Dear Community,
We have so much to appreciate and celebrate as we wrap up the 2024-25 school year. Our school is enrolled at capacity with a diverse and vibrant student body from across St. Louis. We are fortunate to have an outstanding faculty and administration. We are wrapping up the first full year of use of the Broughton STEAM Center, and today it is difficult to imagine how the school functioned without it. We’re in the midst of an accessibility project that will address several longstanding issues that prevented members of our community from moving freely around our campus. And most importantly, we are welcoming a new Head of School, Laurie Smilack, while we also celebrate the retirements of two Community legends: Marty Hoessle and Bob Cooke.
Accessibility Project
As recently shared by Bob, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to complete a longplanned accessibility project. The project, which was proposed as part of the Building Community Campaign, will install a new elevator that will serve all four floors of the school (our previous elevator only served two). Bob has been a champion of this project since he first started as Head of School, and we know many members of our community will
feel the improvement. The project will also relocate, replace, and expand the antiquated bathrooms near the Community Center, improve school safety and security by straightening the hallway between the Community Center and the Broughton STEAM Center, and address other miscellaneous accessibility-related items. At the time of this publication, the project is well underway. We expect to complete it shortly before school starts this fall.
Laurie Smilack, New Head of School
We announced several months ago that Laurie Smilack was hired by the Board of Trustees to be Community’s Head of School beginning with the 2025-26 school year. Laurie brings with her great experiences as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, and division director. She is intimately familiar with Community, having attended as a student and having taught fourth grade here early in her career. She has an outstanding track record of success as an educator and administrator, and we are so thrilled to have hired her. Laurie will officially start with us on July 1, though she and Bob have met several times to facilitate a smooth transition. We are grateful to each for investing this time for the school’s future. We encourage each of you to spend time getting to know Laurie this fall, and we are confident you will be as excited and optimistic about Community School’s future as we are.
Marty Hoessle’s Retirement
As you know by now, Marty Hoessle is retiring from Community School after 37 years, most of which she has spent as a third grade teacher. Ms. Hoessle is a longstanding favorite of students, parents, and colleagues, and she has educated generations of children. Her free spirit and passion for St. Louis history, science, and her incorporation of mindfulness in the classroom have made a tremendous impact on those around her, and she will be missed deeply by the school. We wish her well in retirement and congratulate her on an impressive and impactful career.
Bob Cooke’s Retirement
Last but not least, we are celebrating the retirement of our beloved Head of School, Bob Cooke. Bob started with us 10 years ago in the fall of 2015, a transplant from Southern California who was in his first
Head of School role. When Bob started, enrollment was well below capacity as the school recovered from the Great Recession and the unexpected departure of a previous long-time Head. Bob embraced Community and its traditions, and working with our administrators, faculty, and staff, he reaffirmed and reestablished Community School as the top elementary school in St. Louis. Along the way he developed a number of new traditions that will survive his headship, and that today feel like they’ve been around for ages. Just a few examples include Goldy Day, MLK Day of Service, and Veterans Day programming. I encourage you to read the article on p. 18 for a more comprehensive reflection on his many contributions. He has been the heart and soul of Community School for many years, and his leadership has shaped the institution into what it is today.
As Bob steps into a well-deserved retirement, we encourage you to help us celebrate him and his impact by attending his Retirement Celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, and/or writing a note to him prior to his departure (see p. 25 for more details).
As we approach the end of another great school year, we are so excited about the future. Thank you to our administration, faculty, staff, students, and parents for making Community School such a special place.
Sincerely,
Brad Foss 2023-2024, VICE PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2024-2025, PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
School News & Events
2024 MLK Day of Service
Thank you to everyone who participated in Community School’s 2024 MLK Day of Service on January 15. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., our Parent Diversity Group (PDG) hosted a day of direct service and donation assembly in partnership with eight local nonprofit organizations. More than 160 parents, students, alumni, and staff volunteered. The morning began with a presentation by Kelly Moore and John Worth from the International Institute of St. Louis. We are proud to honor Dr. King’s legacy by supporting the work of incredible community partners.
2024 6th Grade Play
On March 6 and 7, our sixth graders produced and performed Beat by Beat Press’ “Musicville!” – a melodic adventure that teaches characters about new kinds of music, overcoming obstacles, and the importance of working together. Each student brought their unique strengths to the stage, from captivating performances to behindthe-scenes magic. Whether it was taking on acting roles, choreographing dance numbers, or crafting costumes and sets, their dedication and creativity shone through every step of the process. Hats off to our talented students, and special thanks to Alissa Rowan (director), Natalie Westerholt (musical director), and the staff and parents who helped with the production.
2024 Bowling Night
Community’s PDG hosted the 2024 All-Family Bowling Night on May 3 at Olivette Lanes. We had over 260 attendees, and festivities included dinner, games, and karaoke.
2024 Grandparents & Special Friends Day
We hosted Grandparents & Special Friends Day on May 10, welcoming several hundred attendees for performances and classroom visits. Meriam Dwidar, lower division music teacher, and Natalie Westerholt, upper division music teacher, designed two wonderful space-themed programs. For children without a guest in attendance, a Community School staff member stepped in as a special friend for the day, ensuring that every child felt included.
Class of 2018 Reunion
On May 18, 2024, we hosted a reunion luncheon for Community School’s Class of 2018. It was wonderful to catch up with alumni, learn about their college plans, and reminisce about their time at Community while watching their class video.
2024 Goldy Day
Our annual Goldy Day Family Picnic took place on August 24. We enjoyed reconnecting and celebrating the start of the school year with carnival games, entertainers, lunch, and more. Special thanks to all our parent and alumni volunteers who helped organize, set up, and cover shifts during the event.
2024 Book Show
We celebrated the joy of reading at Community School’s 72nd annual Book Show October 7-9. We hosted the event in partnership with The Novel Neighbor, an independent bookstore in Webster Groves. Over three days, students eagerly browsed and selected books alongside their parents, grandparents, and special friends, creating cherished moments of discovery and connection. Adding to the excitement, we welcomed writer and educator Joanna Ho to campus on October 1. Joanna is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of picture books and a young adult novel. Students and faculty enjoyed reading with her and learning more about her background and creative process.
#CommunityReads
2024 Life Member Luncheon
In December of 2024, we added 10 new members to our esteemed list of Life Members, a group of past parents, alumni, grandparents, teachers, and friends who have significantly contributed to the school. We look forward to sharing more from the celebration in our 2024-2025 Family Album.
2025 MLK Day of Service
On January 20, our PDG hosted a day of donation assembly in partnership with five local nonprofit organizations in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. More than 200 parents, students, alumni, and staff volunteered, coming together for a meaningful morning that included remarks from Sebastian Harris ‘20, a reading of “I See Color” by Kailei Pew and Valerie Bolling, and a reflection activity. We’re proud to honor Dr. King’s legacy by supporting the important work of these incredible community partners: Rose Hill House, Siteman Cancer Center, St. Patrick Center, St. Louis Woodworker’s Guild, and LifeWise StL.
Q&A WITH
Jessica LOWER DIVISION DIRECTOR
Hendricks
As a young child, inspired by the great Indiana Jones, Jessica Hendricks dreamed of becoming a paleontologist. Her dreams of digging up dinosaurs in Peru and Egypt, however, shifted in third grade when Jess’ teacher invited her to lead her class in a spelling lesson.
“From that moment on I was hooked,” Jess said. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and that passion has never faded.”
After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Missouri – St. Louis, Jess joined the Community School family in 2004 and never looked back. Along the way she earned a Master’s in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Reading Instruction, and in 2023, earned a Certification in Early Education Leadership from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.
