Meet Milissa McClaire Gary of The Nautilus School In Beverly

Today we’d like to introduce you to Milissa McClaire Gary.

Milissa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Beverly and currently live here with my husband, two sons, our dog, and three chickens.

I have been an educator for about 13 years in many different roles. My work has allowed me to visit dozens and dozens of schools and meet hundreds of teachers. In the last few years, I’ve had the chance to be part of incredible research around neuroscience and how we learn. I have been blown away by what all of it means for the future of education. I am committed to seeing the school in a new way.

In the midst of all this, colleagues and I kept saying to ourselves. “Wow! When WE build our school we should *fill in the blank*” It was always a joke… until it wasn’t. About a year and a half ago, I started getting really serious about exploring this idea. My oldest son was thriving in a great Montessori pre-school, and I couldn’t imagine him in a traditional kindergarten – Not now that I was armed with this new information and experience. I wanted something different for him, that reflected the current science of learning. I wanted something small, research- and strengths-based, community-driven and truly learner-centered.

I had never considered myself an entrepreneur, but I had to ask myself, why not me? If I know what I’m looking for, why don’t I make it? If I surround myself with an amazing team, what could we build? If we had the chance to create the school of our dreams for our kids, what would it look like? Turns out, there are a lot of us asking ourselves the same questions. We don’t have all the answers yet, but we’re getting closer every day. We are building The Nautilus School.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been smooth, but it has been a lot of fun! We are building from scratch, so there is always a lot for us to learn. Just when we think we’ve got something figured out, we realize that there are more steps in the process. There have been a lot of “two steps forward, one step back” moments but we are resilient!

I am fortunate enough to have surrounded myself with a brilliant, creative, and generous team. We are able to problem-solve when things are tough – and there is enough work for everyone to go around.

One thing that has been really tough is that there never seems to be enough time! In addition to creating the school, we all have full-time jobs, children, and relationships, hobbies. I am always shocked and humbled by how much we have been able to do… and how much lies ahead of us.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Nautilus School – what should we know?
The Nautilus School is an independent school empowering students to explore their world and drive their learning through a learner-centered education leveraged by their unique strengths, curiosity, and the community. Our inaugural class will be 10-15 students, ages 4-7 and we will add additional students each year. We’re founded by a group of local parents and educators invested in creating an innovative, learner-centered option for the community.

Rooted in current educational research and brain science, we’re designing a learning environment that is flexible and designed to meet the needs of all learners. Beginning with investigating how each child learns best, our competency-based curriculum allows each student to investigate topics through experiences, resources, and texts that are developmentally appropriate and aligned to student strengths, interests and needs.

We like to think of ourselves as a re-imagined one-room schoolhouse that allows students of various ages and abilities to learn in a shared space. The learner-centered curriculum allows each student to investigate topics through experiences, resources and texts that are developmentally appropriate and aligned to student strengths. Students work at their own pace, as valued members of our learning community.

Located in a beautiful church building in Beverly, learning at Nautilus is not limited to the walls of our classroom. Students will spend time outdoors every day, weather permitting. Within walking distance to several of the city’s great parks, forest preserves, libraries, and local businesses, we view our neighbors and the community as an extension of our classroom.

Our commitment to a dynamic, learner-centered environment is rooted in the following core values: Fostering a safe space; Ensuring equity; Leveraging student strengths and interests; Cultivating agency; Believing that every student can. These values guide every aspect of our development and reflect our assertion that there are no “average” learners.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Oh my goodness… This list could go on!

I have had an amazing mentor in a woman named Sharon Grady. Our board and steering committee have been instrumental in getting this vision off the ground – in planning events, getting the word out, connecting us to other supporters, and providing legal counsel. This includes Mallory McClaire, Dena Jodway, and Olga Gutierrez.

Finding a space was one of the most immediate challenges, and we are so grateful to have a found a home at the Church of the Holy Nativity. The community has been so welcoming and has really invested in this project.

I’d like to acknowledge Tony Castro who is a very talented illustrator and designer responsible for our branding.

Whitney Architects, and Richard Lott, in particular, have been invaluable in helping us design a beautiful space that reflects our vision.

A special thanks to Terri McCabe and Sarena Griffin – two board members who have done above and beyond in curriculum planning, providing feedback, outreach, and the search for our perfect teacher. And of course, a huge thanks to my sons for being the inspiration and my husband, Brandon, who has bought into to this crazy project and supported us 100%.

 

Contact Info:

• Address: 1917 W 93Rd Street Chicago, IL 60643
• Website: www.NautilusSchoolChicago.org
• Phone: 773.462.4223
• Email: info@NautilusSchoolChicago.org

       

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