Meet Dr. Josh Deitch, Head of Middle School

I am very happy to write to you as the Head of Middle School at King School.  Every day, I watch students participate in discourse, dialogue, collaboration, and experience their willingness to take risks. Our reflective and thoughtful educators are passionate about ensuring that every member of their community is seen and known. I could not be happier to work at a place where everyone feels seen and known.

Over the course of my career, I have sought to build communities and cultures deeply devoted to the value and power of every individual student.  Middle School students go through more change during their young adolescence than at almost any time in their lives. They require a unique blend of personal relationships, caring support, authentic academic challenge, independence, and process orientation.  I work with dedicated teachers in the Middle School, who are clearly invested in helping our children develop both as scholars and as citizens of the world.

I actively partner with students, families, staffulty, and leadership to continue to build a student-centered and engaging middle school experience that always reflect the needs and passions of every King student.

All the best,

Dr. Josh Deitch

Head of Middle School

Me and We - Josh Quote

“King School guides every student in the discovery of who they are and how they learn. Students explore a wide variety of fields and topics deeply and intentionally. They seek to understand the ways that strong communities are built upon differences both in experience and perspective. Only then can students begin to see learning as a way to understand their community, their place in the world, and the possibilities they possess to drive positive change.”


— Dr. Josh Deitch, Head of Middle School

Learn more about Middle School: Grades 6-8

Middle School in Action

King Students Debate Global Issue at Model United Nations Simulation

Grade 8 students at King School role-played as delegates to a United Nations Committee and debated global issues with one another as part of a Model UN simulation in their History class. Under the guidance of Middle School faculty Kenneth Lewis, the activity marked the end of a yearlong study of American foreign policy and the role that the United States plays in the world today.

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Middle School Celebrates Students at Prize Day and Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony

Middle School students celebrated their perseverance through an unprecedented school year at Middle School Prize Day and the Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony. "Middle School is a time of growth and change, and neither is easy. To grow, you must stretch and contort and push yourself to new heights," said Head of Middle School Josh Deitch. "Never be afraid to follow your heart. All of us here are so proud of you. We are all behind you. Wherever you go, know that you have a home and a family here in the Middle School," he said.

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Middle School Students Perform Broadway Hits for The Show Must Go On

Middle School students rehearsed for six weeks to prepare for an exciting three-day Broadway performance aptly named The Show Must Go On! Despite the many challenges that the students faced this year with social distancing measures still in place, these young performers were able to create a virtual experience to bring the musicals to life. The show featured a combination of live solo, duet and trio performances accompanied by prerecorded full-cast and small group acts.  

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Grade 6 Students Promote Change for Earth Day

Grade 6 celebrated the 51st anniversary of Earth Day this year with an academic module titled, Restore our Earth. The curriculum included the history of Earth Day, which was first celebrated in 1970 in response to a massive oil spill off the coast of California. The students learned that the day has since been celebrated annually to raise awareness of environmental issues and to support environmental protections.

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Middle School Students Prepare for Upper School

Grade 8 students at King School are determined to prepare for Upper School next year. Due to social distancing guidelines, the school pivoted from its annual Shadow Day activities where middle school students are paired with upper school students to experience a day-in-the-life of the Upper School. Alternatively, middle school and upper school staff teamed up to coordinate a visit for upper school students to speak with middle school advisories about the moving up experience.

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Sink or Float: A STEM Boat Competition

As part of the STEM Boat Competition, Grade 6 students carefully eased their boats into a container of water to see if their work would sink or float. Students were challenged to design and engineer a boat that is less dense than water at room temperature to ensure that it is buoyant. They aimed to keep their cost and materials low because the boat with the lowest density wins!

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King Music Residency: Connecting Communities Through Music

King hosted its sixth annual El Sistema Residency, in which talented musicians from King's Middle and Upper Schools collaborated in intensive music workshops with visiting students of various El Sistema USA programs, including Stamford's own Project Music.

The residency's overarching focus is to inspire a deeper connection between communities of different socioeconomic backgrounds by using music as a vehicle to give voice to diverse cultural identities and amplify lived experiences.

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Middle School Advisories Celebrate Women at King for Women's History Month

In celebration of Women's History Month, middle school advisories organized an appreciation for women by acknowledging the wonderful contributions made by women at King School. The advisors identified a woman at King, referred to as a celebrant, that they would like to get to know better and prepared questions for an interview with her. Information about the celebrant is then featured on a dedicated bulletin board.

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Middle School students' top tips for adapting to learning during a pandemic

Middle School students applied their creativity and resilience to maintain focus and learn in innovative ways during these unprecedented times. After almost a year of living in a "new normal," students from grades 6, 7, and 8 share their wisdom. "Be as respectful and kind as possible during times like these because we never know how deeply someone is hurting," said Siena Gambino '27.

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