For 20 years she taught in both first and second grade classrooms at Community, and is now completing her first year in administration as the Lower Division Director – seamlessly blending her passion for education, teaching, and even a side of paleontology (Dino Dig is a hallmark of the JK experience, after all).
We caught up with Jess to learn more about her career, accomplishments, and time at Community.
From third grade on, you knew you wanted to be a teacher…but why elementary education?
I loved working with first and second graders. Those are crucial years for foundational skills, particularly in reading, and I wanted to be part of that important development.
To watch a child grow from a non-reader to a reader in the course of a school year…it’s magic. And at that age, children are so curious, joyful, and eager to learn—I knew it would be a privilege to help shape their early educational experiences.
You’ve been with Community for over 20 years. What has kept you here?
It’s simple: the people. I love the kids – they are the number one. They say goofy things, they explore, they test boundaries, and are overall just full of wonder. It’s amazing to be around them. Next, the teachers here are outstanding. They are passionate about what they do, they understand the importance of what we do, and they are always looking to improve and seek out professional development. And overall, they are like family to me.
I’m never sad to go to work, even on the hard days.
What inspired you to leave the classroom and pursue the Lower Division Director role?
As I learned more about the position, I realized it would allow me to support the people I care so much about here: the teachers. It was also an opportunity for me to expand my understanding of childhood development and contribute in an even larger way. Let’s be honest, I’m an education geek. I love to keep learning and I love to provide resources and support to educators, and that’s what I get to do in this role.
Why
is the Lower Division unique?
In the Lower Division at Community, we nurture both academic and social-emotional growth, while also fostering a love of learning. Because of our co-teaching model, our students get personalized instruction, allowing us to respect the different rates at which children develop. Our youngest students are getting such rich experiences here that you can’t find at any other school. They explore woodshop, they are in plays, they begin learning French—they are exposed to so many things to help them find their interests. At the nursery level, especially, students are coming from varied backgrounds. Some have been in daycare since they were infants, some have been at home, and some at in-home daycares. The wonderful thing about Community is that our teachers are here to support every child in their individual development.
What are you enjoying about your new role?
I love that I have this new, outside view of our teachers in action. Since I’m not in the classroom anymore, I get to observe our incredible teachers do what they do best; and then find even more resources and ways to help them thrive and succeed so that our students also thrive and succeed. Plus, I get to see how the foundational education in our nursery classrooms evolves as the students get older. As the years go on, I’ll be seeing and knowing students from when they start here in nursery school, to when they make the transition to the Big Building, to when they graduate. I get a front row seat to that entire development, which is really exciting for me.
Has it been difficult to shift from teacher to administrator?
I’ve really enjoyed working with the whole of the administrative team. We meet weekly and it’s amazing to see how all our varying roles work together to support the student and family experience. In particular, it’s been great to meet with Bob [Head of School] and Nikki [Upper Division Director] every Friday. I have learned so much from the two of them.
What are you excited about for next year?
I’m excited to build on what I’ve learned and continue to expand in areas like professional development planning and teacher support. I also look forward to seeing students grow as they move up a grade—something I didn’t experience as much when I taught the same grade for so many years.
Why is Community special?
I think our co-lead system with the teachers in each classroom is unique and beneficial to the students. Our faculty is deeply committed to student growth, and they are lifelong learners themselves. Our faculty takes risks, reflects, then adapts – always striving for excellence. In addition, the partnership we have with our parents is incredible – it strengthens everything we do.
I wholeheartedly believe that Community School is the best elementary school in St. Louis and it’s a testament to the amazing faculty, staff, parents, and students we have here.
Excerpt from Mr. Cooke’s speech from the Annual Meeting in May 2024: Every year, one Community School faculty member is recognized for his or her work furthering the education of young children through excellence in program development in their classroom, presenting educational information at conferences or workshops, or publishing works for other educational professionals. The award is named in honor of Henry C. Lowenhaupt, an important member of Community School in the 1970s. In addition to recognition tonight and in a permanent display in the main office, there is a cash award that accompanies it.
In one of the nominations that led to this year’s award winner, this teacher was described as “a model of program development for the betterment of our students.” When we hired her in 2017, we knew that we were bringing an innovative master teacher, with a fierce dedication
Her students grow to understand that leading is a privilege, and that they should use their positions to help others.
to improving the teaching and learning of reading and literacy. I don’t think we realized that she would apply this passion beyond literacy, and beyond her classroom, to the betterment of all. These are just some of the characteristics that led to Darci Cadieux being chosen as this year’s Lowenhaupt Award winner.
Darci’s work here as a sixth grade teacher has been exemplary. Her lessons are innovative and engaging, and she brings a kindness and sense of humor every day, which is certainly needed with sixth graders! Additionally, she has the ability to help students find authors and genres that kindle a general, and lifelong, love of reading. One of my favorite units of hers to observe is the annual study of dystopian fiction—it’s already a topic near and dear to many a pre-teen’s heart, but Darci helps them understand it in a way that goes beyond
that particular novel, to a deeper love of literature.
Darci has also embraced the idea of sixth graders as leaders, and morphed what has long been an idea and belief into an entire curriculum. Her students grow to understand that leading is a privilege, and that they should use their positions to help others. This is perhaps most evident in our Family Groups, where, with her guidance, the sixth graders become empowered and compassionate leaders. She also works with her students to help them understand that they can and should be lifelong learners, and that they can train their brains to be flexible to new ideas and experiences. This is especially true in her work with neuroplasticity, the concept that the brain can be rewired to better adapt to new experiences and expectations. I love being in her classroom as her students demonstrate their knowledge about how to do this rewiring—kids will be juggling, or stacking cups, or doing dance moves, all while reciting songs. It’s astonishing to see, and humbling when they try to teach me to do it!
Darci’s dedication to improvement extends
beyond her classroom, as well. For instance, she created and is leading what we are calling “literacy loops.” These are a series of meetings and discussions between reading and literacy teachers at all levels of the school. They are designed to fight against the tendency toward “siloing” within a particular grade level, and ensure that there is vertical alignment from grade to grade. These literacy loops have reading teachers across every grade talking to each other, which has led to a significant improvement in the scope and sequencing of reading instruction. It is no surprise that Darci is leading the charge in this area, given her Master’s in Reading Instruction, and her experience as a literacy teacher and instructional coach. We’re just lucky that she decided to join us here at Community.
But as impressive as all of this is, it’s the informal things about Darci that many of us think of first. She is Ladue’s go-to dog sitter, has a vast collection of photos of school events, spends weekends watching the sports games of Community School alumni, and is a camper extraordinaire on the sixth grade overnight. She is the keeper of book
knowledge, stays current on seemingly everything that is published, and is able to recommend a book to any child or adult who describes a topic that interests them. Darci is an extraordinary athlete, and used those skills to make three-pointers during the faculty and sixth grade basketball game. She is a Cardinals and Blues fan, and one of Skipper’s best friends. Darci is also a wonderful collaborator, bringing her belief in working with others to initiatives such as Family Groups.
Darci practices what she preaches. And what she preaches is:
It’s okay to get stuck, just don’t stay stuck
Stay curious Love
All of this ensures that Darci is not only a great teacher, but someone who makes this a better school for us all.
HONORING OUR FACULTY & STAFF Retirees
“How lucky I have been to share my days with such amazing children.”
2024
Kathy Fitzgerald Lower Division Director and Assistant Head of School
Kathy retired after 18 years at Community School and 43 years in early childhood education. When asked what makes Community unique, she said, “The children, parents, and educators. I believe Community School truly lives its mission. The attention to the development of the whole child is present in every decision made on behalf of students. In addition to helping a child grow academically, character and leadership skills are developed with equal importance.”
