Oak Knoll welcomed alumna Norah Mallaney ’04 back to campus this fall as the Lower School’s new Director of Curriculum and Instruction. A graduate of both Oak Knoll’s Lower and Upper Schools, Mallaney returns with experience as an elementary educator, curriculum developer, mentor, and instructional leader. We caught up with her to learn more about her new role, her approach to teaching and learning, and what it means to return to Oak Knoll.

1. To begin, tell us a little about yourself.

I’m Norah, and long ago I graduated from both the Lower and the Upper Schools at Oak Knoll. Since then, I’ve taught in elementary schools in Washington, D.C., Brooklyn, New York, and most recently, Summit, New Jersey. I love thinking deeply about curriculum, working with kids, and collaborating with teachers. I am looking forward to doing all of these things in my new role.

2. What drew you to this opportunity at Oak Knoll?

I attended Teachers College at Columbia University and learned how to be an instructional leader in schools. Since then, I have been waiting for the right opportunity to present itself while happily teaching second, third, and fifth grades. During that time, I also developed curriculum, mentored other teachers, and took on leadership roles in my school communities. When this position opened up at Oak Knoll, I felt ready to take on a new challenge. In this role, I can apply my skills in a place where I feel at home. 

3. Director of Curriculum and Instruction is a new position at Oak Knoll. How would you describe the role, and what excites you most about it?

A director of curriculum and instruction wears many hats. Mostly, my job is to help teachers enrich their teaching by building their understanding of instructional practices, deepening their knowledge of the curriculum, and helping them to apply all of this in their classrooms. I love many aspects of this job—analyzing data, writing curriculum, considering skill progressions, trying out new teaching practices—but I am most looking forward to collaborating with my Lower School colleagues.

To me, the curriculum is only as impactful as it is accessible, interesting, and rigorous for students. As I have told the teachers I have mentored in the past, we teach children first, not curriculum.

4. How will this role strengthen the student learning experience in the Lower School?

My role involves looking at both the big picture and the small details in order to strengthen instruction. By using curriculum as a framework, we can see the big picture: what skills do we want our Lower School students to master by the time they graduate? At the same time, my job is also to consider how we teach and involve students in the mastery of these skills across the years. By connecting the big picture and the small details, we can ensure students are evolving throughout their time with us so that they are prepared for their next educational adventures. 

5. How would you describe your philosophy when it comes to curriculum and teaching?

I’ve taught in many schools, grades, and settings, and through it all, I have always believed that students’ identities, interests, and strengths should inform instruction. To me, the curriculum is only as impactful as it is accessible, interesting, and rigorous for students. As I have told the teachers I have mentored in the past, we teach children first, not curriculum. I believe teachers have the greatest potential to engage their students if they know the children just as well as they know the content. 

6. What are your priorities as you begin your first year at Oak Knoll?

As a graduate of the Lower School, some of the hallways and classrooms might be familiar to me, but many of the faces are new, and the curriculum has evolved with the times. My biggest priority this year is to get to know the teachers, students, and families so I can help them work toward their goals. I’ll also be spending time reading curriculum and watching it come alive in our Lower School classrooms. 

7. As you get started, what are you most looking forward to learning from our faculty, students, and families?

I already know that Oak Knoll teachers are deeply committed to the success of their students. I’m so impressed by how deeply the Lower School teachers know all the students in the building, not just their own class. There are also many master teachers here who know their content and instructional practices inside and out. I have as much to learn as I have to offer, and I’m looking forward to the collaboration. 

8. What do you hope students experience each day in an Oak Knoll classroom?

Learning must be joyful, purposeful, and rigorous in order to be fulfilling. I can’t wait to see all of this in action in Lower School classrooms as the school year begins! 

9. Outside of school, what are some of your interests or hobbies?

I live in Maplewood with my husband Jamie and our two children, Ben (8) and Nellie (5). In addition to spending time with them, I love to read fiction, and I’m a dedicated swimmer. 

10. Finally, as an Oak Knoll alumna, what does it mean to return to campus in this new role?

Oak Knoll is a truly special place. I’m thrilled to be back “home” and to work together with teachers, parents, and students as our school community moves forward in our next century.