Baker Demonstration School

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Location
Baker Demonstration School
Wilmette, Illinois, USA
Information
Locale	Chicago Area
Head of School	Dr. Andrew Taylor
Students	376
Faculty	82
Type	Private, Laboratory
Grades	Preschool-8th
Athletics	Basketball, Track, Soccer, Flag Football, swimming
Motto	"Love to learn. Cherish the journey. Embrace the world."
Mascot	Baker Demons
Publication	The Baker Bulletin
Established	1918
Homepage	http://bakerdemschool.org

Baker Demonstration School is a private school located in Wilmette, Illinois.

Until 2005, Baker was the laboratory school of the National College of Education, National-Louis University. In 2005, Baker became an independent school, though still affiliated with National-Louis University. Baker is a provisional member of the Independent School Association of Central States.

The Head of School is Dr. Andrew Taylor beginning July 1, 2008. Middle School Division Head is Brian Tureck. The Dean of Faculty is teacher, Jackie Downey.

Approximately 80% of Baker graduates attend public high schools such as Evanston Township, New Trier, Northside Prep, and other CPS selective high schools. 15% attend parochial schools Loyola Academy and St. Ignatius with the remaining 5% attending independent high schools: Latin, Francis W. Parker and Roycemore.

Baker is noted for its Middle School Certamen team, who recently came in first place in the North Shore Junior High Certamen and won prizes in the Northern Regional district.

Baker sports teams include basketball, flag football, track and soccer teams. Baker competes with other junior day schools and local public schools.

[edit] History

The roots of Baker Demonstration School reach back to the founding of National College in 1886. College founder Elizabeth Harrison was deeply interested in the individual child and in understanding children's behaviors. Her enthusiasm and commitment to early childhood education sparked a fire of equal dedication in one of her students, Edna Dean Baker. Edna Dean's sister, Clara Belle Baker, founded the Children's School and became its first director.

The school first opened at 2944 Michigan Avenue, on what was then the "Gold Coast"; in 1918 and moved to the North Shore on the Evanston campus in 1926. By 1929, the Children's School was a complete elementary school with classrooms of nursery through eighth grade. Our school took on the challenge of "charting new ways for better educating the individual as a member of a changing and developing society, and to prepare children for living together in a democracy.";

Clara Belle Baker's vision carefully linked the study of children and the preparation of teachers. A progressive pioneer, she believed that children enjoyed being challenged by unanswered questions and problems. The school soon came to be highly regarded for its style of "learning by doing.";

When Clara Belle Baker retired in 1952, the school was renamed Baker Demonstration School because of the demonstration of best practices in classroom methods. Baker continues to pioneer the practice and the demonstration of innovative teaching techniques, materials, and technology while still adhering to the values and tone set forth by Clara Belle Baker and Elizabeth Harrison.

Notable people who have attended Baker (but not necessarily graduated) include: actor, Charlton Heston; former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld; Playboy CEO, Christie Hefner; Louis Nelson, Eric Pierce.

In 2005, Baker became an independent school, though still affiliated with National-Louis University. Baker is a provisional member of the Independent School Association of Central States. Baker is governed by an 18 personboard of trustees.