NEW SAINTS ON STAFF

Lower School Innovation Lab, Science and Technology Teacher Hometown: Germantown, Tenn. Family: Husband John, our sons John Wyatt ’28 and James Dylan ’34, and Lenny, our retriever/ lab mix First Job: Hostess at a restaurant Favorite Children's Book: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren ELIZABETH BAYZIE Favorite Movie: Harry Potter series Favorite Band: Dave Matthews

I taught here before, so the best moment was getting welcomed back to GSL with kind words, cheery smiles, and open arms!

Pre-Kindergarten Teacher (Playful Peacocks) Hometown: Memphis Family: Husband Nick, our son Isaac ’33 (a Terrific Tiger!), and a good dog named Jack First Job: Babysitter Favorite Children's Book: Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan and The Empty Pot by Demi VICTORIA BLACKWELL Favorite Movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas Favorite Band: Fall Out Boy Best Moment Since Joining GSL: I have two moments I love! On my first day, I walked into Miss Lee's with my son and took him to his new classroom, one of my favorite things we get to do together. And at Back-to-School Night, I confidently spoke to my families about our classroom, our curriculum, and why I love being a teacher!

Little Lukers Assistant Teacher (Gifted Grizzlies) Hometown: Houston First Job: Intern at an art consultant firm Favorite Children's Book: Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Favorite Movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Favorite Band: I love anything EMMA BOEHME Japanese Breakfast or Weyes Blood makes.

GSL: Having a child dance fanatically while singing “Hound Dog” – she does this regularly, and it brightens my day every time!

School Nurse Hometown: Fort Worth, Tex., but my father is a minister so we moved around a lot. My husband and children and I just moved here from the Nashville area, which has been home for the longest in my life! Family: Husband Anthony who works at GSL Church as the Director of Children and Family Ministries and our children Ali ’28, Eli ’30, and Sophie ’31. We also have an 8-month-old chocolate lab named Mirabel (our family loves the movie Encanto). First Job: Shaved ice stand – it was a lot of fun! Favorite Children's Book: Old Turtle and the Broken Truth by Douglas Wood Favorite Movie: Anything in the rom-com genre! Favorite Song or Band: Anything by Lauren Daigle, Norah Jones, Colbie Callait, Adele...etc! Best Moment Since Joining GSL: Attending the school picnic the night before we started at the school. It was so fun! My children and I felt so loved and welcomed.

6th Grade Bible Teacher Hometown: St. Louis Family: Wife Allyson (GSL math teacher and basketball coach) and sons Leo ’17 and Felix ’18 First Job: Video store clerk

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton Favorite Movie: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou Favorite Song or Band: “Go to Sleep” by The Avett Brothers Funniest Moment Since Joining GSL: One student asked me why I wear a collar. Another student answered, "To remind us you're more important than the rest of us." Oh dear! Lol.

Lower School Art Teacher (SK and 2nd) Hometown: Memphis (Midtown) Family: Husband Sumeet Chahal, daughters Ayla ’31 and Gene ’33, and our dogs Dillinger (a shepherd coyote mix) and Bindhi (35 lbs. of pure Memphis street dog) First Job: Errand girl at Hatley's Garage (now the location of Tamboli's Pizza) Favorite Children's Book: Maybe by Kobi Yamada Favorite Movie: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark Favorite Song or Band: Depending on my mood, “Paint it Black” by the Rolling Stones or “Watershed” by the Indigo Girls Best Moment Since Joining GSL: It's hard to decide – being here is such a surreal treat for me. It’s like living in a time capsule of my fondest memories since this is where I spent my PK-8th grade years!

Little Lukers Assistant Teacher (Cheerful Cheetahs) Hometown: Nesbit, Miss. Family: My husband, our beautiful daughter, and one fur baby First Job: Apparel associate for Academy Sports + Outdoors Favorite Children's Book: I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont Favorite Movie: The Goonies Favorite Song or Band: “Echo” (feat. Tauren Wells) by Elevation Worship Best Moment Since Joining GSL: Getting to see all the kids enjoy All-School Chapel from Little Lukers to 8th grade – the experience for the Little Lukers was something you had to be there to see – they truly did an amazing job!

Senior Kindergarten Assistant Teacher (Witty Whales) Hometown: Ortonville, Mich. Family: My mom, stepdad, brother, sister, and my blue heeler Bleu First Job: Hostess at Jim’s Place Grille Favorite Children's Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle Favorite Movie: Alice in Wonderland Favorite Song or Band: Pearl Jam

I wasn’t at school on my 22nd birthday but I received a Zoom call from the current 4th grade class, throwing a party for me in After School Care! It made my birthday so special to think the kids were thinking of me even when I was absent. I came back to cards that I still have to this day!