Kathy’s accomplishments while at Community include creating a developmentally appropriate preschool program, working with teachers in differentiating instruction for varied learners, and adding the Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning to identify any developmental concerns in the junior kindergarten year at Community.
Kathy noted that she will miss daily interactions with students. “How lucky I have been to share my days with such amazing children,” she said. “I can’t imagine not starting a morning with a hug, listening to a recent adventure, or hearing the buzz of active learning in a classroom.”
Kathy’s favorite memories include attending graduation each year.
“It is an incredible experience as an educator to watch a child grow from a three-year-old to a poised and confident sixth grader,” she reflected. “Seeing the progression from year to year is so special.”
In retirement, Kathy looks forward to traveling with her husband, as well as having extra time with their granddaughters and family. Kathy will also pursue volunteer opportunities and take more time for her hobbies such as reading and listening to music.
2024
Darla Ellsworth Junior Kindergarten Teacher
Darla retired after 19 years as a junior kindergarten teacher. She recalled the impact of parents during her first year at Community.
“I had a serious illness,” she said. “And I will never forget how the parents were immediately supportive. The Grade Chair organized meals for my family and they were delivered to my home on a weekly basis. These parents still hold a special place in my heart.”
When asked what makes Community unique, Darla highlighted having co-teachers in each classroom.
“It has always been my favorite way to teach, with partners or on a team,” she shared.
Darla also recalled a Sunday afternoon in March 2020 when the JK team learned how to create a Google Classroom page for the virtual lessons they would have to present during the pandemic.
“I did not consider myself to be technologically savvy at the time, and this was a huge challenge for me,” she said. “It was also deeply important to me that my lessons were comprehensive, imaginative, and engaging. For the rest of the school year, each team member chose a few specific topics and created a lesson to present each week. Some of my topics included stars/constellations, clouds, frogs, and bugs/insects. I spent hours researching these themes. Every lesson integrated math, reading, art, science, and motor skills. Surprisingly, these lessons served to create a resource library of sorts that I still refer to from time to time.”
Darla said she would miss everyone at Community; the children, their parents, and her colleagues. Moving forward, she is excited to spend time with her family and grandchildren. She also plans on traveling, reading, boating, sewing, baking, and doing more crafts.
2024
Keith Dudley Facilities Manager
Keith worked at Community School for eight years. Prior to Community, he worked in facilities at Webster University. Keith enjoyed Community’s setting with trails and woods. One of his favorite memories took place on a Friday just before Winter Break started.
“We got a lot of snow that day,” he recalled. “And we wound up pushing cars up the hill.”
Keith managed major campus projects, including having new roofs put on existing buildings and supporting the construction of the Broughton STEAM Center. When asked about his accomplishments, Keith said, “I just did as much as I could to improve the school and make it nice for everyone.”
Keith will miss being able to visit with colleagues and families. In retirement, he looks forward to playing golf, reading, spending time with friends and family, and volunteering at canine shelters and at Jefferson Barracks.
“Do your work to the best of your ability, and smile. Everyone likes a smile!”
2024
Karen Birdsong Kitchen Staff
Karen started at Community in 1978 and celebrated her 45th anniversary on October 17, 2023, before retiring in 2024. Her mother, Hattie, and sister, Linda, worked in the kitchen at the time. Over the years, her sister, Cassandra; sisters-in-law, Peggy and Josephine; brother, Bruce; and daughter, Quiana; also worked at Community.
When asked what set Community apart over the decades, Karen said, “All of the people—the kids, the parents, and the headmasters. I’ve gotten to meet a lot of important people.”
Karen also had fond memories of events at Community.
“I loved it when we hosted Cornucopia and picnics on campus,” she recalled. “They were fun to attend.”
Her favorite meals to make for the school included Jo Mazotti, macaroni and cheese (when it was topped with real bacon!), and all the meals the kitchen staff used to make from scratch for Thanksgiving. Karen said she would miss cooking and chatting with Community students.
In retirement, Karen is excited to spend more time with her daughters, Quiana and Ebony, and her granddaughter, Amari. She’ll take time to relax, sew, and help with her daughter’s catering business. She regularly volunteers in her spare time and will continue to work with children in that capacity.
When asked what advice she would share with someone starting as a new employee at Community, she summed up, “You should be yourself. Do your work to the best of your ability, and smile. Everyone likes a smile!”
2025
Marty Hoessle Third Grade Teacher
Marty is retiring after 37 years of teaching at Community School (1988-2025) and 50 years combined in education, counseling, and human services. Her career has included roles as a YMCA youth director, substance abuse counselor, and high school crisis intervention counselor.
Before settling into third grade, Marty taught senior kindergarten for four years and second grade for six. Over the years, she’s worked alongside 10 team teachers and under several heads of school. When asked what makes Community School unique, she highlighted the ability for teachers to share their personal skills and talents, as well as the wonderful outdoor spaces, including the woods, pond, treehouse, and patio outside the Broughton STEAM Center.
Marty has a deep commitment to supporting neurodiverse learners, as well as a vast knowledge of Indigenous peoples and St. Louis history. She even published a children’s book, Under Three Flags, Exploring Early St. Louis History. She has woven mindfulness practices, executive function skills, and immersive outdoor learning into her teaching. Her dedication has earned her several honors, including
the Teacher of Distinction Award from the Independent Schools of St. Louis and the Emerson Excellence in Education Award.
Reflecting on her early years at Community, Marty remembered teaching in what is now First Grade South, lighting the fireplace for the last time during an Open House, and watching assemblies in the gym and Community Center. One of her fondest memories is teaching the history of the 1904 World’s Fair.
“I researched and wrote a program outline with parts of original speeches and songs in 2002,” she shared.
Over the past 23 years, she has loved seeing the program evolve into a play, crediting Drama Teacher Alissa Rowan for making it “better and better every year.”
As she steps into retirement, Marty looks forward to traveling, hiking, biking, practicing yoga, and spending more time with family and friends. When asked what she would miss, she didn’t hesitate: “The children, my colleagues, and the administration and staff.”
Marty’s advice to new teachers— to lead by example.
“Model and teach your students to leave their world – their classrooms, their homes, and their communities – better than they found it,” she said. “Even small gestures, like a smile or picking up trash, can make a meaningful difference.”
Farewell, Bob
REFLECTING ON A DECADE OF LEADERSHIP
The school should
In the summer of 2020, Bob and Brenda Cooke crawled through every classroom in Community School, armed with tape measures and masking tape. They marked six feet … six feet … six feet. They marked it enough times to ensure a safe amount of distance between 350 students and 80 faculty and staff members.
Could either of them have envisioned this future six years earlier, when they were living in a suburb of Los Angeles? There, Bob was running the Upper Division at the elite Brentwood School. They were looking to move back toward family in the Midwest, and Bob was eyeing opportunities at elementary schools.
“Those early, formative years – that’s the age at which I feel like you can make the biggest difference in a child’s education,“ he explained.
Brenda stumbled upon Community School’s website. She clicked into the page that outlined the Ten Guiding Principles, first drafted in 1914.
“She called me over and said, ‘You need to look at these. This place is different.’ So, I read them,” he said. “And I knew. This was a place I wanted to be.”
After an extensive search process, Community offered him the job as Head of School in the fall of 2014. He started on July 1, 2015.
recognize the child as an individual with individual diferences, and an inherent right to develop these diferences.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE #1
The school should make children aware of their immediate world, their
“Bobservation”
“My first year, I told everyone repeatedly that I wouldn’t make any major changes because I wanted to learn the traditions and the thinking behind things.”
He said it so many times, one of the teachers began calling it the “Year of Bobservation.”
In his first year, though, he planted the seeds for what would grow into changes of notable significance.
