FAREWELL TO A FRIEND AND MENTOR

Sally Laird Retires After 50 Years

Sally Laird retired from Benchmark School this June, and in doing so, ended the longest run of any Benchmark employee to-date. Sally came to Benchmark School in 1973, before there was even a structure that would become Benchmark’s permanent home on Providence Road. When Sally joined Benchmark as a young teacher, she and the small and dedicated early crew of educators continued to operate out of the basement of the Wallingford Presbyterian Church for the next two years. When Benchmark School was constructed in 1975, Sally had the first classroom that was her own.

Over the years, Sally was a teacher and supervisor, eventually becoming Head of Lower School and Assistant Head of School. While she’s witnessed many changes in her 50-year history at the school, what stands out to her are actually the constants. She says, “There have been lots of changes–in facilities, finance, and staffing. We always had to make adjustments to keep accommodating students. The details changed, but the goals remained constant. I see more similarities and consistency than changes.”

It’s a rarity for someone to spend their entire career in one place. For Sally, it was no hardship. She says, “What’s been so powerful and what’s kept me at Benchmark over so much time is this notion of how passionate and dedicated the people have been. They’re intensely interested in each other and they laugh together. What has kept me here and what I will miss is that everything done here is a team effort and that has been true across my fifty-plus years at Benchmark. We’re truly making a difference in the lives of students.”

Sally’s passion for learning will not abate in her retirement. When thinking about her plans for the future, she says, “I’ll spend time with my family, traveling and pursuing my interests. I love to hike, I enjoy nature, but I also like to talk with people, learn new things, and build my own knowledge. I enjoy sharing knowledge with others and gaining knowledge from others.” She will keep an eye on Benchmark’s development as well, commenting, “I look forward to watching Benchmark move into the future and continue to grow and change. It will be exciting to see how that unfolds.”