Denise Spirou, Head of School, The Greene School

In an interview with Invest:, Denise Spirou, head of The Greene School, discussed the school’s innovations, saying it has a responsibility to teach resilience and leadership to ensure excellent student development. “We teach for analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, making sure they can apply and remember it for the rest of their life,” Spirou added.

What changes have most impacted The Greene School and in what ways?

One of the most significant and transformative changes has been the addition of the high school. We opened The Greene School in 2016 for pre-kindergarten through the eighth grade and while those early years were dynamic, rigorous, and deeply rooted in hands-on learning, we realized our students were leaving for prestigious high schools and experiencing a different type of educational environment-one that didn’t fully reflect the inquiry-based and personalized learning model they had thrived in. In response, we launched our high school about two years ago, and it has transformed their education.

Our high school classes are small, between two and 12 students, capitalizing on personalized learning and the students’ passion to get them engaged, including for their AP courses. We have an aeronautics program as well, and one student recently received their drone license.I’m thrilled to announce that our high school students will have the incredible opportunity to build an RV-12 aircraft—an actual airplane that will be registered with the FAA. Through this hands-on project, students will experience a powerful integration of engineering, math, and real-world application, bringing classroom concepts to life in an unforgettable way. Next year will be our first high school graduation, and we are excited to see our students get accepted into colleges. We have over a 90% pass rate with our AP classes, but more importantly, our students are standing out in the college admissions process because they have depth, curiosity, and a sense of purpose-not just a resume. We have such a small teacher to student ratio that we are able to truly ensure that every child is successful, and that we are giving them the tools they need to be independent, lifelong learners.

What is your overview of the education landscape in Palm Beach and South Florida? 

The trend that’s reshaping education here and globally is artificial intelligence. AI is not going to replace us, but people who aren’t proficient with AI may find themselves at a disadvantage. It is a powerful tool, but it comes with responsibility. Schools must be mindful of how and when AI is introduced, ensuring that students are safe and well-guided. One of the things we’re focusing on at the school is continuing to train our teachers. We had an AI professional come in for professional development last year, meeting our students, teachers, and parents, to keep up with the global standard. STEM was the buzzword a year ago, now it’s AI and we are ready for it.

What should be the value proposition of both an elementary and high school education?

Many independent and public schools boast rigorous academic programs. I believe the academics are the easy part. What’s missing now is the ability to have conversations and to connect individually-the ability to build resilience and develop emotional intelligence. One thing to focus on would be mental health, which was a taboo topic years ago. It’s  central to a ch’ld’s success. AT The Greene School.we teach our students how to persevere, how to navigate failure, and how to build grit. It’s really important to focus on being strong physically, while also focusing on mental health.

I’m a huge Miami Heat fan, and I use the example of Heat player, Bam Adebayo. He didn’t become a star overnight. It took him time, practice, and perseverance. It took him a lot of time to make sure he was dedicated and invested. In today’s fast paced world where instant gratification is the norm, it’s critical that we teach children how to slow down, reflect and make thoughtful decisions. These kids need to know that things take time. Success does not happen overnight. A lot of our students  see the success their parents have, but not the struggles. We need to make sure that these students understand the struggles it takes to excel.

How does The Greene School adapt its academic offerings to meet student needs?

The Greene School has always been progressive and agile to student needs. With over 30 years of experience in education, I was given the freedom to build something innovative from the ground up. Our board of trustees are extremely supportive. If something isn’t working, we pivot. So, we’re able to be flexible and adaptable. At the same, we are also not jumping on every pedagogical bandwagon. We make sure that we do our research on how we can adapt.

It all begins with hiring the right teachers. We look for what I like to call the Navy Seals of education-highly skilled, passionate and empathetic professionals who hold rigorous standards while building joyful, respectful relationships with students. Once we have those educators in place, the curriculum becomes a tool-not a limitation. Whether they are teaching AP content or foundational skills, our teachers teach for analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, making sure they can apply and remember it for the rest of their life.

How do you promote leadership and independence among students?

We start that at a very young age. One of our signature traditions is Fun Friday, and each week, the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders serve as anchors. A class gets up and presents either what they’ve learned, or a song. From 4 years old, they get up in front of an audience of over 150 peers and 100 parents. By the time they’re in high school, they have become confident learners. In middle and high school our students are leading the National Honor Society and Student Council initiatives and they feel empowered to advocate for change. One of the best parts of my job is seeing a student who wants to change something and joins me in my office to discuss the possibilities with me. Students need to be in an environment that allows them the opportunity, and makes them comfortable in taking risks. Our environment encourages risk-taking, and we create space for student voices to be heard and valued. Leadership is not a title at our school-it’s a habit.

How does The Greene School leverage the combination of academics and creativity to ensure the best outcome for student development?

We focus on left-brain, right-brain learning. That’s why we place equal value on core academics and the arts.In our pre-kindergarten through eighth grade program, the students spend as much time on the arts as they do on the core academic subject areas. We provide students the opportunity to experience drama, yoga, mindfulness, art, music, musical theater, computer science, and engineering. The best time to provide these experiences is when they’re young and not afraid to make mistakes. Early exposure to the arts is essential. It builds confidence, curiosity, and a willingness to take risks-all of which transfer back into academic learning. Our students code in computer science, problem-solve in engineering, and perform on stage in musical theater. This integrated approach helps students discover their passions, become multidimensional thinkers, and ultimately grow into more well-rounded human beings.