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“Then, as now, this scholar, athlete, and Hound juggled the Foxcroft juggle with excellence and determination,” said Mary Lou. “As her ninth grade English teacher I appreciated her gifts for language, literature, and poetry. As her Head of School, I appreciate her legendary reputation for rigor and intellectual challenge.” Within that context, Stewart encouraged every student to define and pursue her own version of success and was equally likely to celebrate a hardearned C with a student as she was to demand more from a top performer. She fostered perseverance by modeling perseverance. Former colleague John Suitor III reflects, “I never saw Stewart give up on any student no matter how much that student struggled.” Most of all, Stewart loved her job. She would reread books each summer, discovering with joy something new to share with students. She relished tackling the toughest subjects, mixing in history, philosophy, and ethics. When teaching Thoreau, she challenged students to craft a civil disobedience plan. With Huckleberry Finn, she encouraged them to speak openly about race and prejudice.
students through the college application process, writing scores of recommendations. She was a believer and cheerleader for her formal and informal advisees. She provided support, ran interference, and simply listened. Stewart will be missed, but she won’t be far. A resident of Middleburg, she will continue to provide an important link between Foxcroft and the broader community, even as she enjoys her passions— gardening, playing tennis and golf, reading, running, cooking, and spending time with her family. Thank you, Stewart Herbert, for your 23 years at Foxcroft! Many thanks to the students, parents, faculty, and alumnae who contributed to Stewart Herbert’s Retirement Quotebook. Your words, reflections, and well-wishes are a source of joy to her.
In an era where youth are frequently coddled, Stewart pledged honesty to her students, and helped girls mature into young women. She treasured guiding
– Tommie Herbert ’05
Who is H. Laurence Achilles? H. Laurence “Larry” Achilles was an English teacher at Foxcroft from 1953 to 1977 and the department chair for 22 years. Educated at Union College, Harvard, and Yale, he was, according to Stacey Morse Ahner ’73, “rigorous and demanding, humorously chiding and irascible, and ultimately very patient. Most of us attribute our mastery of at least one English-related skill to Mr. Achilles, and certainly his classes prepared us exceptionally well for college.” Sound familiar?
Foxcroft School – Fall 2013