‍Understanding Boys. Supporting Their Journey. | Choosing a school for your son is about more than academics. It is about choosing an environment that understands who he is, how he develops, and what helps him thrive, not only as a learner, but as a boy becoming a young man. Dr. Leonard Sax Addresses Faculty
At PDS, understanding boys is part of the foundation of our school and shapes the entire PDS journey. This year, we have had the opportunity to learn from two voices who bring different but deeply connected perspectives to this work. During faculty inservice, we welcomed Dr. Leonard Sax, M.D., Ph.D., to campus to deepen our understanding of the science of boys’ development, learning, motivation, and behavior. His work builds on our ongoing focus on the ages and stages of boys and brain-based research. Dr. Sax is a physician, psychologist, author, and nationally recognized expert on child and adolescent development. He has worked with more than 500 schools, helping educators and parents better understand how children develop, learn, and thrive. He is the author of Why Gender Matters, Boys Adrift, Girls on the Edge, and The Collapse of Parenting. |
| ‍Article: Why Boys Need Schools That Understand Boys | | | |
| We also welcomed Heidi Tringali, MS, OTR/L, to help us consider what children need to be ready, not simply for the next academic milestone, but for the challenges, relationships, responsibilities, and opportunities that come with growing up. Heidi is a pediatric occupational therapist, author, and speaker with more than 30 years of experience supporting children, families, and schools. She founded Tringali Occupational Therapy Services (T.O.T.S.) in Charlotte, NC, and consults with schools nationwide on learning readiness, classroom success, and student performance. She is the author of The Readied Child, which offers practical strategies to help children develop the skills, confidence, and readiness they need for learning and life.
Together, these perspectives reinforce something we believe deeply at PDS: when we understand boys well, we are better equipped to support them well. That understanding extends far beyond the classroom. It informs our mentor groups, the way we build relationships, the experiences we create, our daily schedules, the ways we support boys through challenges and transitions, and the culture we intentionally cultivate across every aspect of school life. An all-boys education gives us the opportunity to place boys at the center of that thinking, to create an environment where they are known, understood, challenged, supported, and encouraged to discover their strengths and become confident, capable young men. |
| | | PARENT EVENT
Get a Head-Start on Spring Parent Book Club | |
| | | BLOG
Takeaways from Heidi Tringali's Parent Event | |
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| | | RESOURCE
Parent Resource Page We've created an intentional resource page for parents within the Center for Educational Growth section of the PDS website—sharing insights, research, and accessible tools to support learning at home this summer and beyond. | |
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DID YOU KNOW?
Boys May Experience Sound Differently |  Dr. Sax cites research indicating that, on average, differences in auditory processing can be observed as early as age five. He notes that boys may require a somewhat louder voice to perceive sound at the same subjective loudness. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever wondered why the TV, radio, or music seems to be just a little louder when a boy is in charge of the remote, there may be more to it than preference.
The takeaway: Understanding boys means paying attention to the environment around them, not simply expecting every boy to adapt to it. |
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| For more information:
‍Emily Lequerica
Director of the Center for Educational Growth |
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| ‍The Center for Educational Growth is dedicated to advancing research, innovation, and best practices in education, equipping educators and parents to nurture boys’ holistic development — spiritual, social-emotional, and academic. Through collaboration, professional learning, and global partnerships, we strive to create environments where boys thrive and learning knows no bounds. For Teachers. For Parents. For Boys. |
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 ‍901-842-4600
pds.schoolÂ
4025 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111 |
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