From Lovett to Hollywood: Slater Nalley Takes the Stage on American Idol
Release Date: 04/03/2025
The People Make the Place: Getting to Know Lovett’s Admission Team
Living Lovett
S9E1 Curious about what really happens behind the scenes in admission process? In this Season 9 premiere of Living Lovett, you'll hear directly from the people who welcome families into our community every day: Dr. Tim Pitchford (Senior Director of Admission and Financial Aid), Virginia French (Lower School Associate Director), Jack Parrish (Middle School Associate Director), and Carolina Clark (Admissions Associate). As the application deadline approaches, host Jessica Sant sits down with the entire team to explore the questions families are asking—from what matters most in an...
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Finding Higher Ground: Dr. Donna Hicks on Dignity, Conflict, and Compassion
Living Lovett
S8E9 One value, dignity, has the capacity to build bridges during disputes, build stronger communities, and honor other human beings. The power of dignity is what brings Donna Hicks, PhD to this season finale of Living Lovett. Dr. Hicks is an expert in international conflict resolution, and discusses with host Jessica Sant the profound role of dignity in resolving conflicts and building stronger communities. Drawing from her global experience and her influential books, Dr. Hicks explains how dignity is an inherent human value that, when upheld, can heal divisions and foster growth, especially...
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Beyond the Data: How Lovett Parents Are Championing Whole Child Success
Living Lovett
S8E8 How does the parent perspective fit in with partnership with Challenge Success? Three parent leaders join Living Lovett host and Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant to discuss their experience volunteering for the Challenge Success initiative, and the importance of community, intentionality, and partnership between families and the school. Christopher Cooper, Bliss Stone, and Aimee Connolly have a variety of relationships with Lovett: they are parents of grads, and current students; one is even an alumnae and trustee. Regardless of how many ties they have to Lovett, each parent is...
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Our Students are Known at Lovett
Living Lovett
S8E7 Students don’t just attend Lovett, they are known by teachers and staff; they are appreciated for who they are and who they are growing to be. Meredyth Cole, Head of School, joins Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant for a reflective conversation on Lovett’s core values and educational approach. Together, they discuss the importance of clarity and intentionality in defining who is as a community, emphasizing the school’s commitment to nurturing the whole child: intellectually, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Meredyth shares insights on what it means to be an independent...
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Handling Digital Devices in Healthy Ways for Students and Families
Living Lovett
S8E6 The challenges and opportunities of parenting and educating children in a technology-saturated world are significant. Family counselor Teddi Bair joins Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant to talk about the impact of screen time on children's development, the importance of modeling healthy technology habits, and the need for emotional connection between parents, educators, and kids. Drawing on research, personal experience, and professional practice, Teddi and Jessica highlight the value of community, open dialogue, and supportive parenting approaches. The discussion emphasizes that...
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Data Driven Engagement: How Clifton Strengths is Impacting Lovett's Culture
Living Lovett
S8E5 Janet Gibbon, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Gallup, joins Jessica Sant, Chief Engagement Officer at the Lovett School, discuss our multi-year partnership focused on enhancing engagement and well-being across the Lovett community. Using Gallup’s data-driven tools, including the Q12 employee engagement survey and the Clifton Strengths assessment, the experiences of students, staff, and parents have been assessed to identify areas of improvement and spotlight successes. The episode highlights the school’s journey from post-pandemic challenges to building a culture of...
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How Teen Gambling Addiction Starts and Why Parents Miss It
Living Lovett
S8E4 In this episode, recovering gambling addict and speaker Saul Malek shares his personal experience with gambling addiction, describing how a casual bet in college escalated into a serious problem that affected his finances, relationships, and academic life. Saul discusses the increasing accessibility and normalization of online gambling among young people, the role of social media and peer influence, and the unique vulnerabilities of adolescents. He offers insights for parents and educators on recognizing early warning signs, fostering open conversations, and creating supportive...
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Raising Confident Eaters: Expert Advice on Food, Family, and Development
Living Lovett
S8E3 Colleen Dieselhurst a registered dietician with extensive experience in both acute and primary care joins Chief Engagement Officer and Living Lovett host Jessica Sant to talk about eating and nutrition for our kids. The discussion spans the challenges of feeding children and teens, from toddler food fears to the nutritional demands of puberty. Colleen shares practical strategies for involving kids in meal preparation, managing busy schedules, and recognizing signs of disordered eating. The conversation also covers the impact of social media on body image, the importance of family...
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Substance Use Among Students: What Do Parents Need to Know?
Living Lovett
S8E2 While the landscape of adolescent substance use continues to evolve, parents who stay informed and engaged have more power than they realize to guide their children toward healthy choices. Dr. Brian J. Dew, Department Chair of Counseling and Psychological Services at Georgia State University, joins Living Lovett host and Chief Engagement Officer Jessica Sant to discuss substance use trends, risk factors, and the importance of education and parent involvement at . In addition to offering practical information for parents navigating challenges, the conversation covers Dr. Dew’s unique...
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Faith and Flourishing at Lovett
Living Lovett
S8E1 At , we believe that when students are seen, supported, and valued for who they are, remarkable things happen. This kind of thriving requires more than excellent teaching: it requires intentional collaboration across every aspect of student life. Lovett's newly formed Faith and Flourishing Team embodies those values, and the members of this team are our guests on the Season 8 premiere of Living Lovett. Rev. Colin Brown, Lovett head chaplain; Sarah Friedman, Director of School Counseling; and Dr. Allison Wynn, Lovett’s new Director of Belonging share with Lovett Chief Engagement Officer...
info_outlineS7E8 BONUS - Thousands audition... Millions vote... Could it be a Lovett senior who wins?? Lovett’s own Slater Nalley is a current contestant on American Idol. He joins us on this bonus episode of Living Lovett with upper school English and American Studies teacher Michele Davis to recount their unique story of bringing the song Traces of You to the American Idol stage.
It all started in 10th grade with Michele's support for Slater's struggles and evolved into a touching collaboration after Michele shared the tragic story of her son Carter. Slater transformed Michele's poem about Carter into a heartfelt song, Traces of You, which led them to an unforgettable experience on American Idol in Nashville. They discuss the process, the emotional impact, and the invaluable lessons in empathy, character, and faith they have experienced at Lovett with Chief Engagement Officer and Living Lovett host, Jessica Sant.
Slater reflects on the importance of teacher support throughout his time at Lovett, while Michele emphasizes the significance of fostering creativity and empathy in education. Both share their deep gratitude and mutual respect, showcasing the powerful bond that has marked their journey.
è Click here to vote for Slater Nalley on American Idol: https://idolvote.abc.com/
è Read the article about Slater in the Lovett News: https://www.lovett.org/about-lovett/news/news-detail/~board/news/post/slater-nalley-25-is-headed-to-hollywood
Living Lovett is an award nominated podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Visit The Lovett School website Lovett.org for more information. Lovett is on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Email host Jessica Sant.