Turning Pages Together

At Cannon School, some of the best professional development doesn’t come from a workshop; it comes from a really good book and an even better conversation. For the past three years, Cannon’s faculty and staff book club has offered just that: a relaxed, welcoming space where colleagues gather once a month to talk about stories, share ideas, and offer perspectives that shape both their teaching and their lives.

The club was the brainchild of three Upper School teachers: Dr. Pablo Garcia (world languages), Sarah Miller (history), and Sophie Vreeburg (math). What began as the three colleagues swapping book recommendations gradually grew into something more.

“We always enjoyed talking and sharing ideas, so we thought we would open it up to everyone and give others the opportunity to participate,” Garcia says.

From the start, the goal was simple: create a space where anyone on campus could join in. The club is open to all Cannon faculty and staff, and participation is intentionally flexible. People trickle in and out depending on the month and their schedules. There’s no pressure and no prerequisites. Anyone is welcome to come to a meeting, even if you didn’t finish the book.

Some members come ready to dive into discussion. Others prefer to listen and reflect. A few may stop by simply because they’re curious about the current selection. All approaches are welcome. The group meets once a month in Garcia’s classroom, which has become a hub for thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation after the school day ends.

Each year kicks off with a brainstorming session. Members suggest titles ranging from fiction to nonfiction and then vote on which books to read. The variety keeps conversations fresh and engaging. At the end of every discussion, the group awards the book a collective rating out of five stars, a lighthearted tradition that sparks even more conversation about what resonated and what didn’t.

Like any after-school activity, the club faces its share of logistical challenges. Between meetings, coaching, grading, and personal commitments, finding a time that works for everyone can be tricky. But the fact that the club is now in its third year speaks volumes about its value to those who attend.

For Miller, the book club represents something deeper than a shared reading list.

“Connecting across divisions has been incredibly meaningful for us,” she shares. “Building strong relationships throughout our school community is a priority at Cannon, and the book club gives us a way to strengthen those connections and bring that vision to life.” Teachers and staff members who may not otherwise interact regularly find common ground in shared stories and thoughtful dialogue.

Education is, at its heart, about strengthening the mind, and reading is a natural extension of that mission. But at Cannon, intellectual growth goes hand in hand with relational growth.

“We are a relational school,” Garcia says. “The club helps build relationships through discussions of ideas and sharing thoughts.”

This spring, the spirit of shared reading and meaningful dialogue will extend beyond faculty and staff. Upper School counselor Whitney Rice will lead a parent book club in April, offering another opportunity for connection within the Cannon community. The club is open to all parents, staff, and stakeholders who are interested in reading thoughtfully and engaging in conversation together.

Tentative meeting dates include Wednesday, April 1; April 15; April 29; and Thursday, May 7. If the group connects via Zoom, meetings will take place from 12:00–1:00 p.m. If meeting in person, the time will be 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Those interested in joining the conversation are encouraged to email Whitney Rice to be included in future communications regarding meeting dates, times, and locations.

As spring break approaches, members of Cannon’s faculty and staff have put together a list of recommended titles for anyone looking for a great vacation read. Below, you’ll find some of their favorite picks to add to your spring break stack.

Tania Agness - Forever and Back by Ashley Manley

Anna Allred-McGee – Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez; The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Melanie Coughlin – The Mirror House Girls by Faith Gardner; The Tenant by Freida McFadden

Bill Diskin - The Barn by Wright Thompson; Finding Your Walden by Jen Tota McGivney; The Legend of Wyatt Outlaw by Belle Boggs and Sylvester Allen, Jr.; Even As We Breathe by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle; Those We Thought We Knew by David Joy; The Uncool by Cameron Crowe; The Book of Flaco by David Gessner; Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson; Paper Girl by Beth Macy

Mike Hoffman – West with Giraffes: A Novel by Lynda Rutledge; Mockingbird Summer: A Novel by Lynda Rutledge

Laura Huffman – The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

Elizabeth Isenhour – Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy; The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Krista Johns – My Friends by Fredrik Backman; The Life Impossible by Matt Haig; Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Jaillin Johnson – Verity by Colleen Hoover

Lori Macdonald – The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Kenan Mattsson – The Women by Kristin Hannah; Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus; and The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Carla Moyer – Crooks by Lou Berney; Iron Lake/Cork O’Connor mystery series by William Kent Kruegger; Chief Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny (read them in order!); Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy; The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Emily Nash - Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams; The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Michaella Neal – Ignited by Michaella Neal

Amy Nguyen - The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Danielle Sandlof – My Friends by Fredrik Backman; Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Kimberly Stiffel – In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn

Annalee Taylor – Playground by Richard Powers; The Names by Florence Knapp

Sally Trufant – Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Greg Walsh - What We Can Know by Ian McEwan; The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game by C. Thi Nguyen

Jenny Weakland – The Correspondent by Virginia Evans