At Harbor City International School (HCIS), our tuition-free charter school is known for our warm and caring 7-12th grade learning environment. To get to know more about the people behind our school culture, we recently chatted with HCIS Executive Director Aryn Bergsven. Here’s what she had to say!
What is your role at HCIS and how long have you been at our school?
I currently serve as Executive Director of HCIS, but I was a founding staff member in 2002 when I was just 22 years old. I taught Visual Art for 20 years before moving into the Director role in 2023.
What inspired you to become an educator?
My parents were both educators and I saw the deep and lasting impact they made in the lives of their students. I also wanted to include art in my future career and teaching seemed like a great way to do that.
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
Mr. Fettig was my high school choir teacher. I loved singing and I liked that he had a very high standard for our ensembles and also that he was able to be authentic with students.
How does HCIS align with your personal values?
This is kind of a chicken and egg question for me; I have been integrally involved in the language and processes around our school mission and values since I began my adult life and my career so I feel formed by every word of our mission and values as much as I have helped form those words. That said, I believe in the power of courage, empathy, play, and curiosity. These attributes are the root of inclusion, academic challenge, community engagement, creativity and perspective taking.
What do you love most about your role at our school?
There are so many things I love about HCIS! In my current role, I love problem solving. Every day is a new challenge and I love untangling complicated situations with our community: incredible, invested staff; empowered and driven students; supportive and advocating families. We are moving in a really inspiring direction together with expanding grades, new social dynamics, and reimagined approaches to success and learning. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead our team through this complex transformation.
Additionally, I LOVE teenagers. They have the best energy. I love learning about their interests, what's important to them, what is difficult, and what their goals and successes are. I admire their tenacity, their sense of justice, their boldness. I hope to find more ways to interact directly with them as I settle into the Director role more.
What was your favorite book when you were in school?
I am a romantic. I like old classics like the Secret Garden and Little Women; stories of strong, independent women.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside of HCIS!
I am married with two teens of my own. I love living in Duluth and spend the summers hiking and camping up the shore. I like gardening (though I'm not very good at it), reading, and puzzles. I also love to paint - portraits mostly. I have a giant mural I painted on the side of my garage during Covid lockdown. That was a fun project in a difficult time.
Talented, caring HCIS staff serve our students with top-notch whole child education in a tuition-free charter school environment. Contact us and enroll today.
About Harbor City International School
Harbor City International School is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 7-12 in the Duluth, Minnesota area. Our highly ranked academic curriculum is augmented by robust arts and music programming and inspiring experiential symposiums, all in a warm and welcoming small school environment. Join the next generation of global citizens at Harbor City International School today! Enrolling now.
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