MARBURN AC A DE MY
MARBURN AC A DE MY
2015–2016
Annual Report
WE SEE EACH STUDENT AS AN ORIGINAL. Reflecting upon my first year at Marburn Academy, my primary feeling is one of gratitude for the overwhelming support of our community of donors. Your deep commitment to this school and its mission is inspiring, and it feeds the passion with which we, as educators, approach our work. In May, I was fortunate enough to accompany 22 of our students to Costa Rica for nine days, the first international trip for the Voyageurs program. We stayed in a village with local Costa Rican families to experience their life, explored the rainforest and wildlife, and went rafting and ziplining. It was gratifying seeing our students’ excitement, gratitude, and wonder firsthand. As adults, we often work to contain or minimize our enthusiasm, but our students embrace it fully, which was beautiful to see, and allowed me to experience it right along with them. Without doubt, the most moving part of my first year at Marburn Academy was the graduation ceremony. The nine graduating seniors spoke eloquently about their experiences as learners and members of the Marburn community and thanked the many people who helped them reach this milestone. They captured the struggles they face and the courage it has taken to get to this point. They are models of resilience, strength, and hope. It’s an exciting time to be part of the Marburn Academy community. The Groundbreaking Ceremony last September was a major accomplishment and defining moment for all of us. Discussions of a new facility had been ongoing for more than 19 years, and the fulfillment of this vision is nothing short of transformative. Marburn is truly putting down roots in the community, positioning itself to be a fundamental resource for Central Ohio families for many years to come.
Marburn makes a difference to its students every day. And it makes a difference to the community as a whole. We see each student as an original. Our task as educators is to discover our students’ individual stories, to meet them where they are and move forward together. Our students may learn differently, but we believe that makes them extraordinary. And your Annual Fund gift makes all the difference, too. Thank you for all of your continued support. Jamie Williamson Head of School
PAUL HARLAN CLASS OF
2024
Paul’s teachers describe him as an utter joy to teach. “He loves school and sports and can always be spotted interacting with his numerous friends, playing, and grinning from ear to ear!” says Michqua Levi, teacher.
When he enrolled at Marburn Academy as a 3rd grader, Paul had deficits in both math and language. He’d been diagnosed with severe hearing loss at the age of three, and had been in speech therapy since he was 18 months old. Paul’s parents explained that he desperately wanted to learn. As a bright child who struggled in a mainstream setting, he would get incredibly frustrated when he couldn’t get the right answers. His parents were so impressed during a Marburn visit in 2014, they moved from West Virginia to Columbus just so Paul could attend. After two years at Marburn, Paul has progressed from reading at a 1st-grade level, a full year-and-a-half behind, to reading at a 4th-grade level. He’s made significant progress remediating his deficits in math, as well. He also took advantage of Marburn’s innovative summer program for math to make further progress.
“HE WENT FROM BEING QUIETLY CURIOUS TO AN INQUISITIVE LEARNER NOT AFRAID TO MAKE MISTAKES.” —Leslie Dilley, teacher
Paul is a treasured member of the Marburn community, and is always willing to contribute to class responsibilities, such as taking care of his classroom’s pet tortoises. He loves animals, and approaches science labs with gusto. Receiving an education tailored to his specific needs has transformed Paul into a confident, creative student.
HANNAH HESS
CLASS OF
2017
Hannah Hess remembers the day her mom told her she had dyslexia with perfect clarity. She was in 4th grade, sitting on her bed sobbing, asking, “What is wrong with me?” She was that student teachers told, “You just aren’t trying hard enough.” In reality, she was trying her hardest on every single assignment. By the time she’d reached 5th grade, she dreaded school. Hannah explains, “I felt so abandoned and alone in my education.” Her parents suggested switching schools. A visit to Marburn Academy in the spring of her 5th grade year immediately revealed a loving, welcoming community.
