FROM THE From the Green F r o m
t h e
G r e e n
• Headmaster search committee appointed; Ed Costello to leave DA at end of 2012-13
Les Todd
Spatola arrived at Durham Academy in 2007 with 30 years of experience in independent schools as a world history and western world history teacher, basketball coach and adviser. He taught previously The second-longest tenure of any Durham Academy headmaster at Friends Academy in Long Island, N.Y., where he served as history will conclude at the end of the 2012-13 school year when Ed Costello department chair and girls varsity basketball coach. leaves after 14 years of service. Only Bess Pickard Boone, headmistress “I view the honor as really special, and I am certainly excited about from 1938 to 1957, served longer. In preparation for Costello’s departure, it. But I am also humbled by the recognition, because I know that without DA has formed a search committee with the goal of having his successor key people such as my wife, my mom and all the teachers and coaches in place by December 2012. who had a major effect on my young life, I’m not in the position to be duly Brendan Moylan ’85, a member of the board of trustees, is recognized,” Spatola said. chairing the search committee. Also serving on the committee are David “I happen to be a member of a team, a truly terrific team; that team Beischer ’85, chair of the board of trustees; Liz Gustafson, immediate is the Durham Academy faculty,” he added. “It is due to the support, past chair of the board; Anne Murray Lloyd ’82, vice chair of the board; encouragement and inspiration of those teammates that an individual Kip Frey, secretary of the board; trustees Jim Coleman and Laura Horton thrives. Frankly, I am merely one among many superb teachers. My Virkler ’91; Margaret Jones, president-elect of Parents Association; teammates have made me look pretty good.” Jamie Krzyzewski Spatola ’00, vice president of the DA Alumni Board; Spatola’s team-first attitude is and faculty members Tim Dahlgren borne, in part, of his communication and Karen Lovelace. many years ago with legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. After • Stanford University an initial in-person meeting, the pair honors DA history teacher exchanged letters about teaching Mike Spatola in which Wooden stressed the Durham Academy history teacher importance of keeping good people in Mike Spatola has been recognized by the profession. the Stanford University Teacher Tribute One sentiment in particular Initiative for his work with DA alumna stuck with Spatola, who had Alison Kohl ’11, who credits her former considered leaving the profession teacher with pushing her to realize her himself. Wooden wrote: “No spoken full potential as a student. word, no oral plea can teach our “I had Mr. Spatola for World youth what they should be, nor all the Cultures my freshman year, and I books on all the shelves, it’s what the remember thinking on the first day Above: Alison Kohl ’11 said she knew DA history teacher Mike Spatola “would be teachers are themselves.” of class that he would be a teacher a teacher who would challenge me to be the best student I could be.” “I continued to teach and coach, who would challenge me to be the and it was at that point that I also developed an incredible passion for best student I could be,” Kohl said. “As I found out over the rest of my history and fell in love with government. Since Coach Wooden’s letter, I high school years, I was not mistaken. His classes push you to explore have gratefully never looked back,” Spatola said. “When I am recognized the course material on a deep level, through seminars, primary source in the way Alison and Stanford honored me, I think about my meeting document readings and a variety of other college-level techniques.” with Coach Wooden, and his wonderful expressions of appreciation for Spatola says those interactions over the course of three years the teaching profession.” challenged him as well. “As a student, she provided the fuel for me to be a good teacher; there wasn’t a day when I wasn’t motivated to be really good and • Sixth-grader Hannah Jones acquires grant to fund that’s because of Alison. Students such as she force you to be on top Archaeology Day at Jordan Lake of your game or get there,” Spatola said. “She made us proud, and she Durham Academy sixth-grader Hannah Jones used a $750 grant will continue to make our community proud. It’s gratifying, and quite she acquired from the North Carolina Archaeological Society to fund rewarding, to know that I played a small part in her successful academic Archaeology Day, a free community event at Jordan Lake on Oct. 1. experience at Durham Academy.” Archaeology Day included professional exhibits as well as activities The annual Stanford Teacher Tribute Initiative recognizes for kids. outstanding teachers and mentors who have been nominated by “Hannah attended a North Carolina Archaeological Society incoming freshmen and transfer students. The program website meeting in May to defend her proposal,” said fifth-grade science teacher encourages students to nominate one person who has “helped to shape Theresa Shebalin. “The board awarded her the money because they your perspectives, hone your critical thinking abilities and instilled in you really liked the fact that she included the establishment of a Junior North an abiding sense of compassion for others.” Carolina Archaeological Society for kids. The new statewide organization 22
Durham Academy Record | winter 2012 | www.da.org