At the beginning of the 2024-25 school year at The Independence School in Newark, Head of School Timothy Costello gave each of the school’s teachers the gift of a wand – a deferential nod to the magic of education and its ability to inspire others. Recently, Costello met with Newark Life to talk about the school’s mission, its curriculum and who inspired him.

Newark Life: Since it first opened its doors in 1978, The Independence School has been nurturing in its students something that can never be calculated by a grade, but nonetheless serves as a continual source of strength to guide them throughout their life. How does the school’s curriculum, its mission and its teachers develop the intellectual curiosity in your students?

Costello: What is beautiful about a school that serves three-year-olds through fourteen-year-olds is watching the magic making happen in developmentally appropriate ways. Intellectual risk-taking when you are four could be starting to ride the tricycle in our Funk Outdoor Classroom, but when you are thirteen, it may be trying out for the school musical. Our school rewards intellectual risk-taking. 

The last three words of our mission statement are learning, leadership and citizenship and we do a remarkable job of aligning that with what is happening in the classroom. Students are encouraged to embrace a spirit of inquiry in their learning. 

The Independence School. Aptly named?

You’re going to see a sense of confidence and self-advocacy here. Our students are much sought after by the area’s high schools. You can spot an Independence student at these high schools, because they are the team captains and the leaders of student government.

The Independence School not only inspires its students to achieve in the classroom but provides the building blocks for good citizenship and leadership. If a visitor were to spend a day at the school, where – and how -- would they witness those building blocks being formed? 

Everywhere! One of the things we do to empower our students is on display at our Opening Assembly, something that I have not seen at any other school. To honor our graduating class, after our younger grades are seated, the eighth graders are announced and enter the auditorium, taking their place in the front rows of the auditorium, the seats they will occupy for the entire year. It is very powerful.

One of the most important components that often separates a strong student from a struggling student is the great intangible that cannot be absorbed from the pages of a textbook. How does The Independence School help its students develop a sense of confidence?

An Indy student’s development of their sense of confidence stems from the intellectual risk-taking they take here. We do not celebrate mistakes, but we realize that they are a part of learning. It’s less about how smart they are but how they are smart and it is the responsibility of our teachers to understand the ways that each student learns best. A student develops a stronger sense of confidence if they know that the teacher understands how they work best rather than feeling that the classroom is a “one size fits all” environment.

Here is your opportunity to praise the teachers and the administration of The Independence School. It takes a special person to selflessly invest their energy in young people – and millions do it around the globe – but is there a singular mindset that defines an Independence School teacher and administrator? 

For the incredibly dedicated faculty and staff, this is not a job. This is a calling. This is a passion. I am not the only one here who says that I don’t go to work every day, but that I go to school every day. The talent of our faculty and staff is also supported by the fact that so many have been here for a long time. There are over 20 faculty and staff who also have children at Indy. It’s the ultimate testimonial that we believe in what we do here so much that we can’t imagine our children anywhere else. 

We’re preparing our children for a world that is impossible to know, but not impossible to shape, and our faculty and staff are doing the shaping. Each day, hundreds of families are dropping off their most precious gift to us, and that is a tremendous responsibility our faculty and staff hold in the highest regard.

What – or who – first inspired you to enter the world of education, and in what ways did they plant the seeds that became your vocation and is now your gift to others?

It was my eighth-grade teacher Ms. McCabe at Mother of Divine Providence School in King of Prussia. I was the kid who felt like I had something witty to say that needed to be said regardless of time, place and appropriateness. Ms. McCabe would tell me “WAIT,” and it stood for: “Why Am I Talking?” It was a good reminder for the fourteen-year-old Tim. When it comes to our most impactful teachers, it’s less about what they teach us content wise but how they make us feel.

She, in a very appropriate way, called me out on my shenanigans and helped me channel that in another way.  

What has been the best advice you have received about teaching?

I remember seeing this quote outside of a classroom in my early years as a teacher, before I became a parent. It said, “Never forget that every child in your school is someone’s whole world.” 

When you drive up that long driveway to The Independence School at the beginning of every day, what components of your role as Head of School do you look forward to most?  I am assuming there must be several, yes?

If I had to prioritize the responsibilities of a job description as the Head of School, it would be “advance the mission of the school.” It is the mindset that every day is an open house at The Independence School. These families are making a conscious decision to send their children here, to drive their children here, and pay tuition to afford an Independence School education. We need to be able to deliver on that value every day. 

The other thing I think of is, how do we get more parents to make that drive, to shout from the rooftops the things that we do exceptionally well, and have more people experience those same feelings that I have driving down that driveway every day?

What is your favorite spot in Newark?

I don’t think you can go wrong with nachos at Klondike Kate’s.

You organize a dinner party and can invite anyone – living or not, famous or not. Who do you wish to see around that table?

Since this interview has been about education, I would like to invite my Mount Rushmore of Educators. The first will be Sir Ken Robinson, who was a British author, speaker and international advisor on education, who has the distinction of giving the most viewed TED Talk of all time called “Schools Kill Creativity.” The second will be the author Jonathan Kozol, who has shone an incredible light on the horrific inequities in schools, particularly in public, inner-city schools.

My third guest will be Pat Bassett, who was the president of the National Association of Independent Schools. He elevated the organization and the benefits of independent schools and ways that they can become more affordable. My last guest will be John Dewey, the father of progressive education. 

What food or beverage can always be found in your refrigerator?

Hot sauce!  I am a hot sauce fan. It just makes everything taste better. 

The Independence School is located at 1300 Paper Mill Road, Newark, Del. 19711. To learn more, visit www.theindependenceschool.org.