Morning Announcements John Crockett ‘82 is 2010 O’Brien speaker
The speaker at this year’s Matthew P. O’Brien Annual Senior Lecture was John Crockett ’82, parent of KCD students Sam Crockett ’11, Henry Crockett ’13, and Thomas Crockett ’16. In his remarks, Mr. Crockett challenged seniors to work hard, appreciate what they have been given, and make the most of their lives as they embark on the new opportunities of college and living independently. The O’Brien Lecture is held in honor of Matt O’Brien, a 1983 KCD graduate who passed away shortly after graduation. His family, friends, and classmates have established this lectureship in memory of his achievements, ideals of friendship, scholarship, and citizenship. Thanks to their efforts, the O’Brien Lecture continues to provide inspiration and insight to seniors as they embark on a life beyond KCD.
Dan Ceaser named middle school director
This fall, Head of School Brad Lyman announced that Dan Ceaser will assume the position of middle school director on July 1, 2010. Mr. Ceaser is currently the principal
and executive director of the KIPP Tech Valley Charter School in Albany, New York. The school is Albany’s top college preparatory academy and serves 320 students in grades 5 – 8. Mr. Lyman introduced Mr. Ceaser as “a nationally known educator who has founded his own charter school, where he has served as principal for the last seven years. The fact that we are able to attract and hire top-level talent is a testament to the excellent school that has emerged from our collective efforts. Kentucky Country Day School has earned a national reputation as a school of excellence.” Mr. Ceaser is a graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Education as well as the Fisher School Leadership Institute at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2002, Mr. Ceaser was one of twelve teachers selected to serve on the inaugural Teacher Advisory Team for The Washington Post’s Newspaper in Education Program. As a teacher, he taught eighth grade American History at Paul Independent Public Charter School, was awarded New Teacher of the Year at Bruce-Monroe Elementary School, and
David Bayersdorfer ’83, Dr. John O’Brien, O’Brien Speaker John Crockett ’82, Ms. Jean O’Brien, and KCD Head of School Brad Lyman.
implemented after-school college essay writing programs at Eastern and Coolidge High Schools. He has also consulted on curriculum design for high performing public schools nationwide. Mr. Ceaser, his wife Katherine, and their two children — Caroline (4) and Natalie (3) —moved to Louisville this summer and are looking forward to joining the KCD community.
KCD Fund supports online language program
Thanks to donations to the KCD Fund, this year the World Languages department offered greatly expanded access to its Rosetta Stone language software. Rosetta Stone is a leader in online language instruction, and the department has been using the software for a number of years. Until this year, however, usage was confined to specific computers running local versions of the software, which meant that students could only use the program at school, and only when teachers had scheduled time in the computer lab. With the help of the KCD Fund, however, this year the department was able to expand its Rosetta Stone license so that teachers and students now have on-demand access to a web-based version of the software. With the new program, students can use KCD’s account to access the program at any time from any computer with an Internet connection. According to World Languages Chair Jean Amick, Rosetta Stone offers the ability to diagnose individual learners’ needs and to “design a course of study to cover areas in which a student may have had problems.” Student response to the program’s expanded opportunities has been extremely positive, and many students are taking advantage of the ability to practice their listening, writing, reading, and speaking skills. “Rosetta Stone is not only an effective way of learning, but it also is really fun,” commented junior Lauren Benz. “I think it has really helped me with my speaking and reading.”