Meet our Head of School
Joel Reed became the 4th Headmaster of The Howard School in the Fall of 2000. Understanding the basic philosophy the school was founded on, “Teaching the Whole Child” has remained the foundation of the school. His deep love of the educational process and his dedication to teaching and seeing the potential in each and every child provides our school with a balance of tradition and forward-thinking.
His teaching career started at a Carden School that had been founded by his mother in Flagstaff, Arizona. While his mother ran the lower school, Mr. Reed agreed to establish and run a Middle and High School using the same curriculum. After teaching for seven years in Arizona, he was contacted by the Carden Educational Foundation and told of a small school in Santa Barbara County in need of a Headmaster. An experienced and confident Carden educator and trainer, Mr. Reed began leading the school.
When asked what he loves about the school, he said, “It’s in providing a meaningful education to each child.” When he greets the students in the morning as they enter the school, they look forward to shaking his hand, and they know they are in a safe, joyful, and nurturing environment.
“At The Howard School they focus on the strengths of each child and the classroom ratio is small so the teachers really get to know each student and develop them at their own pace. ..The school is led by Headmaster, Joel Reed, who not only runs the school, but also teaches courses to the upper grade students because he never wants to stop being present when a young person is learning something new. ”
—Carla Mager