Reconnecting with Friends
One of the great joys of gatherings like the LMAIS Day of Play is the people you unexpectedly get to see again. Early in the day, I ran into longtime friend and colleague Geordie Jones, which immediately grounded the experience for me. Geordie spent twenty years at RPMS and is a founding member of our middle school program. He served as its director after transitioning out of the classroom and helped shape the program into what it is today. It was genuinely wonderful to see him thriving in his new role as Director of Instruction and Student Support at the Chicago Jesuit Academy, where he is doing important and meaningful work.
A World-Class Space
The LMAIS Day of Play itself was an energizing, affirming reminder of why gathering with thoughtful educators matters so much. Hosted at Lake Forest Academy, the day began in a truly world-class facility. The space rivals many college campuses I’ve seen, and the proximity of the gym to the meeting area made it an ideal setting, especially for hosting an active, experiential session like the Sustainability Game. The environment alone set the tone for a day built around movement, reflection, and play.
A Keynote That Stuck
Before my session, we were treated to an outstanding keynote by Jill Vialet, who managed to pull the rug out from under us in the best possible way. One exercise in particular stood out. We paired up, and one person shared a moment when they felt proud and were doing well. The twist came when Jill asked the listening partner to recap the story in the first person, as if it were their own experience.
Thankfully, I was fully listening—because zoning out while thinking about my upcoming presentation would have made that moment painfully awkward. Instead, the exercise introduced me to Gerald Daye from North Shore Country Day School, an exceptional educator doing exciting work at the intersection of technology, teaching, and gamification. His use of escape rooms and simulations to create meaningful learning experiences is right up my alley. Without that simple pairing exercise, I likely wouldn’t have met him, which would have been an absolute shame. You can tell when you meet someone who is an emerging star in education.
Reflecting with Grace
When we switched roles, the exercise became a powerful act of reflection and grace. As a coach, I see firsthand how some of our strongest athletes can also be their harshest critics. If their audible self-talk is negative, imagine what’s happening internally. I often remind them that they would never speak to a teammate the way they speak to themselves. Jill’s exercise flipped that script. It forced us to focus on what is going well and to hear it reflected back through someone else’s voice, complete with their own interpretation and enthusiasm. It was affirming, grounding, and genuinely uplifting. An awesome exercise!
Playing the Sustainability Game
Then it was time for the Sustainability Game. I was fortunate to have a group that was fully engaged, thoughtful, and strategic throughout. They played so well the first time that I asked them to pause and imagine how students might approach the game in their initial attempts. That shift sparked deeper reflection, and even after the game ended, participants continued uncovering metaphors and insights embedded in the design.
It was also great to see fellow CAMS athletic directors Tayé Brown and Malcolm Scott in the room—they played beautifully and added a lot to the experience.
Hula-Hoop Lessons
After lunch, I shifted from facilitator to participant. One session stood out immediately: learning an athletic skill that has eluded me my entire life—hula hooping. The session was led by Reyna Smith from North Park Elementary, our close neighbors, collaborators, and friendly rivals. Reyna offered cues and prompts for hooping that she jokingly admitted sounded like “hippie logic,” and then we got to work.
And then…
the hoop dropped.
Again.
And again.
I wish I could tell you I succeeded. I did not.
To Reyna’s credit, nearly everyone else who started the session unable to hula hoop was hooping by the end. My victory was smaller but still meaningful: I didn’t quit. Every fiber of my being wanted to stop after the fiftieth failed attempt. What kept me going was an intrusive thought I ended up sharing with the group. Not What Would Jesus Do?—but something eerily similar: What would I want my son to do? When he’s frustrated, I want him to keep trying. So I stayed, kept going, and modeled what I hope for him, even when he wasn’t there to see it.
So thank you, Reyna—not for teaching me how to hula hoop, but for giving me the opportunity to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk.
Wrapping Up
The next session I attended was fine, though I should have trusted my instincts and gone to Gerald’s presentation. I caught the tail end of it, and it looked dynamic and engaging. Next time, Gerald!
The day closed with Jason Patera, a gifted storyteller who wrapped the experience together beautifully. Overall, the LMAIS Day of Play was a rich, thoughtful, and joyful experience—one I’d strongly encourage more LMAIS members to attend in the future.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Finally, a huge and heartfelt thank you to Dr. Sally Sharp, who somehow puts these events together beautifully, seemingly single-handedly, as a part-time gig. That level of care, organization, and vision does not go unnoticed. It was wonderful seeing her again, and LMAIS is incredibly fortunate to have someone who brings people together with such intention and grace.
Thank you to everyone who joined my session, and to all the educators I had the pleasure of connecting with throughout the day. It truly lived up to its name.
