Head of School's Blog

Planning for Improvisation

Kim Ridley, Head of School
Welcome to December! School has been in session for approximately 13 weeks, and as one teacher wisely put it, “We’re out of the honeymoon phase. I know my students now—they’ve shown me how they learn best.” Translation? The comfy slippers of routine are on, but we’re still lacing up our running shoes for growth and experimentation.

Speaking of experimentation, a podcast I listened to recently got me thinking about life’s twists and turns. The episode, fittingly titled “Approaches to Life: Should You Follow a Plan, Make a Hard Pivot, or Improvise as You Go?” featured three perspectives:
  • Improvisation: One speaker, a musician, raved about ditching plans entirely, claiming improvisation sparks creativity and excitement.
  • Hard pivots: The kind you make when the unexpected smacks you in the face.
  • Following a plan: The structured roadmaps we cling to for comfort (and hopefully, success).
Three people were featured, and a story associated with each of these perspectives was shared. The first story was about a person who described himself as a musician. A strong preference for improvisation was described, as he was critical of planning. “Improvisation makes life interesting and leads to more creativity and excitement. [...] Humans improvise all the time,” he lamented. He challenged listeners to notice how improvisation shows up in our lives. So, I reflected on the many ways we improvise, plan, and make hard pivots at Fayerweather.

Take the 1-2 math class I recently visited. The lesson plan was clear—decomposing numbers with visual aids. But as the lesson was taught, I noticed how the teacher made a few hard pivots to support students who needed more support to understand this concept. Directions were given for seatwork, and yet another student asked for clarification. The teacher improvised on the spot with another example that nailed the concept.

That’s teaching magic: part plan, part pivot, part jazz solo. Then there’s COVID—the hard pivot of all hard pivots. Overnight, we reimagined schooling entirely. Now, we have our strategic plan: a thoughtful, collaborative roadmap that captures our collective dreams for the school’s future. 

We know what happens to the best laid plans…  

Another way of saying this is that life loves a curveball. Even with a plan, we know we will face moments demanding quick pivots and bursts of improvisation.

As the National Association of Independent Schools put it: thriving in a world of shifting demographics, rising costs, and economic uncertainty requires flexibility. Luckily for us, Fayerweather’s secret sauce is just that: a history of adaptability, creativity, and leaning into change with curiosity and courage.

Personally, I’m a “follow the plan” type—I even blame recipes when my cooking flops. Yet my best meals? Total improvisations. Like my paella, where I’ve swapped spices, meats, and veggies for combos that (mostly) turned out great. Improvisation is about being responsive, bold, and attuned to what’s happening in the moment.

Here’s to plans that guide us, pivots that surprise us, and improvisations that remind us how resourceful and resilient we really are. Let’s keep flexing and thriving, one approach at a time!

In partnership,
Kim
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Fayerweather Street School | 765 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138 | 617-876-4746
Fayerweather is a private PreK, kindergarten, elementary and middle school. We engage each child’s intellect.