“BUT I DIDN’T KNOW THEN HOW TRULY SPECIAL IT WAS,” Hannah says. Her parents enrolled her in Marburn for the start of the 2010 academic year. Hannah remembers being surprised that first fall. “I never thought a school existed that cared so much about every one of its students.” Her 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Hawkins, described her as an “energetic, willing to learn, bundle of nerves.” Hannah recalls practicing for an important project. “I was going to have to miss practice one day, and Mrs. Hawkins could see I was very uneasy. She told me not to worry and that everything would be okay. I knew I could trust her.” Hannah found herself enjoying school again and reignited her love for learning. As a 6th grader, she’d enrolled at Marburn with significant academic delays and low self-confidence. By the time she reached her Junior year, she’d been inducted into the National Honor Society. Her self-confidence skyrocketed, too. She is a member of Marburn’s Ambassadors Club, which gives tours of the building to prospective families, visiting students, and college students. Through the Voyageurs program, she took a rock-climbing trip to the Red River
Gorge, and she visited Costa Rica this past May with 22 of her classmates. As an 11th grader, she also had the chance to complete an educational internship. Every day she visited a Lower Division classroom to learn teaching skills and interact with the students. Hannah says, “Marburn has taught me many important skills that I can use for the rest of my life, like how to advocate for myself when I have questions, and how to be an independent learner.” She also has a better understanding of which specific learning style fits her best. However, the biggest lesson she has taken away is to view her learning differences as a strength rather than a weakness. After graduating in the spring of 2017, Hannah plans to attend college to study education. “My teachers have been wonderful examples of the teacher I hope to be,” she says. Hannah knew she had the ability to succeed as a student. She only needed the opportunity to access her full potential. “My Marburn family helped me find the courage to be bold,” she says. “They taught me to believe in myself, as a student and as a person. Marburn is a special place, a very special place.”
KATE MORRISON ALUMNA
Owner, Kate Morrison Photography
When I moved to Ohio, I was eight years old. My parents and I visited several different schools. We heard back from one that caught our attention, and not in a good way. They told my parents,
“YOUR DAUGHTER DOESN’T FIT OUR PROFILE.” I later learned that this basically meant I was going to be that kid who slows the class down. It struck me that they viewed a child through one set of lenses. It led me to wonder about a simple question.
What if we looked at a child, and instead of seeing what they weren’t, we saw their potential and what they could be? When children hear they aren’t good enough, there is a huge impact on how they feel about themselves. This is why so many students arriving at Marburn lack the selfesteem that is so critical for success. When I walked into Marburn, I was timid and scared. Those who met me back then quickly came to know a Kate who was loud, hyper, and lacking focus and confidence. What Marburn took the care to discover was a girl full of life, who thrived in ways that test scores missed.
During my four years there, I learned lessons that would stick with me. Marburn taught me how to stand up for myself and ask for help when I needed it. Marburn taught me that it’s okay to have different areas of strength and weakness, and we don’t all have to be the same. Marburn taught me how to learn in ways that traditional schools didn’t know how to teach. But, most importantly, Marburn taught me to embrace being myself: Don’t let others judge you, because, in the end, you will succeed equally in your own way. Marburn fundamentally changed my life. At 18, I graduated high school with honors. At 19, I started my own photography company. I’ve had the opportunity to photograph equestrian events around the country, including Olympians from around the world. At the same time, I’ve competed at the highest level in equestrian jumping events. Jumping 5-foot fences on a 1,300-pound animal feels natural to me. It’s like dancing with a partner, every movement in sync.
The little girl who did not fit their profile was also selected to compete in the North American under-25 equestrian championships, with 40 of the best riders on the continent. The four days of competitions were grueling. But, as I stood on the podium to be presented the bronze medal, both for the team competition and as an individual competitor, I sensed my 5th-grade self beside me whispering,
“WE MADE IT!” At 22, I am pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. This summer, I interned for Urban NY, a prestigious photography production company in New York City. None of that would have been possible without the tools Marburn gave me. No child should have to feel the pain of failure when they house the potential for success. I happened to find my calling through the lens of a camera. Each day, I create images that tell a story, of a person or about a place. Marburn planted the seed of confidence in me to pursue my dream; not only that, Marburn nurtured that seed to help it grow and then thrive. I will be forever grateful to Marburn Academy for looking past what I wasn’t and seeing what I could be.
