50th Anniversary Gala

On the evening of May 14, 2022, more than 300 guests gathered at Benchmark for the 50th Anniversary Gala, the culminating event of our anniversary celebrations. We are grateful for the open-hearted support our community members showed to this school through taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

At the gala, Head of School Chris Hancock revealed the school’s new strategic plan as well as the early stages of the school’s campus master plan, which includes a $2 million playground upgrade that will include unique play elements that do not exist yet anywhere else in the United States. To support this extraordinary playground initiative, Benchmark received a $500,000 anonymous gift, and raised an additional $350,000 that evening, totalling $850,000 in initial fundraising at the gala.

We also honored several key figures in our history: our founder, literacy education trailblazer Dr. Irene Gaskins, our former Head of School Dr. Robb Gaskins, and our long-time physical education teacher and athletics director Mr. Wayne Reichart, who retired after a 47-year tenure.

Here are the remarks Head of School Chris Hancock shared that evening, after several alumni and current students kicked off the program by sharing personal stories about how Benchmark has transformed their lives.

Transformation

I am Chris Hancock, Head of School, and to follow the lead of our students and alumni who spoke so eloquently this evening, I offer you that Benchmark has already transformed my own notion of what excellent teaching looks like; what a caring community can mean to a young learner; and, how we, collectively, can truly make possible the previously unimaginable.

And so, I am excited to celebrate with each of you tonight.

I want to welcome all of the current families, past and present trustees, alumni, alumni families, past and present faculty and staff, trustees, Benchmark’s friends, and our professional partners who have joined us to celebrate tonight and helped support this evening—especially our 50th Anniversary Sponsor, Morgan Lewis, our Platinum Sponsor, Fiduciary Trust, our Diamond Sponsor, The Camera Shop, our Gold sponsor, Brock, and the many other individuals and companies who contributed to tonight’s gathering.

Speaking of thank yous, this evening simply would not have been possible if it weren’t for the herculean efforts of our Director of Development Louisa Hanshew, Assistant Director of Development and Marketing Stefanie Frayne, and our Director of Marketing and Communications Alyce Callison as well as many other Benchmark faculty and staff. Thank you to our event planners Karen Homer and Fred Stein and the legion of people and companies they rallied to help us put this night together.

Certainly a thank you to our parents and families who also stepped up to volunteer beyond what anyone could reasonably hope for—to serve many roles including as members of our gala committee—all of the names you see in your programs tonight.

Still, a special thanks is due to our 50th Anniversary Chair, past parent and former board chair, Amy Petersen, who steadily guided us through all 50th anniversary events that spanned 2 years of a pandemic. And, of course, our incredible co-chairs for this particular gala, Liz Blum and Amanda Bruno. The number of meetings they attended and hours they spent planning and the time on zoom meetings is truly remarkable—thank you.

And lastly, I would like to acknowledge our 6 middle school students and 5 alumni who shared their voices with us tonight. It’s truly inspiring to hear you talk about your own incredible transformation. We led with your voices tonight as a reminder of exactly what we are here to celebrate.

Fortunately, as the Head of School, I knew that was going to happen. I knew the students and alumni were going to be here. And so I had time to reflect in advance on their comments tonight and our theme of transformation.

And naturally the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of transformation is the metamorphosis of a butterfly. We have talked about it quite a bit in the planning of this event. You have seen the imagery on your invitations, in the promotions in front of the school, and again here tonight.

And that’s beautiful.

But as I reflected more, I realized that while the metamorphosis of the butterfly is a useful shorthand for what happens here at this school, the kind of transformation we are recognizing tonight is not merely some inevitable process.

When you look at how the school was built, what it is today, and what we aspire to become, there is an additional ingredient in the process of transformation here at Benchmark.

And I believe it’s courage. Real, human courage. The kind of courage e.e. cummings describes as “what it takes to grow up and become who you really are.” Benchmark certainly has done that. We have grown into, and will remain, a preeminent leader in education because of this abiding courage.

In fact, everywhere you look at Benchmark, you see real human courage.

We see courage in the faces of parents who visit us for the first time, wondering, “Could this be the place where my child will be able to connect, grow, and succeed?”

We ask it of our students every day—that they have the courage to try new things, the courage to see themselves differently than when they arrived, and the courage to be transformed.