Marketing, Admissions, and School Spirit
He led an agency update of the school’s brand, and truly locked down its visual identity: the exact shades of blue and green, and the logo that is unmistakably Community. Under Bob’s leadership, Goldy the Eagle was born – a mascot around which the school could build excitement and a competitive athletic program.
“I wanted to do a lot early on about school spirit and making this a place that kids felt a loyalty to and excitement about,” he said.
At the time, enrollment was 333. Capacity is 350.
“This is such a great school. To have empty seats is wrong,” he said. “Those seats should be filled with children who can benefit from this amazing education.”
Dana Scott Saulsberry, Community’s longtime Director of Admission, remembered thinking his ideas were ambitious.
“He talked about personally interviewing every family who applied for admission,” she laughed. “Do you realize how many parent interviews that is? But he did it. Still does.”
Steadily, the numbers climbed, until every seat was indeed filled by a child who could benefit from the amazing education Community School provides.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE #6
place in that environment, and their responsibility in global issues.
Service and Culture
Time and again, Bob would circle back to the Ten Guiding Principles that first caught his attention.
To that end, he helped launch the “MLK Day of Service” as a way to actively honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Because I loved the idea of having people see this holiday as a day on, rather than a day off,” he said. “It’s a day when families can come together and really make a difference in St. Louis and help children learn the value of service.”
That first MLK Day, dozens of people participated. On January 20, 2025, around 250 showed up.
Those 250 people also represented the same broad cross-section of the population that Community itself includes: a multitude of ethnicities, races, religions, and cultures.
“All of our kids need to see that the world is a really rich and interesting place,” he said. “What a gift to see and experience that in their peers, every day.”
Strategic Plan and Master Facilities Plan
PLEDGE WEEK
Bob introduced the concept of Pledge Week to Community School, something he first experienced at Brentwood, where the school shines the spotlight on bridging the gap between tuition and the true cost of educating a student at Community School during a single week at the beginning of the school year. His final year at Community marked five consecutive years of 100% family and faculty participation in the drive, which now accounts for roughly 70% of the year’s Annual Fund earnings.
Also in his year of “Bobservation,” Community adopted a new Strategic Plan. Included in the Strategic Plan was a Master Facilities Plan.
“It called out three major projects,” Bob recalled. “The STEAM Center at the northern end of the building and additional improvements to the Early Childhood Center and Discovery Center.”
By the fall of 2019, the school was preparing for a capital campaign.
“We were ready to go in March of 2020,” Bob recalled. He also recalled the news cycle at the time.
“I had been reading about COVID-19 in January. In February I met with our administrative team and said we need to prepare for it like it’s going to happen,” he said, smirking as he continued. “I made these poor teachers train—they all had to think I was nuts!” Everyone left for Spring Break prepared to teach over Zoom, though fully expecting to return to their classrooms as scheduled. The first ask for the capital campaign was to take place a few days later. Barry Albrecht was the president of the Board at the time.
“I was ready to announce that we were going to roll out the silent phase,” Barry said, referencing the capital campaign. Instead, “I had to make the decision to postpone it over Spring Break.”
“We thought it would be tone deaf to move forward,” Bob said. “So we hit pause and had a pandemic.”
The Pandemic
Everything may have paused for the pandemic, but the months – years – that passed were anything but a reprieve.
“It felt like a full-time job,” Barry said of chairing the Board. “But my role in everything was kind of overblown. Bob held everything together.”
The school should see to it that children are trained to become free of embarrassment or self-consciousness, and to assume
It was about protecting the learning environment and the educational experience Community was mission-bound to create for
its students.
Bob spearheaded the creation of a Health and Safety Task Force, composed of experts in epidemiology and immunology, pediatricians, administrators, and classroom teachers.
“Everything was coming from experts and everything was about protecting the health of the students and the teachers,” Barry said. While things were anything but certain in those initial months, Bob said he knew one thing for sure, “We were coming back in the fall.”
For Bob and the Board, it wasn’t about enrollment numbers – not a single family left because of the pandemic – it was about those Ten Guiding Principles. It was about protecting the learning environment and the educational experience Community was mission-bound to create for its students.
“I felt like we needed to know exactly what we were doing so people would trust us and send their kids back to us,” Bob said.
Under the Board’s direction, Bob communicated with families every week. The weeks he didn’t have much to say, he didn’t say much—but he stayed in their inboxes.
The school purchased air purification equipment. Bob and Brenda taped lines for desks so students could sit six feet apart. A crew tore down a wall in the fourth grade classroom so it could accommodate all of the students, socially distanced.
“It felt like an unending stream of experiments,” Bob said. Those experiments resulted in a first day of school – in person – in August of 2020. And the school remained open throughout that year.
independent thinkers, to express themselves freely and accurately, responsibility and carry it through to a successful end.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE #3
The school should have teachers sufciently rich classroom material that will spark a child’s imagination, keep
“I don’t think I realized the stress I was under,” Bob said. “Looking back on it, I put on 20 pounds. That doesn’t happen because you’re living a healthy, stress-free life.”
While Barry certainly recalled the stress of the situation, he said it wasn’t all horrible.
And that, he attributes to Bob.
“He would always present bad news with an impish smile. He was the perfect captain of the ship because it was so easy to get down, yet he was always ready to get up. I was struck by that infectious positivity.”
“I’m saddled with overconfidence,” Bob laughed.
When Barry took over as president of the Board in the summer of 2019, he extended Bob’s contract another five years.
“Selfishly, I knew those five years would come to a close the year my youngest child would graduate from Community,” he said. Eventually, Bob and the Board pressed “play” on the capital campaign they had to pause. The school raised more than $7 million and opened the Broughton STEAM Center (more on that on p. 26). And in the spring of 2024, Bob announced he would retire at the conclusion of the following school year.
When asked why now, Bob admitted, “I think the pandemic took more out of me than I realized at the time. I still love this school. I still love this job.”
But he’s ready for the next chapter.
“Brenda and I are excited for the flexibility of retirement. We want to hitch up the travel trailer, visit National Parks, spend time at
“I still love this school. I still love this job.”
in background to enable them to provide it alive, and encourage each child to want to know more.
our mountain cabin, and enjoy the company of friends and family.”
In short, the time is right for him. And, he believes, it’s the right time for Community. The pandemic is now in the rear-view. Students and faculty are thriving in the new Broughton STEAM Center. And next year, the Board will introduce the school’s next Strategic Plan.
“I don’t want to be the guy people are happy to see leave,” Bob said. “I want to be the guy people wish would stay.”
When asked what makes this farewell so bittersweet, Barry said simply, “He’s just a heck of a nice guy. He’s been transformative, and he’s an exceptional human being.”
Call it positivity. Call it overconfidence. Call it great leadership. Whatever you call it, Bob Cooke’s ten years as Head of School at Community have been nothing short of remarkable – an era that will leave a lasting legacy for the school and its community.
Honoring Bob’s Leadership
Bob will depart Community School at the end of June. We invite you to send a note, addressed to his attention, to the school, or offer a few words of encouragement or appreciation through this QR code. If you would like to honor his service with a gift to Community School, you can do so via the same link. All contributions will be put toward scholarships for teachers’ children, a cause very important to both Bob and Brenda.
Bob and Brenda Cooke at Grand Teton National Park in the summer of 2016.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE #5
Education
Unleashed
Building the Broughton STEAM Center
If everything had gone according to plan, the STEAM Center would have opened in the spring of 2022—perhaps even earlier.
The building was a key element of the Master Facilities Plan, a result of Community School’s 2017 Strategic Plan, which identified three primary areas for improvement: the creation of a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) center at the northern end of the campus, enhancements to the Early Childhood Center (the Little Building), and upgrades to the Discovery Center.
By the spring of 2020, the school had completed a feasibility study to assess interest in potential funding for the construction.
