Our Mission
The Heights Forum is a department of The Heights School. We assist parents, school leaders, and teachers in their own efforts to educate boys into men fully alive. Through in-person and digital resources we share our experience in forming the hearts and minds of boys, and invite you to join the conversation.
2024 Art of Teaching Conference Welcomes 55 Educators to Campus
Last week, The Heights welcomed 55 educators to campus for its second bi-annual Art of Teaching Conference. The participants came from 12 states, as well as Canada, Portugal, and Mexico. Designed primarily for new teachers, the conference focused on essential pillars of education, including classroom management and discipline, pedagogy, and teaching methodologies. Sessions introduced attendees to The Heights School’s philosophy and vision of education—an approach that seeks to engage students as active agents in their own learning. A session on mentoring expanded the traditional view of a teacher’s role, encouraging...
Living Simplicity
Advent invites us to reflect on our Christian disposition, oriented towards peace, hope, joy, and love. St. Josemaría Escrivá was known to summarize that disposition by calling it, simply… “simple.” In The Way, he praises the apostles and St. Joseph for imitating Jesus himself in being simple. And then he exhorts us: “May you not lack simplicity.” Heights faculty Joe Cardenas and Nate Gadiano join us this week to explore the Christian meaning of “simplicity,” beginning with the ways that God is simple: unified, sincere, essential, and wholly true. As...
How the Flying Monkeys Got Their Wings
By Mark Grannis
Wicked will now take a one-year intermission. Enjoy the snacks at the concession stand. By far the most important thing to know about the film release of Wicked is this: it’s only Act One of the musical. This caught me by surprise, because the film is called Wicked (rather than, say, Wicked, Act One or Something Bad Is Happening in Oz or even How the Flying Monkeys Got Their Wings). And I had noticed that the run time was 2:40, which seemed about right for a Broadway musical adaptation. When...
A Doctor, a Lawyer, and a Cop Walk Into a Boys School
In this episode of the Forum Faculty Podcast, middle school teacher Rob Liotta, upper school teacher Mark Grannis, and lower school teacher Josue Zelaya—discuss their transitions from careers in policing, law, and medicine, respectively, to teaching. They share their backstories, motivations for changing careers, and how their previous experiences shape their approach in the classroom. The discussion also dives into the skills they bring into teaching and advice for those considering a similar career switch. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Teacher Podcast 00:10 Meet the Guests: Transitioning to Teaching 01:11 Josue Zelaya: From...