Tag Archives: Nisa Frank

Farewell Interview with Nisa Frank

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Ms. Frank, we will miss you, what will you miss most about Hamlin?

Hamlin has felt like home to me, and like anytime you move away from home you miss all the things that made it feel that way. The warmth of the community, the joy of the girls, and the support of my colleagues are all things that I will miss, dearly. 

How has your time at Hamlin changed you or helped you grow as a person?

It is now impossible for me to see the world without the mark that women have made in it. I will always look for the stories that don’t exist and seek that perspective to support the critical thinking necessary to change the world. Hamlin has fueled this quest for knowledge. 

What are you looking forward to in your new leadership role?

I am looking forward to having a broader impact on learning, especially having the opportunity to work with both lower and middle school students. I look forward to working with a community, that like Hamlin values social justice and equity as necessary pillars of change. 

What parting advice would you like to give to our Hamlin girls?

Stay fully present in the moment. You have an opportunity to do all that you want to, right now! Don’t think you need to “grow up” to do things that require the courage to lead.

Ms. Frank will be the Head of School at Prospect Sierra next year.

Parenting During Turbulent Times: A Conversation

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On April 10, forty people gathered at The Hamlin School for a rich discussion focused on parenting during stressful times. The world has always contained choppy waters, but current “challenges of our time” bring the turbulence of ecological disasters, school shootings, sexual harassment, institutional racism, and other ongoing events that erode our resilience.

Wanda M. Holland Greene and Nisa Frank led a profound conversation focused on parenting with perspective, reflection, and optimism.

Here are some of the core ideas that surfaced:

-There is a delicate balance between protecting innocence and having a child be ignorant.

-It is important to have a plan for discussing current events with your child.

-Turbulent times exist in the neighborhoods of some children.

-We must continue to ask questions about our own fears. Underneath our fear of school shootings is the idea that not everyone in our society is well. Rather than get into all of the specifics about shootings, we can lead from our value of “equity” and tell our children that there are unwell people with unmet needs.

-Rather than allowing fear to rule our thinking about homelessness, we can teach our children empathy, optimism, and compassion to act to help others.

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May You Be Well: Professional Development Day

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This year’s theme is May You Be Well. The words are derived from a Buddhist blessing and set us forth to take care of each other and our community throughout the school year. This means we strive for balance, and work to enrich and focus on our relationships, while continuing to create an excellent academic program. May You Be Well is a theme that also encourages our faculty to model a positive example for students, demonstrating how we can live and work with less stress.

On the morning of November 1, Hamlin employees let go of their laptops and put wellness into practice. The day started with inspiring words from our Head of School, Wanda M. Holland Greene, followed by a meditation session led by Hamlin parent, Ara Goolumian. At 9 a.m. employees departed for various self-selected activities.

Personal wellness included:

Yoga, Zumba, Meditation, Hiking in the Presidio, and Mindful Eating

Two groups also visited Compass Family Services and North Beach Citizens to learn about how those organizations are helping to support wellness for people facing homelessness.

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