View from My Window

When we named this column in 2015, I was just settling into the amazing digs that are the Head of School’s office at Fort Worth Country Day. I am not one to spend more time than I have to in my office during the school day, but I was quick to be a fan of time in this particular office because of its view of Trustees Plaza and of students, JK-12, along with academic, arts and athletics educators passing by throughout the day. The view from my window is clearly a gift. We memorialized it with the column’s name.

And then there was March 13, 2020, when we learned schools in Texas would close, initially for two weeks, and, ultimately, for the rest of the academic year. Suddenly, the view from my window was beautiful but barren. Fewer than 20 of us came to campus through May, and students did not return to Trustees Plaza until August 18. The months without students passing by this window were long. As I write, we have all, gradually, returned to campus for the 2020-21 school year.

All of us have returned, except for very few faculty and staff who decided, over the summer, to step away. We will spend more time honoring these FWCD treasures when health circumstances change, but looking out my window this year, I won’t see Karen Curella, Middle School Spanish and French Teacher at FWCD since 1988. Karen decided in June that she would start retirement earlier than planned, to be as safe as possible. And while I won’t see Dan Bloch H’06 this fall, I have put a few select items from his Winnie-the-Pooh collection on my window sill to remind me of his 51-years of dedicated FWCD service. From fifth-grade science to Kindergarten Rodeo banjo, to Falcons on the Road alumni trips, and ongoing email exchanges with his former students, Dan stepped away in early August when his doctor told him he needed to. Dan and I look forward to scheming ways he will be back up here to help out when the pandemic dust settles. Meanwhile, Eeyore and Piglet, Tigger, Owl and Pooh all sit on the sill, reminding me of what it is to be devoted, and of all the giants on whose shoulders those of us here in 2020-21 stand.

Congratulations to Dan and Karen, and gratitude to the division leaders and teachers who pressed on through the summer challenges to get people back in our plaza.