“We were ready,” recalled Head of School Bob Cooke. “I was set to make the first ask of the campaign during Spring Break 2020.”
At that time, Barry Albrecht was the president of the Board of Trustees.
“I had to make the call,” Barry reflected – the call to delay the campaign due to the global shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, the school quickly shifted its focus to health and safety, with teachers, staff, and parents prioritizing immediate needs. A campaign could wait. And wait it did.
By late 2021, Bob and the Board picked up where they left off, reassessing what the community could afford and what motivated potential supporters.
“Prices had changed drastically in those two years,” Bob noted. “We had to take inventory— what mattered most and what would offer the greatest value to the community, especially after everything we had collectively endured?”
The STEAM Center emerged as the top priority, primarily because the existing science and woodshop space was in dire need of repair.
Lee Broughton, whose two daughters were attending Community at the time, recalled that the teachers in that building, “were clearly making do with what they had. It was their talents that kept things going, but the resources were lacking.”
With this in mind, the school refined its priorities:
• An accessible campus
• Larger and better-equipped science classrooms
• A safe and modern woodshop
• An expanded drama classroom
The school would need to raise $7 million.
“It’s in Community’s bones and blood to do hard things,” Bob said. “I knew it was possible. I also knew we needed an elite gift to carry the project forward.”
In March, Bob met with Lee and his wife, Chrissy Taylor Broughton, to discuss their potential involvement.
“It was a very thoughtful conversation,” Lee remembered. “There was a clear need for the school to enhance its focus on STEAM, especially given the competitive landscape among independent schools.”
But, he said, another realization sealed their support.
“Both my wife and I, along with her family, are strong protagonists for St. Louis. This project was a great way for us to invest in the people and opportunities here and further boast on our incredible resources.”
A few days later, Lee shared the family’s decision with Bob.
“He just waved me over in carpool when he was dropping off the girls,” Bob
laughed. “It was so casual, but he was clearly excited.”
The Broughtons and the Taylors committed to lead gifts.
“We were off to the races,” Bob said.
Earlier that year, Bob had hired Tyler McLain to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Building Community Campaign. Together with Tyler and members of the Board, they created the Campaign Cabinet, a dedicated group of parents who helped solicit donations.
Through countless meetings and with growing support, the project began to take shape.
On December 1, 2022, the school broke ground on the Broughton STEAM Center.
Over the next year, renderings became reality.
“I remember one moment so clearly,” Bob said. “I walked into the second story and looked out the schoolhouse
Students break ground on the Broughton STEAM Center on December 1, 2022.
Lee Broughton, Bob Cooke, and Chrissy Taylor Broughton celebrate the grand opening of the Broughton STEAM Center.
window, overlooking the woods. It felt transformative.”
Teachers moved into their new classrooms on February 20, 2024, and on March 28, the Broughtons, along with students, parents, and other generous donors, gathered to dedicate the new school wing.
“Many of our donors’ children and grandchildren have benefited from past generosity,” Bob said, referring to campaigns like the one that built the Centennial Arts Center. “This was an opportunity for them to pay it forward for future generations.”
For the Broughtons, the decision to donate was deeply personal. Their eldest daughter, Grace, graduated in 2022, but their younger daughter, Amelia, was in fifth grade when the STEAM Center opened. Amelia would benefit from the new classrooms and collaborative workspaces for another year and a half.
“And now, when Amelia moves on to secondary school, she’ll walk into a science or arts building and it will feel familiar, even though she’s never been in it,” Lee said. “That’s the impact of this building.”
In May 2022, Community School students, faculty, staff, parents, grandparents, and alumni had the opportunity to sign their names to a steel beam that would be incorporated into the framework of the Broughton STEAM Center. The beam is encased in the ceiling of the lower division science room.
The Broughtons, like many other donors, were also motivated by a profound sense of gratitude.
“For us,” Lee said, “there’s a real appreciation for the teachers who have reinforced the values we’ve instilled in our daughters. This gift is for the mind, body, and spirit of the teachers, too.”
When Bob spoke with prospective donors, he often emphasized the educational opportunities the new space would provide. He would talk about “unleashing the teachers”—giving them the resources not only to teach, but to innovate and inspire.
The Broughton STEAM Center has done just that.
“I’m a firm believer that great stories happen to those who can tell them,” Lee said. “We’ve been writing this great story, and now it’s come to life. It’s more than just making parity with other independent schools—it’s next level.”
The Broughton STEAM Center is moving Community forward, full steam ahead.
ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT
In March 2025, Community School began work on the final phase of the Building Community Campaign, improving accessibility in the Main Building.
Key improvements include:
• Relocating the elevator to allow access to all four levels of the Main Building
• Relocating and upgrading the Community Center bathrooms
• Making minor but meaningful accessibility and safety upgrades in the central part of the Main Building
Construction is ongoing in the center of the building throughout the summer months, with an anticipated completion date in August 2025.
THANK YOU TO OUR INCREDIBLE CAMPAIGN CABINET!
Chairs
Jeremy Deutsch
Brad Foss
Stacey Kamps
Cabinet Members
Mayo Amos
Jeffrey Evitts
Alexa Gibson
Erin Gooch
Kelly Harris
Michael Laycob
Sean McCarthy
Diana Mitchell
Chris Muñoz
Audrey Scherrer
Attention, Alumni!
Your Community School experience doesn’t end with your graduation. We hope you always feel welcome in our halls. Mark your calendars for the following events during the 2025-2026 school year. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Goldy Day
AUGUST 23, 2025
We’ll kick off the school year with Goldy Day – an event that’s become a favorite pastime for our current students. This vibrant carnival is the perfect opportunity for our youngest alumni to return to campus and help at the carnival booths. We’ll reach out to class captains for students in the graduating classes of 2020 - 2025 with more information this summer.
Alumni Night at the Book Show
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
The annual Book Show is a highlight for our community, and this year we’re celebrating our love of reading with alumni. Community is honored to host New York Times bestselling author and Caldecott Medal
recipient Vashti Harrison, who will speak at a special alumni reception the evening of September 30. Before and after her talk, attendees will have the chance to browse a curated selection of books suitable for readers of all ages. Be sure to mark your calendars, and keep an eye out for more information later this summer!
MLK Day of Service
JANUARY 19, 2026
Many alumni have expressed interest in continuing their involvement in our MLK Day of Service, and we’re excited to extend this tradition. On January 19, 2026, we’ll gather together to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and serve our broader St. Louis community. Stay tuned for more details later in the fall.
Stay in Touch with Us!
Our alumni are an integral part of our Community School community, and we want to be sure to stay in touch! If your contact information has changed or if you have some special news to share, please let us know. Scan the QR code to stay connected with Community and/or tell us what you’ve been up to. We look forward to hearing from you!
Congratulations, Alumni!
Community School believes that the true measure of a school’s greatness can be found in the achievement of its alumni. The William H. Danforth Distinguished Alumni Award was established in 2018 to illustrate the profound connection between one’s formative years at Community School and one’s pursuit of excellence over the course of a lifetime. This award recognizes alumni who have carried forward the school’s mission by serving as leaders in each of their communities and professions, and who have shown appreciation and respect for the world. Each year, recipients of the Danforth Award are invited back to Community for a special ceremony at which they are honored in front of the entire school community. Students are chosen to present the awards and the event is capped with an always memorable student performance. Sincere congratulations to our 2024 and 2025 recipients!
2024
RECIPIENTS:
Vincent Price, 1922
Jane Smiley ’61
2025
RECIPIENTS: Erica Barnell ’03
Don Danforth ’79 Kiku Obata ’63
Learn more about the William H. Danforth Distinguished Alumni Award!
