Mr. Gary Stern is the Head of School at High Point Academy, a K-8 School nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley. Mr. Stern’s mission is to implement a 21st century curriculum at High Point, rife with critical and creative thinking opportunities that awakens the joy of learning in students and provides the essential balance of a strong traditional academic program with an innovative eye toward the future.
Interests: Mr. Stern is a history buff and sports aficionado, a huge Dodgers and Lakers fan, and loves traveling and spending quality time with his family. He has been married to his college sweetheart, Michelle, for twenty-five years. The love of their lives are their twin children, Sierra and Alexander, who have benefited immeasurably from their independent school education.
For 20 years, Norma Richman was a sixth grade teacher at High Point. Her children graduated from High Point many years ago, and still look back on their HPA days with fondness. Prior to her independent school work, Norma was a resource art teacher for a public elementary school and a long-term substitute in urban high schools and middle schools in California. Her educational background includes credentials in art, English, a preliminary Administrative Services Credential, an MA in art, and post-graduate work in Instruction and Curriculum. On grants, she has traveled to China and Japan, to Cambridge and Oxford in the UK, and to Barcelona, visiting schools and networking with teachers from around the world. These experiences have informed her development of cross-curricular units and project-based learning. This year, Norma wears multiple hats: Community Engagement, Parent Education, Substitute Teacher, and now—blogger! Norma believes that good practices include creating memories and the excitement that comes with discovery and self-awareness.
