A Letter from the Head of School

Dear TIS Community,

Welcome to The Independent School! I am so grateful you are here.

There is something deeply special about TIS. You can feel it when you walk through the doors. It is in the way teachers know their students, not just by name, but by heart. It is in the way students are challenged to think deeply, try bravely, create boldly, and grow into themselves. It is in the way this community shows up for one another in big, beautiful, ordinary, and extraordinary ways.

Before I had the honor of serving as Head of School, I came to TIS as a parent. I have seen firsthand what this school can do in the life of a child and in the life of a family. TIS has become one of the most meaningful communities in my life, and I do not take lightly the privilege of helping lead it forward.

At The Independent School, we believe children can be both deeply loved and deeply challenged. We believe excellence and belonging belong together. We believe students should be known, supported, stretched, and celebrated. We believe school should be a place where children discover not only what they are capable of doing, but who they are becoming.

We also believe deeply in a growth mindset. Students are not finished products. None of us are. Learning requires courage. It asks us to try, to make mistakes, to receive feedback, to begin again, and to discover that struggle is not a sign of failure. It is often the very place where growth begins. At TIS, we want students to build the confidence to say, “I cannot do this yet,” and the resilience to keep going.

As Head of School, my commitment is to lead with clarity, care, and communication. Strong schools are built on trust, and trust is built through relationships and a shared sense of purpose. I want our families to feel informed and connected. I want our faculty and staff to feel supported and valued. Most of all, I want every student to feel that TIS is a place where they are known, where they matter, and where they can grow.

We are proud to be a rigorous, college preparatory school. We are also proud to be a joyful, human, heart-filled school. Those things are not in competition with each other. In fact, when we are at our best, they strengthen one another. Students do their best learning in a community where they feel safe enough to take risks, supported enough to persevere, and challenged enough to become more than they thought possible.

As we look ahead, I am excited to protect and strengthen what makes TIS so special while also guiding us forward with intention. We will continue to invest in an excellent student experience, strong faculty and staff support, clear communication, healthy enrollment, and the long-term sustainability of this school we all love.

Whether you are a current family, a prospective family, an alum, a grandparent, a community partner, or a friend of TIS, I hope you feel invited into the life of this school. TIS is not just a place students attend. It is a community they carry with them.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. Thank you for believing in this school. Thank you for being part of the Panther family.

I am honored, grateful, and genuinely thrilled for all that is ahead.

With gratitude,

Jessica Stong
Head of School
jessica.stong@theindependentschool.com; 316.686.0152 ext. 414