Jane Smiley attended the awards ceremony in 2024. Vincent Price received the Danforth Award posthumously. His daughter, Victoria Price, accepted the award on his behalf via video.
Lasting Legacies
We honor the memory of two longtime Community School teachers who touched countless lives. Their passion for teaching and care for students left a lasting impact on our school community and we celebrate their legacies, which live on in the hearts of all who knew them.
Maxine Blaine
Longtime Community School teacher and Life Member Maxine Blaine passed away on August 4, 2024. Maxine was born in 1921 in Ray County, MO. After graduating from Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in 1943, she began a career in early childhood education at Community that would span 43 years.
Maxine was a beloved teacher, and her love of children continued throughout her retirement. She kept up with many of her former students, was ‘adopted’ by current Community families, and attended Community events as recently as the fall of 2022. She lived independently and actively until the final weeks of her life.
Marie Witscher
Marie Witscher, longtime Community School teacher, passed away on November 19, 2024, at age 100. Marie was born in Racine, WI, and attended the University of Wisconsin. After moving to St. Louis in 1954, Marie taught at St. Elizabeth of Hungary and Immacolata grade schools and then transitioned to Community School.
Marie taught at Community for 32 years (1962-1994) and was particularly noted as an innovative math and reading teacher. Marie remained connected to Community even after her retirement. Marie was a Life Member of the school, and her grandson, Luca Armstrong, is a fourth grader here.
CORNUCOPIA 2024 & THE Discovery CENTER
In April 2024, Community parents and friends gathered at The Factory in Chesterfield to rock the night away at the school’s signature biennial event. Cornucopia Chair Katie Schankman spearheaded an incredible celebration that raised more than $350,000 to support the student experience. Attendees generously raised their paddles to the tune of $100,000 to renovate a beloved space at the school, the Discovery Center.
Renovations to the space began in the fall of 2024. In January 2025, students returned to a refreshed Discovery Center, one designed with them in mind. School librarian Kat Mowczko is especially grateful.
“The Discovery Center has always been a special place for students,” she said. “Their love of reading grows so profoundly in their time with us. It’s amazing to see this transformation make it a truly magical experience every time they walk into the Discovery Center.”
Thanks to our Committee Chairs for all their hard work!
CORNUCOPIA COMMITTEE
CHAIR: Katie Schankman
LIVE AUCTION: Sonia and Calvin Cajigal
SILENT AUCTION: Meredith Rabenold
Kim Wolff
SPONSORSHIPS:
Stacey Kamps
Michael Laycob
AD SALES:
Kimberly Bader
Emily Schwab
MARKETING:
Kristen Armstrong
RAFFLE:
Sara Gregerson
Erin Taves
HOSPITALITY:
Patty Boehm
Sammie Katzman
Key updates to the Discovery Center
Shelves to facilitate kid-friendly book browsing
Specialized areas for reading “moments,” including a PlayPod house, story time rug, and whimsical log seating
Dear Friends,
When the time came to write this letter last year, I didn’t really know what to say. I was a few short months into the job, learning as much as I could as quickly as I could. I knew Community was special – would be special to my entire family – but it felt early. We wound up settling on a Q&A rather than a letter. Fast forward just over a year, and I could easily write pages. The 2023-2024 school year offered a beautiful introduction to a place I have grown quickly to love. When I first came to Community, I found Pledge Week fascinating as an industry practice. After several years in fundraising, I’d never heard of a school reaching 100% participation in its Annual Fund, let alone in a single week. This last year – the year we achieved five consecutive years of 100% participation among our current families – I was more touched than astounded. 100% participation. Faculty and families alike. All demonstrating a deep and personal investment in the formative educational experiences of our students. I have the privilege of seeing that commitment play out every day, in an office nestled in the Broughton STEAM Center – across from the drama room and woodshop, a floor beneath the new science labs. This building is a brick-andmortar manifestation of the shared dedication of families and faculty, past and present. When I first toured Community, Bob and I stood on a gravel lot next to a steel shell of the STEAM Center. He described what he envisioned: a place where the teachers would be “unleashed” in the classroom, with the resources to educate in the most innovative ways. Judging from the sounds of the files and hammers, the words “I am an actor” echoing down the hall, and the upper division students in waders, gathering samples from the pond outside my window, the vision is now very much a reality.
It’s not lost on me that Pledge Week and the Broughton STEAM Center came to fruition under Bob’s leadership. In 18 months at this school, I have seen how transformative great leadership can be. Community has been an extraordinary place for more than 100 years, yet Bob has managed to leave it in even better shape than when he arrived. Our new Head of School, Laurie Smilack, is stepping into an incredible legacy of leadership. And I know we’re all so excited to see how her passion, expertise, and perspective transform our community.
I mentioned I could fill pages, and I could … but I won’t! Thank you all so very much for everything you did to make the 2023-2024 school year an exceptional one. Thank you to those who gave generously to allow us to fulfill our mission. Thank you to every member of the CPA, every chair and volunteer, who gave their time to ensure the success of our hallmark events. On a personal note, thank you for the patience, the grace, and the welcome you have extended to me as I have learned this new role. This is the first “official” Family Album letter I have written; I hope it’s the first of many!
