Jenny McHargue, Grade Level Dean, English 

English teacher and 10th grade dean Jenny McHargue’s week at the Stanley King Institute transformed her approach to supporting students. The deep listening training taught her that being present matters more than solving problems—students need to feel seen and heard.  

Students who arrive to a conversation with one concern often reveal underlying struggles when given space, and McHargue says the program taught her to “embrace the wobble” without prescribing a solution. The goal is to sit comfortably in silence with students, allowing their deeper needs to surface naturally. 

Now, McHargue applies these techniques with 7th grade English students and 10th graders alike, using intentional body language, focused presence, and supportive language. "I can use listening skills in any relationship,” she says. 

McHargue also participated in two writing programs last year, and she uses insights daily to trigger deeper thinking and discussions. She says she appreciates the school’s investment. “We get this opportunity to grow beyond who we are.”