By Lauren Henry '99 - The Taft School

S P O T L I G H TThe Education ofSTEPHENARMSTRONGHow One Psychologist Is Trying To Turn Children IntoLeaders at a New Inner-City SchoolBy Mickey Rathbun, Hampshire GazettePhotography by Jerrey RobertsAt 7:30 on a cold, rainy March morning, Dr. Stephen Armstrong ’65 iswaiting in a barren courtyard behind the Van Sickle Junior High Schoolbuilding in Springfield, MA, for the school bus to discharge its passengers.In his fire-engine red rain jacket and matching rain pants, he looks like a beacon.“Good morning, Mr. Clark. Good morning, Mr. Rios, how’re you doing?”Armstrong welcomes each child with a personal greeting and a heartyhandshake. One boy says, “Morning, Doc!” and gives Armstrong a hug. A girlsees his rain gear and exclaims, “You look so funny!” Stephen Armstrong, educational director and teacher at the New Leadership Charter School in Springfield, MA, begins his day bygreeting children as they arrive at school.Taft Bulletin 3