Welcome from the Director
Welcome!

Thank you for visiting The Howard Gardner School via our website. We encourage prospective students, parents, teachers and others to explore our programs, progressive philosophy and goals. I hope you get a sense of community, warmth, active, hands–on learning, interactive classes and connection to the outdoors.

Our students are bright, creative independent thinkers who thrive best in a small, warm, nurturing environment that provides a wide range of learning opportunities. Our teachers are dynamic, creative and flexible, and have a love of teaching and learning that they share with our students. These qualities, combined with lots of energy and the ability to laugh, are what make them so amazing and such great teachers. Just ask our students!

Our campus is three miles from Old Town, Alexandria, and is accessible from both the Huntington and Van Dorn metro stations via a short bus ride. We welcome you to come and
visit us and find out why our students love to come to school. Call me to arrange a visit at 703.822.9300.

Katherine Keith, Director
The Howard Gardner School  |  4913 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  703.822.9300
contact Katherine Keith, Director, at: katherine@thehowardgardnerschool.org


Copyright © 2009 The Howard Gardner School. All rights reserved.

Katherine Keith founded Reach for the Stars, a study and support group for middle and high school students in the Alexandria area, in 2000. After working with students for four years, along with Emily Pavot, HGS co-founder and teacher, it became clear that many capable students were not thriving in their school environment. In 2004, with the encouragement of parents, Katherine and Emily formed The Howard Gardner School, providing a unique learning experience for high school teens from all over the Washington DC area.

Katherine holds a BA in psychology and an MA in Counseling from George Washington University. Katherine is married to Chad Thomas, a teacher at HGS, and has two adult daughters, one of whom graduated from HGS in 2006.
hands on learning through environmental science and the arts

Serving grades 7-12


The Howard Gardner School