Shortly after the move to 418 E. Jefferson St., returning students complained that the building was “too big” and had “too many windows”. However, the community quickly adapted to its new space.1 Head of School Patterson Cunningham stepped down shortly after the move, and Renaissance briefly adopted a ‘shared administration’ strategy.1 During this period, a group of faculty and community members collectively led the school. After this approach struggled to guide administrative decisions, the School Board appointed Sara Johnson as “full time Head of School, in a traditional capacity.” She began her current tenure as Head in 2009.1 Shortly thereafter, most faculty members were offered full-time positions. In 2020, an administrative team including a Dean of Students and a Dean of Academics was formed, distributing roles to multiple faculty members.1
In March of 2020, in response to the international COVID-19 pandemic, RS switched to a virtual education platform. Friday, March 13th — the last day of Spring Ninth Week, which was originally set to take place in Atlanta but was relocated to Charlottesville — was the last day of in-person classes for the 2019-2020 academic year. Four months later, RS returned to the building in a limited, hybrid capacity; the school remained open and held in-person classes during the two years thereafter.1
In the fall of 2022, the RS administration released a Strategic Plan, an outline of the next six years of school initiatives and goals.2 The Plan includes a wider selection of elective courses — including Native History — for students, as well as several updates to the school’s broader curriculum. It also details the organization’s recent shift to an inclusive tuition model, and the School Board’s decision to increase tuition by only one percent in the 2023-2024 school year. Long term plans include expanding the school’s space and student capacity by 2028, hiring additional faculty members, and providing students with greater access to experiential learning opportunities. As RS enters an era of new policies and actions, the Strategic Plan will serve as an effective guide for the school and its community.2
RS Updated Mission Statement (2021): The mission of Renaissance School is to provide curious and engaged students a rich interdisciplinary learning environment focused on critical thinking, creativity, civic engagement, and collaboration. Through small class sizes, a dynamic curriculum, and differentiated teaching, Renaissance School fosters student achievement and academic success while developing a sense of independence and responsibility. Renaissance School cultivates a diverse community of learners where differences are celebrated. The experience of diversity allows our community to build a culture that strengthens understanding and value for differences.
1 Tanner, L., Johnson, S., & Halladay, N. (2022, October 7). Panel Interview: RS History
2 School, Renaissance. (2022). Strategic Plan. https://renaissanceschool.org/wp-content/uploads/RenSchool_StrategicPlan_2022_R3_sm.pdf