For many parents, the leap from a nurturing middle school to the wider world of high school can feel overwhelming. Will their child be ready—academically, socially, emotionally? Dr. Joseph Doucette, Head of School at Cedarwood Waldorf School, has spent years exploring this very question. As an educator, researcher, and leader, he’s deeply invested in what helps students thrive during this pivotal transition.

His doctoral research focused on how students experience the move to high school and confirmed a key insight: when young people feel connected, confident, and prepared, they flourish. That understanding shapes his work at Cedarwood, where the Waldorf approach—grounded in a vibrant, connected community—cultivates curiosity, resilience, and a love of learning that
endures long after eighth grade.

Doucette also brings a parent’s perspective to the conversation. His two sons graduated from their Waldorf school equipped to meet high school’s academic and personal challenges with confidence and clarity. “When students know who they are and how they learn,” he says, “they step into the next phase of life with purpose.”

At Cedarwood, that’s the goal: not just high school readiness, but lifelong readiness—for learning, growth, and meaningful contribution.

(503) 245-1477 | cedarwoodschool.org