Director of Auxiliary Programs Hometown: Memphis First Job: Cashier at Family Dollar Favorite Children's Book: Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry Favorite Movie: Batman (1989) Favorite Song: “My Hero” by the Foo Fighters

The 75th Anniversary Celebration party

Pre-Kindergarten Assistant Teacher (Ready Rabbits) Hometown: Lebanon, Tenn. Family: My two cats, Trudy and Carrot First Job: Little Caesars Favorite Children's Book: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña Favorite Song: “She Wants My Money” by Dominic Fike

GSL: Probably the day I fell UP the stairs, lol!

First Grade Teacher Hometown: Memphis Family: Husband Will, our son Nate ’31, and our twins Dex ’34 and Evie ’34 First Job: Receptionist at a hair salon

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White Favorite Movie: I love all the Marvel movies Favorite Band: Red Hot Chili Peppers Best Moment Since Joining GSL: Having the entire school present at the first Celebration Chapel! It was so awesome to see the whole community in the same place!

Fourth Grade Teacher Hometown: St. Louis, but I was raised in Cape Town, South Africa (which is objectively MUCH cooler, so I claim that as home) Family: I'm married to the wonderful Kevin Searle and we have a very fluffy, rambunctious goldendoodle named Margo. First Job: I'm the oldest girl of five siblings, so babysitting :) Favorite Children's Book: I had a lot of favorites growing up, but The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis stays a classic even as an adult. Favorite Movie: About Time Favorite Band: Coldplay Best Moment Since Joining GSL: On Friday afternoons, each member of my class gets three attempts to land a free throw in my Brandon Clarke basketball hoop, all in an attempt to score themselves some extra Dojo Points. We cheer for each other, we celebrate each basket sunk, and sometimes we even softly chant, “Be like Ja Morant” (which definitely helps!). It's one of my favorite parts of the week!

Associate Director of ACE: After School Care Hometown: Mundelein, Ill. Family: My lovely wife Katie First Job: Groundskeeper for a suburban Chicago school district Favorite Children's Book: House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne or any Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Waterston Favorite Movie: The Apartment Favorite Band: Chance the Rapper or Passenger or any singer/ songwriter from the ’60s Best Moment Since Joining GSL: Walking around the French Quarter during the 6th Grade New Orleans trip and seeing otherwise "too cool for school" and fearless 6th graders hover close to me, knowing that they were out of their league amidst the true street life of New Orleans!

Little Lukers Teacher (Gifted Grizzlies) Hometown: San Diego Family: My mom, dad, younger brother, and my border collie mix, Dallas First Job: Starbucks barista Favorite Children's Book: I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont Favorite Movie: Any and all ’90s rom-coms Favorite Song or Band: “Don't You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds Best Moment Since Joining GSL: When I finally finished decorating my classroom and welcomed all of my students on the first day of school. Our “Gwizzlies,” as my 2- and 3-year-old friends say!

Head of School Hometown: Milledgeville, Ill. Family: Wife Mary and our sons Keenan ’17 and Logan ’19 First Job: De-tasseling corn on farms all over Carroll County, Ill. Favorite Children's Book: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White Favorite Movie: Back to the Future Favorite Song: Anything by Al Green or with Memphis roots

Celebrating the profound history of this school at GSL’s 75th anniversary party.

Pre-Kindergarten Assistant Teacher (Terrific Tigers) Hometown: Huazhou, Guangdong Family: Husband and a brand new baby boy First Job: Yankee Candle Company Favorite Children's Book: The Empty Pot by Demi Favorite Movie: Legally Blonde Favorite Band: Boston

Just being part of an amazing team.

Senior Kindergarten Assistant Teacher (Peppy Pandas) Hometown: Memphis Family: A cat named Freddie (after Freddie Mercury); I have also nannied for the past three years for the Balk family at GSL, who are essentially family to me. First Job: Malco Paradiso Favorite Children's Book: Bubba The Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Tale by Helen Ketteman Favorite Movie: The Lord of the

Rings Trilogy Favorite Band: Talking Heads Best Moment Since Joining GSL: I love sitting and talking to my students or the Middle Schoolers that I coach – they keep me laughing and on my toes.

Preschool Fun & Fitness Teacher Hometown: Memphis Family: My nephew Aiden Williams ’31 and goddaughter, McKenzie Dentley ’25 First Job: Target Favorite Children's Book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff Favorite Movie: The Parent Trap Favorite Band: Mint Condition

Middle School class trips and the First Grade Hip Hop Celebrations