Why Teamwork Makes the Oakhill Curriculum Work

 

At Oakhill Day School, we believe that when teachers work together, students thrive.

Our curriculum isn’t handed down from a box or dictated by a script — it’s built by the people who know your child best: their teachers. From 18-months through 8th grade, our educators bring their expertise, creativity, and care into every lesson — not in isolation, but as a team. That’s what makes our learning environment both intentional and inspiring.

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A Curriculum Crafted by Experts — Together

At Oakhill, curriculum design is a collaborative process. Teachers work together across grade levels and departments to plan, align, and reflect. They meet regularly to ask:

• What do we want students to learn?

• What have they already experienced?

• How can we build on those foundations in ways that challenge and engage them?

This kind of planning ensures that students encounter lessons that connect — from one year to the next and across subject areas.

We decide what our ending goal will be and work to design a path back to the target.
— Kristin Forsen, Kindergarten Teacher & Director of Curriculum and Instruction

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What Collaboration Looks Like in Action

When teachers collaborate, curriculum becomes more than a checklist — it becomes a vibrant, engaging experience for students.

• Kindergarteners learned about the life cycle of plants by growing corn in raised beds designed with a Middle School Science teacher. They measured, observed, and even tasted what they grew.

• Math teachers worked together across grade levels to introduce vertical learning boards that encourage movement, collaboration, and deeper thinking.

• Innovation Lab projects merged technology, literacy, and hands-on learning, thanks to early collaboration between classroom teachers and specialists.

“Everyone is engaged… It started with professional development and became a living part of our math classrooms.”
— Audra Olson, Intermediate Division Teacher

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Why This Matters for Your Child

When teachers work together, students benefit in powerful ways:

• Continuity of Learning
  Our vertical planning ensures students are prepared for what’s next — and that learning builds year over year.

• Personalized Instruction
  Collaboration allows us to meet students where they are and support them in the ways they learn best.

• Shared Care
  Your child isn’t just known by one teacher — they’re supported by a team who shares ideas, insights, and goals.

Students may forget specific content, but they will always remember how you interacted with them — and with each other.
— Audra Olson

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Built on Mission, Not Just Preference

At Oakhill, we believe in professional autonomy — but that doesn’t mean teachers “do whatever they want.” It means they bring their passions, training, and ideas into a structure built on clear learning objectives.

Our curriculum reflects:

• Developmental and academic benchmarks

• Cross-grade consistency

• Interdisciplinary learning

• Our mission to help every child be challenged, known, valued, and inspired

Sharing techniques, strategies, content knowledge, and resources allows each teacher to strengthen their pedagogy… and meet student needs in a variety of ways.
— Kristin Forsen

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Stronger Together

Oakhill’s curriculum works because we do — together.

Without collaboration, it would be very difficult for us to build a community that is connected.
— Audra Olson

Our educators are intentional about how they plan, teach, and grow. They learn from one another, challenge each other, and support a shared vision that centers on what’s best for students.

At Oakhill, teamwork doesn’t just support the curriculum — it is the curriculum.