By Mary Hammers, Hillbrook writer
Hillbrook’s new Head of Middle School, Amy Hand, is hitting the ground running. This marathon veteran has already made her mark on the local running scene by placing second in her age group in the Dammit Run in Los Gatos this past August. Running around after her two young children no doubt has helped her build stamina. Hand’s daughter Winnie is 3 years old and in preschool, while her son Angus is 5 and in kindergarten at Hillbrook.
Since her arrival at Hillbrook in July, Hand has also logged serious miles getting familiar with the campus. As any student or faculty member will tell you, it’s not hard to get your steps in when you are trekking from classroom to classroom around the 14-acre campus. As she gets the lay of the land at Hillbrook, Hand has set a goal of meeting with each middle school teacher individually and getting to know all of the 5th-8th grade students as well. Additionally, she spent the fall visiting classrooms and trying to soak in the Hillbrook culture, from Integrated Studies, to Middle School Advisories, the Reach Beyond Block, and Capstone projects. Hand calls this her “year of learning” adding that “It has been inspiring to see what’s going on in the classrooms today. I have been so impressed by the learning that is happening here.”
Hand says since her first visit to Hillbrook she’s been struck by the warmth of Hillbrook, from the dedicated adults who work here, the wonderful students, and the larger parent community that make Hillbrook special. Philosophically, she also aligns with Hillbrook’s Mission and Vision as well as its commitment to inquiry-based and student-centered learning. Coming in as a division head, Hand says she was impressed by the strong faculty culture at Hillbrook characterized by positivity and mutual respect. Says Hand, “I am excited to be at a middle school that puts their money where its mouth is in terms of teacher collaboration. The faculty culture here is impressive. Teachers at Hillbrook speak glowingly about their colleagues and the incredible work they do day-to-day, and that just doesn’t happen everywhere.”
Before becoming Middle School Division Head at Hillbrook, Hand worked as an educator for 17 years in New York City. She has taught both middle and upper school math, served as the Middle School Dean of Student Life and Leadership at Spence School, and most recently as the Middle School and Upper School Math Department Head at Packer Collegiate. In 2017, she co-founded MathSense, a consulting firm that provides curriculum guidance to administrators and tailored on-site professional development to math departments. Hand says her “math brain” comes in handy as she considers systems and operations in Hillbrook’s middle school. She has already begun to streamline some of the procedural work for teachers in regards to Reach Beyond and Electives so they can focus more time on instructional efforts. Hand says her goal this year is to find a balance where her experience can be helpful to the educational program while still respecting teachers’ autonomy.
For Amy and her family, the move west meant leaving their home and friends in Brooklyn, but it also brings them closer to their families in Colorado and California. Amy and her husband Erik are enchanted by the natural beauty of California and the ample opportunities for hiking and camping excursions with their young family. They have already explored Tahoe, as well as Henry Coe and Big Basin State Parks, and are eager to find more family-friendly spots.
When she’s not running or hiking, Amy enjoys reading, especially memoirs, and playing board games with her family. You might be surprised to learn she credits her years working at Red Lobster as a hostess and waitress during and after college with teaching her invaluable life skills, from customer service, to teamwork, to communication skills, to handling a high-pressure environment. That said, she’ll probably never be able to stomach another Cheddar Bay biscuit. Amy is quick to laugh and relates easily with others. Those traits will no doubt help her keep pace with the busy teens and pre-teens in Hillbrook’s Middle School.