#PubPriBridge supports a Twitter chat bringing together a community of educators interested in building authentic connections between public and independent school teachers and leaders.

The #PubPriBridge chat occurs on alternate Monday afternoons/evenings at 5:30pm PT, 6:30pm MT, 7:30pm CT, and 8:30pm ET.

The originators of #PubPriBridge are Peter Gow, Laura Robertson, and Chris Thinnes. We are independent school educators united here by a belief that strong public schools are the backbone of a durable democratic society and that our independent school community ought to be a strong voice in support of excellent education for all children in all schools.

#PubPriBridge is the product of many conversations among independent school friends about how we, as independent school educators, might join other educators from the public school world in conversations on education. It emerges from an aspiration to build bridges of significance between educators across sectors.

The originators have some profound hopes for #PubPriBridge:

1. That we might begin to talk about what we all know to be true about education and how best to serve students.
2. That such conversations might inspire independent school teachers to become more connected to one another, to public school peers, and to the broader national and even global conversation about education
3. That such conversations might inspire public school teachers to become more connected to one another, to public school peers, and to the broader national and even global conversation about education
4. That these conversations might help set a direction for a new kind of inter-sector partnership of educators toward the goal, as expressed by former National Association of Independent Schools president Pat Bassett, of fortifying a mutual commitment “to make the waves that raise all boats”
5. That we might direct these waves toward helping all students in all schools rise higher, think more deeply, and become more engaged and active citizens
6. That in participating in these conversations we shall enact our civic duty to connect, to speak out, and to honor our shared calling as educators
7. That we not mire ourselves down in endless critique of what isn’t working in our society’s efforts at changing the nature of education and of schools, and that we focus instead on what can work

We hope to see you join us at #PubPriBridge this coming Monday!