Of course, we see courage in Benchmark’s founder Irene Gaskins and her lifelong, unwavering commitment to our students. Some of you may know this about Irene, but in the early 1960s, Irene, who was then a young teacher, was asked to teach “struggling readers” in a resource room. As the year progressed, it became readily apparent that the instructional model being used—the same model found in public schools across the country—was not meeting the students’ needs. In that moment, she devoted her life to identifying the most effective research-based practices for teaching students who learn differently. And in 1970, at a time when the field of education was just beginning to formulate an idea of what it then called the learning disabled, Irene opened a school where students would be enabled— enabled to meet success in school and life. She was propelled by her vision as well as by the hard work, energy, and expertise of a core group of passionate and gifted individuals. It began as a simple dream in a church basement. What it took to get us from then to now, really, was courage.

And we certainly see it in her son Dr. Robb Gaskins, who guided Benchmark through a new era of innovation for 12 years after Irene retired. Tonight, though he cannot be with us, Robb continues to be an example of courage to us all.

We see courage in those members of our community who helped to build Benchmark into what it is today. From those donors who made it possible in the early years that the school could find a home here, erect facilities, and shape the grounds so that we all may benefit today; to those who gave what they could afford, so that a little bit of financial aid could be provided for another family in need so that another student could have the opportunity to be transformed. These members of our community, and I am speaking about each of you here tonight, had faith in Benchmark, and had the courage to invest in our school, our kids, and our teachers.

Ah, our teachers. There is courage. The courage it has taken to show up day in and day out over the last two years especially, because it was always crystal clear to them what was at stake for our young learners. The courage to dedicate their lives to these amazing children. The courage to help a family and a child through some of their most challenging and uncertain times. The courage to know, to believe in, to truly see, and to embrace, every learner in their classroom. The courage to meet children precisely where they are, and then to show them where they can go.

Teachers, staff members, and those of you who have worked here before but have returned tonight to celebrate, I’d like to ask you to please stand—stand so that we can honor you and celebrate you for your courage frankly, without which, we would not be here tonight.

A year later than we’d hoped, I am thrilled to be able to celebrate with you this evening: Benchmark’s 50th Anniversary. Let’s celebrate your courage. Our students’ and alumni’s courage. Our teachers’ courage. It is that courage that transforms the future for our current students and will for future generations of students yet to arrive. By gracing us with your presence—and your generosity—tonight, you have begun to usher in the next era of unparalleled transformation— the next 50 years of Benchmark. Thank you.

Honoring Mr. Wayne Reichart

We have one more recognition to offer tonight that is not on the program. Anyone who follows college basketball knows that Coach K retired from Duke this March after a legendary 42-year career. And no, while Coach K is not here tonight with us—I know the gentleman I am about to mention has some family here with him with new loyalties to Duke. Tonight, we honor Benchmark’s own version of Coach K—Mr. Wayne Reichart. In fact, when you look at the numbers side by side, Wayne did it for 5 years longer and had more undefeated seasons than Coach K. If you could find the parchment paper I imagine he had to use to write down stats via ink quill in the early days, you might even find a higher winning percentage than Coach K. On a sincere note though, Wayne, for 47 years, you passionately built a PE program, an athletics program,

Parents Kristin Yerger, Kim Sylvester, Sarah Kinsella, and Amanda Bruno.

Parents Matthew and Maggie Brodnik with Chris Hancock. Teacher Teri Watkins displays her good humor.

and summer rec program that are as much a part of Benchmark’s success since the beginning as anything that happens within the classroom. Most importantly, you have done it with integrity and by always putting the students first.

I know by standing up here, I am breaking a promise to Wayne who made me swear not to do anything in public to recognize his service to this school, but, as I shared with his wife Linda several weeks ago, it may not be the recognition he wants, but Wayne, it is unquestionably the recognition you deserve. I am so glad Linda, your kids Brennan and Lauren, and your family are with us tonight, as I know their support allowed you to commit all you did to this place. So, it gives me great pride to announce in front of them, and the hundreds of people here tonight that have been impacted by your leadership in countless ways, that the basketball court on which you spent an incalculable number of hours shaping young students will be painted this fall and henceforth be called the Wayne Reichart Court.

While the court won’t be painted with this logo until the fall and we invite everyone to return for that ceremony prior to a basketball game this winter, through the support of some alumni and friends, we have been able to render a decal on the floor in the gym that will be visible when we return to the gym for dessert and dancing.

Wayne, congratulations, your legacy is certainly deserving of a place on Benchmark’s Mount Rushmore and it’s why tonight, on the school’s 50th anniversary, we honor you as well.

