24 Omarlla Roulhac Park’s Head of Lower School has a passion for professional development and has found a renewed sense of energy for education at Park. Describe your personal path and how you found your way into your current role at Park. My relationship with The Park School dates back to 15 years ago. My former school, at the time, had a partnership with Park where we would bring our students over to have collaborative lessons together using the outdoor space and campus resources. From that moment, I had learned that Park was full of wonder, exploration and a school filled with so many rich and unique resources and opportunities. Fast forward to the current day, after 19 years working at a charter elementary school as an educator and school leader, I inquired about the position of Head of Lower School. Lisa Conrad took me on a full tour of the school, and I was sold immediately! I couldn’t believe that I would be making such a huge change after being at my other school my entire career, but through that change I have learned so much about myself, and it’s given me a renewed sense of energy about education and personal growth. Where did you go to college? I have an Undergraduate Degree in Elementary Education from Buffalo State College, and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Buffalo State College. I hold a permanent certification for PreK-Grade 6. Tell us about one engaging project or lesson that’s happened in your division so far this year. “I love my forehead because it holds my brain and tells me to be kind to friends and family.” -Lincoln “The best part of me is my mouth, it helps others to make their frowns go away by telling a funny joke or saying kind words.” - Emmeline There have been so many exciting and engaging projects this year in Lower School, but one that sticks out to me is the 4th grade writing project, “The Best Part of Me” (excerpts of which are shared above). This project was a unique look into the perspectives of how children see themselves. Inspired by the book written by Wendy Ewald, students reflected on what they believed was their best quality and why. These statements were accompanied by the most beautiful black and white photos of the students. Each day we make every effort to make sure that all students feel significant and have a sense of belonging. We hope that students will truly feel that every day they enter the school building they know that we value all they have to offer. What has been your favorite Park moment so far? I was recently able to join the 2nd grade class with Mr. Jon from Earth Spirit during one of their outside lessons. Our exploration ended with an excavation of a snapping turtle’s hole where she laid eggs. Last June, we witnessed the turtle digging the hole and laying her eggs, 50 at a time! Everyone sprang into action to protect the area from the other animals around campus. We kept a close and careful watch over the area in the weeks and months to follow. At the end of August, the eggs hatched, and we were then able to excavate to see what remained. Lots of shell casings were collected by the students and Mrs. Wood. To our surprise, we noticed a very tiny snapping turtle near the pond and were able to help it back to the water. The class plans to do further research with the remains following the excavation. This was one of many handson learning opportunities that our amazing campus allows us to do each day. Do you have a favorite spot on campus? The Circle. This spot is at the heart of the campus. It is a place where the whole community gathers for special events, important ceremonies, traditional Park moments, and summer camp celebrations. In the middle of the Circle is a grassy area with a small fire pit (where the seniors cook their special chili every year at Country Fair), student projects are on display, and picnic tables are arranged for sitting outdoors and enjoying the fresh air. The campus animals love this area too. It is a common hangout spot for the geese and the deer who love to munch on the apples that fall from the trees. There is also a street sign located at the Circle that is named after Park students each year as a result of an Auction item. The Circle has also been the host spot for the Grade 3 overnight camping event, Trunk or Treating, and outdoor yoga sessions. What is one thing that you would like the WNY community to know about Park? We don’t just say it, we do it! Park prides itself on living out its mission. We are a diverse community, and we make every effort to celebrate that in all that we do. We value the process of learning and problem solving. We are intentional about collaboration and community building. Our offerings can be tailored to student interest. Students thrive here because they can be themselves. It is a place where students and teachers feel like they belong and are part of a family. What are the challenges of working with Lower School students? One challenge that comes with working with younger students is that children change and grow so fast. For this reason, I am passionate about professional development and providing tools and resources to teachers to help keep up with this everchanging population of learners. Continuing to find new and innovative ways to deliver instruction in a way that captures young minds is so important. Why is the type of education provided at Park important to this age group? It is important for young children to have many different opportunities and modalities for learning. Our small classroom setting allows teachers to tailor their craft to match the different learning styles throughout their classroom. Our comprehensive Lower School curriculum allows children to develop physically, emotionally, and socially as well as cognitively. This is supported by rich hands-on learning experiences, collaborative projects, concrete teaching models, cross-divisional opportunities, and careful monitoring of student learning throughout the school year. We use our entire campus and immerse the students in real-life problem-solving skills at an early age. What are your hobbies? I really enjoy crafting and interior design. I’ve also taken up a new hobby of candle making. I am great at organizing as well, so often I will take on small projects and help other people organize their spaces in my spare time. What are your hopes for Park over the next five years? I hope that I can help Park continue to be a leader in education across WNY. It would be great to see Park expand its community outreach and continue to diversify the staff and student body. Collaboration with other elementary schools is also something I am very passionate about. I love when we can bring thoughts and ideas together from outside of the Park community. I am excited about our 5-year strategic plan and all the ideas we have for updating and renovating the spaces on campus. I would also love to help bring back some of the traditional events that were lost due to the pandemic and also create new ones!
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