Reach Academics launched in 2019 after the publishing of our first book, Time to Teach: Time to Reach - Expert Teachers Give Voice to the Power of Relational Teaching, published by Relational Schools Foundation Cambridge, UK.
Reach Academics works with all constituents in the school community—teachers, students, parents, staff and administrators—by helping to “thicken" their relational culture. We focus on the children and the adults who place them in their care.
In short, we spotlight the centrality of relationships in teaching and learning. Key leaders in educational research are discovering the connection of emotions and cognition. We are here to help classrooms become expert in building and maintaining these relational elements.
Even in the world of remote learning, relationships can be fostered. Reach Academics is here as a resource for educators and parents as we navigate our way toward optimal learning for individuals. Teacher voice matters. Teacher content expertise matters, Teacher autonomy matters. Simply put, the role of the teacher as the “only adult in the room” matters. Reach Academics serves to support teachers at the K-12 level in the relational work they do every moment of the day.
Through blogs, newsletters, podcasts, and workshops, Reach Academics is devoted to honoring the great teachers in our midst, and to drawing from their expertise and current research in order to grow a new generation.
Come get to know us by reading archived materials, listening to our podcast episodes, and joining our mailing list. We look forward to connecting with you.
Nat Damon, Founder
Nat Damon is a London-based writer, consultant, 25-year educator, administrator and board member. He has written three books, the first of which, Time to Teach: Time to Reach: Expert Teachers Give Voice to the Power of Relational Teaching was released in May, 2018 through Relational Schools Foundation (Cambridge, UK).
Time to Teach: Time To Reach supports the work that often gets unacknowledged in this age of data, metrics, and quantitative measurement. Nat’s book supports the idea that teacher effectiveness cannot be quantitatively measured through student test scores. Excellent teachers are defined by the power of their student relationships. Deeper and more confident learning takes place in classrooms that put a premium on those relationships. Relational teaching supports a stronger and broader approach to the teaching vocation. "Teaching is messy; the human condition is messy" (p. 191, Time to Teach: Time to Reach). This central tenet is why expert teachers feel a calling to teach. Nat’s research isolates the following six areas as central to healthy school cultures: Trust, Exploration, Authenticity, Connection, Hope and Reflection (TEACH-R).
Nat holds a B.A. in Psychology and History from Connecticut College and a M.A. in English Literature from Middlebury College.
More about Nat:
Educational Philosophy
“UTILIZING STUDENT TEST SCORES TO MEASURE TEACHING is like using only a thermometer to determine whether you have the flu. A thermometer may tell you something about your condition, but it isn’t designed to identify viruses, assess congestion, or evaluate levels of lethargy. We turn to other measures and the expertise of doctors for that, because that’s what it takes to get a complete and accurate picture.”
I most enjoyed conducting interviews with K-12 teachers about what they actually do every day. During these interviews, I heard stories of challenge, success, frustration and humor. The most important take-away is that teaching is a relational endeavor. We teach to spirits, not merely minds. We light fires and stir up hearts. We lead through action and we connect through authenticity.