Vision for the Future

Last spring Benchmark launched a community-wide strategic visioning initiative. It was designed to propel, challenge, and ground our school as an educational leader.

That plan, released earlier this spring, is called “Empower.” And in it, we affirm our mission that Benchmark will continue to succeed as a place where students develop confidence, strategies, and knowledge to become lifelong learners, thinkers, and problem-solvers. It also says that we will be a place that distinguishes itself as an innovative learning community where students, educators, families, and members of the community are empowered partners in supporting students to realize their aspirations and full potential.

Let’s review that first part again. Benchmark will continue to succeed as a place where students develop confidence, strategies, and knowledge to become lifelong learners, thinkers, and problem-solvers.

Dee Spagnuolo laughs with Theresa Scott. Teachers Sandy Madison and Melinda Rahm.

Benchmark School will continue to succeed as a place…

I spoke earlier tonight about how critical our people are to this endeavor.

Along with its people, Benchmark is also a place.

It’s a place that provides teachers the space and tools to impact so many young lives.

It’s a place that empowers our students.

It’s a place that transforms our students.

Twelve years ago, there was a groundbreaking book published called “The Third Teacher.” The title reflects the idea that for every child, there’s a first teacher—the parents. And there’s the second teacher—the one that the child meets in the classroom at school. And there is still another teacher—the third teacher. That third teacher is the very environment in which the kids learn. The environment is critical to success in learning. And we know that the Benchmark environment is special. Students come to us, and suddenly they are immersed in an environment where they can be understood, an environment that sparks connections, and an environment that, most importantly, embraces them. It’s an environment in which they find that courage to be transformed.

This is the home for our students’ learning, their becoming, their growth, and their transformation.

An important part of our vision for the future is to invest in this home—this campus—just as from time to time we invest in the homes where we live. We need to maintain it. We want to enhance it. We strive to adapt it for the future. We commit to ensuring that it will be a place that affirms our mission—an ideal environment that empowers our students—empowers their transformation. Our students deserve nothing less.

Attendees participated in the live auction and paddle raise with enthusiasm and generosity.

These students shared their Benchmark experiences at the gala. L to R: Kiah Young '22, Astrid Davis '22, Chris Hancock, Norah Mehta '22, and Conor McGowan '24.

Beth Goodhart toasts Dr. Robb Gaskins.

Ben Rogers '95, Chris Hancock, and Rebecca (Wilson) Lerario '96.

This is your place. This is your home. We’ve heard it shared by many tonight. A home built through the generosity of folks over the past 50 years. You will hear more next year about a campaign to support this effort, but we will get started on a key piece of this home tonight. In fact, we’ve already begun. All the money we raise tonight, including the live auction and paddle raise still to come, will support the first key piece of our new campus master plan: our playground.

With the help of our architects, WRT, and playground design firm, Studio Ludo, Benchmark students and faculty have participated in various stages of planning this spring to not only upgrade our playground, but to make it a truly one-of-a-kind experience for play, development, and exploration. Studio Ludo wisely began by asking our students not if they wanted a slide or a swing, as kids can then tend to focus solely on those objects. Instead they asked questions about what they liked to experience during recess and at camp. Do they like to be up high? Do they like to swing? To go fast? To hang? Do they want to create? Or rest and observe? The answers they got were rich with detail and even included middle school students saying they “just need a place to chill in comfort.”

Dr. Robb Gaskins delivers remarks by video.

Jonathan LeBreton and trustee Sarah Willie-LeBreton.

experiences while outside, and, of course, supervision, got us to what you see on the screen, which includes various features for all ages of play and types of students.

It also includes a large climbing element…you see it in the top middle photo of the slides and in the renderings…that does not yet exist in the United States. That means, a child who spends time on our playground will have an experience they cannot find at any other school in any other state in this country. It will also be accessible. You will be able to roll a wheelchair right into the modular hexagons you see as well as other parts of the playground. Coupled with a larger basketball court, and the preservation of some deeply loved elements like the gaga pit, and tires, as well as some necessary attention to stormwater runoff so it is usable everyday, our enhanced playground will continue to blend into our natural aesthetic on roughly the same footprint it currently resides.

This is the first of many exciting program enhancements we intend to make, all as part of our strategic plan. I look forward to working together with you to ensure that this will be the best place—the best home, the best environment—for the growth and transformation of our current students… and every Benchmark student for the next 50 years.