“I love teaching Middle School. Middle Schoolers are like chocolate chip cookies. They have all the right ingredients—the finest flour, the best chocolate—but they need time in the oven. I love seeing the imperfections, the beauty and the imbalances; my students amaze and surprise me every day. My greatest joy is helping them become the people they’re going to be.” 

The Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) is one of the elements that drew Middle School history teacher Kirstin Baillie to Pace, and since her arrival in 2021, she has traveled with students to the Four Corners region of the U.S. and to Iceland, perspective-altering experiences that informed the curriculum for her Middle School ICGL Minimester course, Water & Indigenous Culture. 

“I’m so happy to be at Pace,” she says. “The students truly make my day every day. They’re polite, engaging and kind. I see my role as being part of their development, and I take that job seriously.”

“Pace does a phenomenal job of supporting the whole student. The school allows students to be multifaceted people—and the faculty supports that. Pace wants to hear all voices and bring people to the table. It is a space that is welcoming and inviting from different perspectives. I’ve seen it in action, and it’s important and moving and beautiful.”

Lauren, a member of the Class of 2000, spent 11 years at Pace—across three decades—and credits the experience with shaping her into the person she is today. “I really cherish the holistic education Pace gave me,” she says. “The foundation the school provided was so formative.”

Now, more than 35 years since her first day as a student, Lauren has returned to Pace in many new roles: parent, active member of the Association of Black Pace Academy Alumni and a trailblazing member of the Board of Trustees—the first Black alumnus to serve in that capacity. “Serving on the Board has been deeply meaningful,” she says. “It’s one way I can help ensure that Pace continues to grow into the inclusive, future-facing school we all believe in.”

“The best thing about Pace is the people. My teachers, coaches and friends are incredibly supportive while also challenging me to reach my potential. This community strikes a thoughtful balance between encouraging growth and building genuine, personal connections with every student.”

Whether he’s leading a Student Council meeting, announcing the day’s athletic schedule in assembly, diving into a water polo match or playing trumpet in the band, Mack is all-in when it comes to being a Pace Knight. A member of the Class of 2025, he’s involved in an impressive array of activities—baseball, Student Ambassadors, Peer Leadership, Knights of the Round Table, Junior Classical League, and the Health and Wellness Club, to name a few.

“Pace has given me so many opportunities to lead,” Mack says. “The teachers and staff model great leadership themselves, and they support us as people, not just as students.”

It’s that balance of challenge and support that has shaped Mack’s Pace experience—and one he’s quick to encourage others to embrace. “Be bold, be brave, and jump in,” he says. “Try everything! Even if it seems scary, the people here will make you feel at home. You’ll find your people and your passions in the most unexpected places.”

“Pace does a phenomenal job of supporting the whole student. The school allows students to be multifaceted people—and the faculty supports that. Pace wants to hear all voices and bring people to the table. It is a space that is welcoming and inviting from different perspectives. I’ve seen it in action, and it’s important and moving and beautiful.”

Lauren, a member of the Class of 2000, spent 11 years at Pace—across three decades—and credits the experience with shaping her into the person she is today. “I really cherish the holistic education Pace gave me,” she says. “The foundation the school provided was so formative.”

Now, more than 35 years since her first day as a student, Lauren has returned to Pace in many new roles: parent, active member of the Association of Black Pace Academy Alumni and a trailblazing member of the Board of Trustees—the first Black alumnus to serve in that capacity. “Serving on the Board has been deeply meaningful,” she says. “It’s one way I can help ensure that Pace continues to grow into the inclusive, future-facing school we all believe in.”

“I love teaching Middle School. Middle Schoolers are like chocolate chip cookies. They have all the right ingredients—the finest flour, the best chocolate—but they need time in the oven. I love seeing the imperfections, the beauty and the imbalances; my students amaze and surprise me every day. My greatest joy is helping them become the people they’re going to be.” 

The Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) is one of the elements that drew Middle School history teacher Kirstin Baillie to Pace, and since her arrival in 2021, she has traveled with students to the Four Corners region of the U.S. and to Iceland, perspective-altering experiences that informed the curriculum for her Middle School ICGL Minimester course, Water & Indigenous Culture. 

“I’m so happy to be at Pace,” she says. “The students truly make my day every day. They’re polite, engaging and kind. I see my role as being part of their development, and I take that job seriously.”

“The best thing about Pace is the people. My teachers, coaches and friends are incredibly supportive while also challenging me to reach my potential. This community strikes a thoughtful balance between encouraging growth and building genuine, personal connections with every student.”

Whether he’s leading a Student Council meeting, announcing the day’s athletic schedule in assembly, diving into a water polo match or playing trumpet in the band, Mack is all-in when it comes to being a Pace Knight. A member of the Class of 2025, he’s involved in an impressive array of activities—baseball, Student Ambassadors, Peer Leadership, Knights of the Round Table, Junior Classical League, and the Health and Wellness Club, to name a few.

“Pace has given me so many opportunities to lead,” Mack says. “The teachers and staff model great leadership themselves, and they support us as people, not just as students.”

It’s that balance of challenge and support that has shaped Mack’s Pace experience—and one he’s quick to encourage others to embrace. “Be bold, be brave, and jump in,” he says. “Try everything! Even if it seems scary, the people here will make you feel at home. You’ll find your people and your passions in the most unexpected places.”

“The best thing about Pace is the people. My teachers, coaches and friends are incredibly supportive while also challenging me to reach my potential. This community strikes a thoughtful balance between encouraging growth and building genuine, personal connections with every student.”

Whether he’s leading a Student Council meeting, announcing the day’s athletic schedule in assembly, diving into a water polo match or playing trumpet in the band, Mack is all-in when it comes to being a Pace Knight. A member of the Class of 2025, he’s involved in an impressive array of activities—baseball, Student Ambassadors, Peer Leadership, Knights of the Round Table, Junior Classical League, and the Health and Wellness Club, to name a few.

“Pace has given me so many opportunities to lead,” Mack says. “The teachers and staff model great leadership themselves, and they support us as people, not just as students.”

It’s that balance of challenge and support that has shaped Mack’s Pace experience—and one he’s quick to encourage others to embrace. “Be bold, be brave, and jump in,” he says. “Try everything! Even if it seems scary, the people here will make you feel at home. You’ll find your people and your passions in the most unexpected places.”

“I love teaching Middle School. Middle Schoolers are like chocolate chip cookies. They have all the right ingredients—the finest flour, the best chocolate—but they need time in the oven. I love seeing the imperfections, the beauty and the imbalances; my students amaze and surprise me every day. My greatest joy is helping them become the people they’re going to be.” 

The Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) is one of the elements that drew Middle School history teacher Kirstin Baillie to Pace, and since her arrival in 2021, she has traveled with students to the Four Corners region of the U.S. and to Iceland, perspective-altering experiences that informed the curriculum for her Middle School ICGL Minimester course, Water & Indigenous Culture. 

“I’m so happy to be at Pace,” she says. “The students truly make my day every day. They’re polite, engaging and kind. I see my role as being part of their development, and I take that job seriously.”

“Pace does a phenomenal job of supporting the whole student. The school allows students to be multifaceted people—and the faculty supports that. Pace wants to hear all voices and bring people to the table. It is a space that is welcoming and inviting from different perspectives. I’ve seen it in action, and it’s important and moving and beautiful.”

Lauren, a member of the Class of 2000, spent 11 years at Pace—across three decades—and credits the experience with shaping her into the person she is today. “I really cherish the holistic education Pace gave me,” she says. “The foundation the school provided was so formative.”

Now, more than 35 years since her first day as a student, Lauren has returned to Pace in many new roles: parent, active member of the Association of Black Pace Academy Alumni and a trailblazing member of the Board of Trustees—the first Black alumnus to serve in that capacity. “Serving on the Board has been deeply meaningful,” she says. “It’s one way I can help ensure that Pace continues to grow into the inclusive, future-facing school we all believe in.”