Warmly,
Abby Samel DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Donors
Thank you to all who give so generously to support our mission. The following donor roll reflects contributions made to Community School during the 2023-2024 fiscal year (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024).
FOUNDING MOTHERS
GIVING CIRCLE
Anonymous
Jackie and Barry Albrecht
Anne and Doug Albrecht
Jennifer Ehlen and Craig Albrecht
Amanda and Brian Anderson
Melissa and Christopher Anstey
Ali and Jesse Appleton
Eleanor and Leif Bergquist
Chrissy Taylor Broughton and Lee Broughton
Sherin and Ryan Bruning
Barbara and Stephen Burrows
Aaron Cregger
Jeanne and Paul Dalba
Kate and Tom Danforth
Marni and Jeremy Deutsch
Nancy and D.J. Diemer
Nicole and Joseph DiMartini
Nicole and Evan Engelhardt
Sue and Irl Engelhardt
Alexa and Chris Gibson
Erin and Craig Gooch
Sara and Will Gregerson
Sarah Kovenock and C. Bradley Gross
Amanda and Eric Holekamp
Kerry and Bill Holekamp
The Holton Family
Lauren and John Hubert
Robert Johnston
Sally Johnston
Stacey Kamps
Vija Turina and Lal Karsanbhai
Lisa Lindstrom and Richard Keating
Lauren and Kyle Kerner
Sally and Nicholas Kriegel
Kelly and Matthew LaMartina
Chrissy and Michael Laycob
Bridget and Zachary Long
Jennifer and Jeffrey
McDonnell
Anne and John McDonnell
Mayo and Daniel Morgan
Tara and Robert Neumayr
Erin and Ryan Orf
Michelle and John Peritore
Cynthia and Raymond Peters
Callie and Andrew Rapp
Lindsey and Evan Reed
Christine and David Sachs
Katie and Steve Schankman
Audrey and Matthew Scherrer
Stephanie A. Schnuck
Lauren and Coleman Sheehan
Sophia Baig and Umer Siddiqui
Heidi and Ian Silberman
Katie and Nelson Spencer
Courtney and Benjamin Stotler
Barbara and Andrew Taylor
Laura and Bryan Taylor
Leslie and Andrew Vitt
Yi Yao and Xin Wei
Chrissie and Bradford Werner
Nicole and Steve Wohlford
Kimberly and Todd Wolff
Jara and Michael Wong
OAK LEAF SOCIETY
Anonymous
Kristen and Robert Armstrong
Asma Usmani and Stephen Banga
Barbara and Barry Beracha
Marysa Monterubio and Paul Boggeman
Michelle and Joe Buck
Brandi and Daniel Burke
Eileen and Julian Carr
Bomi and John Choe
Brenda and Bob Cooke
Danielle and Jeffrey Evitts
Diana and Jason Flower
Leslie and Bradley Foss
Sarah and Lucien Fouke
Ted and Gayle Garrett
Jennifer and Timothy Hertel
Rhonda Hodges
Jay Kamps
Jeannie and Brian Kelly
Elizabeth and David King
Jacqueline and James Levey
Elizabeth and James Maritz
Sarah and E. Calvin Matthews
Linda and John O’Hara
Babafemi Pratt
Jessica Shepherd Pratt and Wande Pratt
Meredith and Jason Rabenold
Julie and Jason Rhee
Mary and Cody Ryan
Abby and Joe Samel
DONOR LEVELS
Founding Mothers Giving Circle
Gifts of $10,000 or more
Oak Leaf Society
Gifts of $5,000-$9,999
1914 Society
Gifts of $3,500-$4,999
Golden Eagle Society
Gifts of $1,000-$3,499
Friend Society
Gifts of $1-$999
Amy Hilmer and Mauricio Sanchez
Carrie and Jason Schnuck
Carol and Phillip Schwab
Mary and Stefan Sigurdson
Tammy and Anthony Sonn
Annie and Terrance Stewart
Amy and Zachary Varble
Amanda and Douglas Winters
Carolynn and Stephen Wolff
1914 SOCIETY
Anonymous
Janice and Asa Baker
Carol and Jeffrey Burgess
Sonia and Calvin Cajigal
Chao Gu and Yi Li
Cynthia Maritz
Lauren and Taylor Mason
Megan and Taylor Matthews
Getha Jagannathan and Arvind Palanisamy
Elizabeth and John Short
Elsie Luo and Derek Sun
Layla Hajjafar and Jason Taylor
Becky and Michael Vasta
Xiujia Jin and Keith Winkler
Emily and Ali Ziaee
GOLDEN EAGLE SOCIETY
Anonymous
Lama Aleid and Saad Alkaade
Mayo Amos
Sara Jay and Simon Anderson
Susan and Robert Appleton
Kimberly and Patrick Bader
Sydney and Cory Bailey
Anthony Bardol
Donna Benson
Brad Beracha
Shafia and Saqib Bhutto
Patricia and Barrett Boehm
Arpana Agrawal and Ryan Bogdan
Melissa and Greg Bohlmann
Virginie Brightman
Jutta Buder
Kathryn Galie and Brian Burkhardt
Hayley and Eric Butler
Kara and Ben Cardinal
Christina Min and Dennis Chang
Sanjam Dhatt and Anahit Cheema
Sophia and Shawn Chen
Shyna and James Cornell
Caitlin Kelleher and Dennis Cosgrove
Margit and Brent Craig
Nikki and Scott Dantuono
Vijaya Kumari and Rao Devineni
Carrie and Sean Edelstein
Aaron Edison
Hope Edison
Rebecca and Eric Eisenreich
Kora and Paul Felsch
Kathy and Drew Fitzgerald
Jennifer and Tim Fogerty
Virginia and Bobby Foster
Becky and Lucien Fouke
Alexandra Georges
Irene Gonzalez-Navarro and Diego Gigliani-Uriarte
Susan Goldberg
Rowena Delos Santos and Pavan Gupta
Dorothy Haase
Tonia Harris
Sarah and Brent Haynam
Sonya and Harold Helmkampf
Erin and Nick Hendon
Anne and Robert Hill
Jennie Kwon and Augustine Hong
Becky and John Hubert
Alexandra and Jack Jennings
Kerrigan and Howard Kaplan
Suzanne Schindler and Andrianus Kardjaja
Elizabeth Hersh and Robert Kleinlehrer
Jessica and Robert Kuhlman
Ann and Peter Lazaroff
Susan and Erich Lee
Carole and Jim Lemen
Esther and Frank Lu
Jane Mackey
Katie and Brian Mailey
Shengbing Shao and Ambrose Mak
Michele and James Maritz
Shepard Simpson and Michael Martinich-Sauter
Vanessa McKenzie
Karine Amirikian and Mariano Menkes
Julie Stevenson and Thomas Meyer
Julie and William Milius, Jr.
Rick and Debbie Monterubio
Maggie and Samuel Moore
Jennifer and Matthew Morris
Sherry Liang and Sen Mu
Ellen and Tom Noel
Angela and Bradford O’Neil
Rachel and Jack Oliver
Sonie Orsay
Hannah Ji-Otto and Jackson Otto
Urvi and Jay Patel
Suzanne and Theodore Rafferty
Malini and Nikhil Rammohan
Casey and Phil Reed
Michelle and William Reisner
Clare and Tytus Rogoyska
Majella Doyle-Roth and Robert Roth
Terry Sale
Laura and Robert Sandheinrich
Dana and Charles Saulsberry
Lauren and Christopher Schipper
Connie Schnuck
Susan S. Schuppan
Emily and Phil Schwab
Terri and Robert Slavin
Crystal and Nelson Spencer
Randall Sterkel
Erin and Adam Taves
Jennifer and Terrence Tierney
Claire Danis Todorovich and Michael Todorovich
Katie and Adam Turner
Katherine and Matthew Vance
Gina Lyn and Reginald VanDerson
Sarita Elizabeth and Philip Verghese
Geneen and Troy Von Kloha
Kelly and Patrick Wittenbrink
Vivien Liu and Frank Yang
Yimeng Ma and Shuwen Zou
FRIENDS SOCIETY
Anonymous
Arthur W. Altvater, Jr.
