113: Helping Children Examine the World and Find Their Place In It with Gila Ogle

Gila Ogle is the Head of School at The Silver Academy in Harrisburg, PA where she is committed to fostering a thriving, mission-driven learning environment built on strong community partnerships. A social studies teacher at heart, Gila began her career in charter and public schools in New York and Miami before transitioning to Jewish education. She is passionate about empowering students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate an ever-changing world with integrity and purpose. Through her leadership, Gila strives to create a school culture that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and a deep sense of responsibility for the future. She is, most importantly, a proud wife and mom of three amazing kids.

Gems: 

• Keep your mind open about what you can become and what you can share with the world.
• Think about what we would like our students to get out of what we’re teaching.
• Make efforts to allow students to interact with each other. 
• Help children examine the world and find their place in it.
• One of our roles is to examine what we learn from children and find ways to guide them with the knowledge they already have.
• Empower the child to understand what they bring to the world. 
• Find the spark in the child.
• Focus on building the relationship with the child first.
• Find colleagues and mentors.