Rooted to Grow: Our Foundation

Guest Column By Indian Hill Superintendent Dr. Melissa Stewart

The Indian Hill School District interlocking IH. 

I have spotted it in so many locations: Kenwood Mall, the airport, New York City at Washington Square, and even near the bottom of the Grand Canyon. 

When I see it – when we see it – we know.

It means something…something special that stretches our mind even beyond the walls of our campus and into the community our school district calls home.

It is a symbol of the pride we collectively curate and feel.

This summer, I was traveling in the Pacific Northwest, and I was reminded of our special community when visiting the Redwood Forests. These beautiful, magnificent trees exist because of the incredible root structure that can extend 100 feet, intertwining and fusing roots together, creating stabilizing underground networks that help trees withstand heavy winds, floods, and earthquakes. 

What a perfect metaphor. 

We – the families, the teachers, the paraeducators, the administrative assistants, the bus drivers, the custodians, the administrators – are the root system working together to support delicate young saplings – our students – who we know will grow into purposeful and prepared adults. 

As we embark on growing our Braves for the 2026-2027 school year, please allow me to introduce to you our new monthly blog series: Rooted to Grow.  

Each month, I will share insights into what differentiates the Indian Hill education and explore the practices, experiences, and opportunities that help our students thrive. Together, we will examine the return on investment of an Indian Hill education, focusing on academic achievement, leadership, unparalleled athletics, and nationally recognized arts.  

Our theme for this school year is: Rooted in Excellence, Empowering Growth.

We will return to a focus of our strong academic foundation, the very core of what makes our interlocking IH so powerful. 

We want students to experience rigorous, engaging learning while developing the skills that matter most for their future: communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and citizenship. While academic excellence remains at the center of our mission, success in today’s world requires more than content knowledge alone. Students must learn how to apply their knowledge, solve problems, work with others, and adapt to change. Specifically, we will be sharing progress toward a goal that EVERY STUDENT is known, challenged, and supported.  This is the heart of a Brave education. 

One of our greatest resources as a school district is our community. In advance of the first day of school, I want to thank you for sharing the most precious part of your lives, your children, with us every day. We recognize the honor and responsibility of being part of their lives.

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year. I look forward to growing together. 

Privileged to make students’ dreams come true, 

Melissa

Dr. Melissa Stewart, Superintendent, Indian Hill School District