Rachel Elin-Saintine

When I first heard of Miquon in the Spring of 2015, I had recently moved from New York City and was hoping to find a school in the Philadelphia area that aligned with my progressive pedagogical practice.

On one of my initial visits, I watched each student in the 2nd and 3rd grades find a way to contribute to an end-of-year production on the Playbarn. While this was a big and spectacular culminating event, I could see all of the work that went into it to get to this point—the students conducted extensive research, some wrote the lines and designed the choreography, others performed front and center, and many sewed costumes and painted the backdrops.

I was sold—I had to be here. It was clear that this was a place that encouraged children to dive into their own interests, a place that challenged students and adults alike to explore new ideas, and a place that nurtured curiosity.

Over my years here, I also discovered the most supportive community and a place where I continue to grow and make mistakes.

I couldn’t be more lucky to come to work here in this beautiful valley.