Harley? Our multimedia specialist, Art Rothfuss, shares his decade-long journey and the powerful philosophy that guides his work. Hear why he believes in treating every student with deep respect. Get a peek inside his unique project documenting the life-changing Harley Hospice Program—a cla...

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Kimmet, The Harley School's Head of School, on Fostering a Culture of Innovation and Creativity in Education, where we discuss those non-negotiable elements—from embracing "failing forward" to utilizing technology—required to cultivate essential critical thinking and problem-solving skills in today's students. Hear specific examples of innovative practices and e...

Join us for an insightful discussion with Dr. Kimmet, Harley's Head of School, on The Importance of Independent Education in Rochester, where we explore the unique contributions and critical value proposition of schools like Harley within the region's diverse ecosystem.

Join the creators of the musical song cycle "The BFF Notebook" for a discussion about their show and creative process. This warm and musical show is a look back at the shared childhood of two lifelong friends, Bridget and Amy.   The BFF Notebook, a journal where the friends wrote down their thoughts and dreams, serves as a unique record of their most formative years. This show unpacks a friendship...

An interview with The Harley School's new Head of School, Dr. Ryan Kimmet '95. The school's first alumni to take the helm.

Reporting from Minnesota today, Melissa Spiess '95 has an extensive background in using music as a way to heal people. Her two-decade-plus career includes founding Living Spirit Therapy, which specializes in neurologic music therapy services. Join us as we dive into her career, common misconceptions around music therapy, and what her specialized services do for people of all backgrounds.

Join me and none other than Harley's very own jazz aficionado, Mike Kaupa, as he shares stories of his life, evolution at Harley, and career working with everyone from jazz legends to Ray Charles. The awesomeness factor here is off the charts.

Join us for an conversation with Rusty Keeler, designer, author, and Vice President of the International Play Association, as we discuss into the transformative power of natural and risky play for children. Ahead of his visit to the Harley School on May 1st and 2nd, Rusty shares his passion for connecting kids with nature through play spaces filled with loose parts and opportunities for adventure....

"Indigenous Relationships to Fire" Jade Haumann's presentation on 4/22/2025 at The Harley School challenges the dominant fire narrative, revealing historical injustices and advocating for the inclusion of Indigenous ecological and cultural practices, while illuminating how our very language shapes our perception of fire, especially in the face of climate change. The program begins at 6:30 and is f...

Join me and Lydia Brown '15, a music therapist and life-long vocalist and musician with a creative arts therapy degree. In this episode, we talk about how music is deeply tied to our emotions and sense of rhythm and mood, what it takes to be a music therapist, and resist the urge to nerd out about Jacob Collier. The Harley School's Senior Capstone Program empowers Grade 12 students to design their...

Dive into the world of music therapy with board-certified music therapist Jen Trimble-Ford. We explore the mindsets and treatments she uses in a clinical setting, discuss the physiological effects music has on people, and address common misconceptions about the practice of music therapy. We also discuss principles of music theory that can be useful in accomplishing a patient's goals through the mu...

Tune in to our latest podcast to hear about "The Isaiah House Project: Lessons in Dying and Compassion." Join us as we explore the powerful story of The Isaiah House, a Rochester hospice serving the homeless, mentally ill, and addicted. Learn about the invaluable contributions of Harley faculty member Sybil Prince and our students who volunteer at this remarkable organization

Author and Democrat & Chronicle education reporter, Justin Murphy discusses segregation in Rochester-area schools.

Our Head of School, Larry Frye, chats with alum Bailey Smith '06 about her job as an Air Resources Engineer at the California Air Resources Board where she works on investment on underserved and overburdened communities via the Cap and Trade program.

Capstone Connect is a podcast following the journeys of Harley’s capstone students as they delve into their passions, fail every so often, and grow from their experiences. This is a platform for the students to share their stories and to connect with each other and other community members over their projects.

Our Head of School, Larry Frye, chats with alum Harmony Button '99 about the effects of the pandemic on education.

Join a Zoom panel of Harley School alumni active in the education field as we explore how the last two years have impacted the future of education. The COVID pandemic has forced educators to assess not only the new skills faculty and students have learned, but to use this as a pivotal moment to imagine the future. Guests include: Matt Budd ‘96, Director of Community Action, Berkeley Carroll School...