Walker’s Faculty Selected to Present at CAIS EdTalks

History Faculty John Monagan and Science Faculty Dr. Melissa Bernardo will represent The Ethel Walker School at the upcoming CAIS EdTalks on October 15, after their proposal was selected by the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). They will join three other educators from schools across Connecticut to share their work with the broader educational community.

Their session, “Clowns & Cornhole: How the Quality of Relationships Shapes the Quality of Learning,” explores the role that trust and meaningful relationships play in creating powerful learning experiences for students.

Drawing on two distinctive Walker’s experiences — the annual Cornhole Tournament and Lacuna: Send in the Clowns — Monagan and Bernardo will examine how creative, community-building experiences can encourage students to take risks, build connections with faculty, and engage more deeply in their learning. Through these experiences, students are given opportunities to step outside traditional classroom structures while developing the relationships and confidence that support meaningful learning.

The session reflects Walker’s commitment to creating an educational environment where relationships, creativity, and connection are central to the student experience. We are excited to have Monagan and Bernardo share these ideas with educators from across Connecticut and highlight the innovative work taking place at Walker’s.