Christina Altvater
Hadley Altvater
Jeffrey and Melanie Altvater
Preston Amos
Paul Anagnostopoulos
Charlie Antoniou
Christos Antoniou
Amanda and Townsend
Baldwin
Sharon Barnholtz
Marieann Barratt
Barbie Barrow
Julie and Lee Bearman
Claire Beck
Alison Bedell
Ashley Benson
Brittany Benson
Lanny Benson
Meredith Benson
Kristen Beracha
Lori Berry
Carol Bitting
Maxine Blaine
Ingrid Bonds
Avery Boswell
Roswitha Bourgeois
Greg Bradshaw
Lori Branch
Rebecka Briney
Christine Bugnitz
Darci Cadieux
Brecken Calcari
Stephanie and Nathan Calcari
Reagan Calcari
Kristin Campanella
Ashley Carr
Juanita Charles
Tiffany Charles
Teresita Cheuk
Lynn and Doug Christopher
Sandra and John Cirrito
Meg and Thomas Claggett
Anne and T.J. Corrigan
Barbara and Harvey Cotlar
Jan and Robert Craig
Jamie Cregger
Kaitlyn and Brandon Crosby
Margaret and Steve Culver
Matthew Dade
Joann and Scott Decker
Liz Lee and Edward Del Rosario
Monette DeSimone
Coumba Diallo
Mawdo Malik Diallo
Wilmetta Toliver-Diallo and Samba Diallo
Michelle and Stuart Dobbs
Alexander Doty
Elisabeth Doty
Rosemary Watts-Dreyer and Joseph Dreyer
Elizabeth Moss and William Dubinsky
Meriam Dwidar
Jaden Edelstein
Jasmine Edelstein
Jemma Edelstein
Peter Edison
Ginger Estep
Vanessa Fabbre
Jessica and Chris Farris
Lucile Mary Fikes
Linda and Steven Finerty
Joseph Fresta
Megan Futhey
Therese Futhey
Alice and David Galt
Veronique and Cyril Gardet
Margaret Williams and Philip George
Jessica Goldman
Richard Gordon
Jen Gosnell
Stephen Lott and Ethan Graf
Deanna and Chauncey
Granger
Margaret Gray
Mollie Gray
Melissa Hector-Greene and Shanti Greene
Randy Gress
Peyton Griffin
Mary and James Gross
Caryl Yanow and William Grueskin
Angela and Jered Gruszka
Jonelle Harris
Kelly and Stuart Harris
Amanda Hazelwood
Ann and Keith Hazelwood
Julie Heitmann
Katie and Shawn Hellmann
Castella Henderson
Jessica and Jason Hendricks
L. Shepley Hermann
Judy Higgins
Carrie and William Hinrichs
Marty Hoessle
Tarey and William Hoffman
Jason Hollander
Kris and James Holmes
Margaret Shakbe and Hillis Howie
Kristin Hubert
Lyah and Eno Ituen
Kelli and Brian Ivy
Candace and James Jefferson
Qingwei Luo and Bo Jin
Ashley Johnson
Kelly and Roger Johnson
Shannon Johnson
Suzanne and James Johnson
Caroline Johnston
Tamara Cooperwood and Korey Jones
Maiko Kaneko
Christina and John Karageorgiou
Samantha and Daniel Katzman
Ricke and Arthur Kerckhoff
Sabika Hassan and Saquib Khawar
Bettie King
Catherine Kohn
Joseph Korfmacher
Madeleine Kraus
Deborah Krieg
Lucy J. Kutner
Amy Breier Kwentus
Maureen Ross-Lang and David Lang
Maryfrances Lang
Anna and Cam Lemen-June
Mary and John Lemkemeier
Kathy and Jason Lepsky
Angie and Michael Lesser
John Liebson
Constance Lohr
Rosalyn and Charles Lowenhaupt
Elizabeth Lowenhaupt
Rachelle Luster-Gordon
Kathleen and John MacDonough
Kris and Tom Major
Lisa Steinhoff and Keith Mangles
Vicki Sauter and Joseph Martinich
Lori Marusic
Taylor Mata
Meghan and Thor Mathison
Jennifer McCarthy
Sarah and Mike McCarthy
Jennifer McDonald
Amanda McFarland
Emily and Michael McGehee
Tyler McLain
Phoebe Mendelson
Antonia and Alexander Miceli
Bill Miller
Toni Cromer and Kenneth Miller
Nicole Shen and Dan Mills
Joshua Milton
Diana and Vernon Mitchell
Joe Mohr
Kat and Joe Mowczko
Christopher Muñoz
Joey Murphy
Daniel Naert
Soophia and Dinko Naydenov
Nina and David Nichols
Katie and David Norris
Bette Nuzum
Rochelle A. Fortier Nwadibia
Kiku Obata
Stephanie Oliver
Nathaniel Osborne
Martha Overcash
Pamela and Grant Owens
Judith Perry
Joseph Piper
Barbara and Martin Poleski
Amy Miller and Rodney Prather
Kristala and Darcy Prather
Morgan and Joel Pugh
Alex Puricelli
Pamela Qualy
Elizabeth Rand
Kent and Jennifer Rapp
Trish and Dan Reeb
Abby Reed
Linda and James Reed
John Rodriguez
Sheillah and Frederick Rogers
Helen Ross
Alissa and David Rowan
Amit Roy
Kristen and David Ruckman
Eve Rudolph
Premal Thaker and Sanjaya Saheta
Laurie and David Salanski
Sally Saltzstein
Peggy Samuels
Sallie Samuels
Jose Sanchez
Jill and Charles Sanders
Alan and Frada Sandler
Nancy Schmer
Sally and Terry Schnuck
Donna and Langston Scott
Margherita Scott
Sally and Sanford Scott
Wayne Scott
Sangeeta Pande and Sandeep Sen
Susan Yang and Ying Sha
Jain and Richard Shaikewitz
Anne and John Shapleigh
Jaehee and Sang Shim
Alicia and Vijay Shroff
Kumkum and Jagdish Shroff
Kristen Seiler and Reid Simpson
Ashley Austin and Donta Smith
Kara and Marquis Smith
Olga and Ben Stafford
Trisha and Patrick Stanley
Janis Stewart
Barbara Stroud-Borth
Karen Temporiti
Patricia Kao-Theodos and Gus Theodos
Jen and Christopher Thomas
Debbie and Jack Thomas
Lauri and Jim Torrie
Rainatou Traore-Gress
Jessica Trotter
Carrie Vibert
Patricia Vibert
Ellen and Richard Watts
Elizabeth and David Weiss
Natalie and Andy Westerholt
Madeline and Duncan Wilder
Anne Williams
Ben A. Williams
Jan and Dave Wisland
Marie Witscher
Elizabeth Fenn and Peter Wood
Colleen Wyss
Justin and Kelly Young
Yeongju and Mark Yu
Kelly and Jeffrey Zaleski
Diana and John Zentay
Dear Community School Friends,
Eleven years ago – almost to the day – my wife, Brenda, asked me if I had taken a look at the job posting for the vacant Head of School position at Community. I hadn’t, so she read me some of the Guiding Principles of the school, and I was hooked. A blend of educational philosophy and inspirational writing, the Principles speak to everything I believe a school, and a child’s education, should be. And now, after ten life-changing years as Head of Community School, it’s time for me to say farewell.
I have far too many fond memories of Community to mention them all in this letter, but I’ll share a couple of early ones. In my first year here, we decided to start athletic teams for our Upper Division students,
but that meant we also needed a team name. Students suggested ideas, and a group of them went from classroom to classroom, explaining and ‘campaigning’ for their choice. Our first round of voting led to a literal tie between the “Mighty Oaks” and the “Golden Eagles.” Both names had deep roots in the school’s traditions, and in the runoff vote the Golden Eagles prevailed. Out of that vote came our mascot, Goldy, who is now ingrained in the life of the school, and serves as a permanent tribute to Ruth Ferris and the Golden Eagle pilot house that stood here at school for so many years.
In those early days, we also held our first-ever MLK Day of Service, with dozens of parents, teachers, and students coming to school to support a variety of St. Louisbased nonprofits. That event has grown over the years, and we now have more than 250 people coming out annually on this holiday, which we see as a “day on, not a day off.” It’s a wonderful day of fellowship every year, and I know we are creating in our students a
deep belief in their responsibility to care for those less fortunate.
To me, both of these ideas exemplify the Community way of doing things. Hearing student voices, believing that education goes beyond the classroom, and involving parents in the life of the school have always been important here. Additionally, the school has stayed true to those Guiding Principles that initially drew me to Community. Indeed, I have never seen any institution that does as good a job at balancing fidelity to its founding philosophy while always searching for better ways to educate and nurture the children in its care.
Over the years I have been asked repeatedly what I see as my legacy. That’s not really how I think, so I’ve struggled to come up with an answer. But now, as I look back, I’m glad I helped keep Community true to its core beliefs, while occasionally reminding us all that, though educating children is a serious business, we should not take ourselves too seriously.
I’d like to thank you all for making this such a wonderful home for Brenda and me over the past
decade. Teachers, staff, students, parents, and alumni have embraced us, and we both know that – although we are excited for this next stage of our lives – we are leaving many dear friends behind. And we also know that, like everyone who has come before us, we will always be a part of the community of Community.
Over the past ten years I have often returned to those Guiding Principles that originally drew Brenda and me to Community School. Principle Number 8 calls upon us to “open children’s eyes to the wonders of nature, the stars, the universe and the world around them.” Brenda and I are taking that to heart, as we head to our new home in the mountains. We will hike, camp, garden, read books, and enjoy a slower pace— all while keeping our eyes open to the wonders around us.
Forever a Golden Eagle,
Bob Cooke HEAD OF
SCHOOL
The school should open a child’s eyes to the wonders of nature,
the stars, the universe, and the world around them.
