Connecting Through the Years

One of the founding principles of the Center School is the power of connection. When students feel seen, safe, and valued, incredible things can happen. They take risks, build meaningful relationships, and grow in ways we might not expect. At the Center School, we believe that connection is at the heart of deep, lasting learning.

To explore how this sense of connection has shaped the Center School over its 43-year history, we turned to some of the people who know it best. Center School alum, current parent of a Mup (2nd/3rd grade), and New York Times producer Sara Curtis interviewed two key voices from our community: Ruth Charney and Josie Dulles. Ruth, one of the Center School’s founders, taught here for more than 20 years. Josie, the current 8th-grade homeroom teacher, has been part of the school community for 11 years.

Ruth and Josie each share their reflections on how the power of connection shapes our community — between students and teachers, within classrooms, and beyond our walls. Their stories remind us why nurturing strong relationships is at the heart of the Center School’s mission.

Click on the images below to experience the interviews.