Our faculty strives to Expand the Nature of School by teaching students to learn through interactions with each other and with the environment they live in. One example of this is when recent 2023 graduate Jack Botein, an avid participant and leader in Beaver’s Model UN, saw an opportunity to design a program for and by his peers—and he acted on it.

An interview with Jack Botein ’23, Founder of Boston Model UN Academy

What inspired you to create this opportunity for others?
Back in the spring of 2023 I no longer had the weight of college applications and sought to contribute positively to fostering learning about international affairs in my community. Throughout Upper School at Beaver, I participated in Model UN, and I decided this would be my best avenue for making an impact. I started out with the goal of teaching students about international affairs and Model UN. I quickly realized that the greatest impact would be in educating rising 9th-grade students on the foundational aspects of the United Nations, namely the key organs of the UN and their respective mandates, and how international diplomacy extends far beyond the four walls of The UN building in New York City.

What skills or experiences did you draw on to create this? Did Beaver help you develop those skills or access those experiences? If so, can you elaborate?
In 9th grade I walked into Ms. Ibourk’s room with an interest in global affairs, but an absence of knowledge in formal debate. Ms. Ibourk’s advice alongside that of Model UN mentors and club leaders provided me strategies to debate different international affairs topics at different regional Model UN conferences that the Beaver Model UN team attended. Beaver’s incredible Model UN program provided me with the requisite knowledge to start The Boston Model UN Academy, which was a summer educational Model UN program that I hosted alongside fellow Beaver Model UN alumni at Lasell University.

The Hiatt Center’s empowerment of student learning made “The Boston Model UN Academy” a reality, and I want to express my gratitude to Ms. Latour for all of the advice and support in making this program possible.

What skills are younger students learning at Boston Model UN Academy? How might these skills connect to their experience at Beaver?
The Boston Model UN Academy curriculum commenced with learning the foundational aspects of The United Nations. From this basis, students examined primary and secondary sources on the contemporary issue of climate change and crafted arguments in favor of the United Nations taking different actions. A key skill students learn at Beaver is to embrace technology and effectively leverage it to advance learning and creativity, which this goal of using different sources to craft research propelled students to do.

Any other highlights or surprises you’d like to share?
A key highlight of The Boston Model UN Academy was the opportunity for students to hear from guest speakers engaged in international affairs. These guest speakers included Former Members of Congress Luke Messer and Carlos Curbelo; Former Israeli Ambassador to The United Nations Meuron Reuben; Law Professor Jessica Silbey; The Consul General of El Salvador to New England; and Mark Storella, former United States Ambassador to Zambia. These speakers each brought their own unique perspectives and experiences in international affairs and illustrated the complexities of international law and public policy.