Images courtesy of Kate Morrison Photography
NOVEMBER 2015
JANUARY 2016
FEBRUARY 2016 JUNE 2016
MARCH 2016
JUNE 2016
MARBURN ACADEMY NEW ALBANY CAMPUS CAPITAL CAMPAIGN DONORS TO DATE
409
SQUARE FOOTAGE
64,000
LAND ACREAGE
17 ACRES
CLASSROOMS 27 STUDENT CAPACITY
350
MONEY RAISED
$6,493,780.87
The building is now under roof! Daimler is completing the brickwork. Windows were installed in July. Inside, drywall is going up. The interior is starting to take shape. WE’RE ON TARGET TO FINISH CONSTRUCTION IN NOVEMBER AND WILL BE MOVING OVER WINTER BREAK IN DECEMBER.
GALA HIGHLIGHTS 2016 NET AMOUNT RAISED:
MORE THAN $240,000 Thanks to your support and enthusiasm for Marburn’s mission, the Gala this year was a runaway success. The Gift of Learning Fund achieved its highest year ever. We raised a total of $107,320, all of which goes directly to our students. Because more than 50% of Marburn families rely on tuition assistance, this scholarship program is critical.
People couldn’t stop talking about the moving speeches by alumna Kate Morrison and Class of 2017 Marburn student, Hannah Hess. These stories of resilience and courage remind us why we do what we do, and how important it is. There is nothing quite like the moment when a student feels understood, when their individual learning style is recognized, honored, and nurtured.
“I AM CONTINUALLY FILLED WITH RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR THOSE WHO SUPPORT MARBURN’S GALA. THIS YEAR PROVED NO EXCEPTION, AS WE SURPASSED ALL PREVIOUS RECORDS IN ATTENDANCE AND FUNDRAISING. WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THOSE IN THE CENTRAL OHIO COMMUNITY.” SHARON WOLFE, GALA COMMITTEE CHAIR
“IT WAS SO MOVING TO HEAR STUDENTS SHARE THEIR STORIES ABOUT WHAT MARBURN MEANS TO THEM!” ARCHANA RAMANUJAM, MARBURN STAFF
THE TRIP TO
COSTA RICA
WAS LIFE CHANGING.
I went into the trip not overly excited, thinking that I was just going to be with my friends. But I was so wrong on every level. The friendliness from every person that we walked past was unbelievable. Everyone smiled and waved! Our guides made the whole trip. They knew every corner of Costa Rica and could identify any animal or plant. They could always answer questions our group had. Along with seeing incredible parts of nature, we experienced lots of different activities, like whitewater rafting, ziplining over a rain forest, and trying out a Tarzan swing. A small village—the people didn’t even know us— let us into their homes, fed us, and gave us a place to sleep. There is no doubt in my mind that the Costa Rica trip changed my life. For anyone who isn’t sure about taking school trips like these, whether you’re afraid or just think you don’t want to go, take the chance. Because that was me, but I don’t regret going, not for an instant. Eddie Wolfe, Marburn Class of 2017
MARBURN ACADEMY’S NEW LOOK! While construction on the new building continues, Marburn Academy’s brand has undergone an extensive renovation. The previous circle logo has been replaced with a custom design utilizing a modern block with an M, accompanied by Marburn Academy in a contemporary font. The school’s website, the hub for Central Ohio residents and current families, has been completely
redesigned to provide a strong resource for the community. It’s responsive, which guarantees a pleasant experience on any device. It also includes features that our families specifically requested, such as easy access to the full Google Parent Calendar and photos and bios for Marburn’s entire staff.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Craig Morrison, President
Steven Guy, Ph.D.
Dan Sierzputowski
Brian Hicks, Vice President
Brian Hummell
Tom Souder
Sharon Wolfe, Secretary
Amelia McCarty, J.D.
Kerry Thompson, CFP
Rick Milenthal, Treasurer
Mike McGovern
Tony White
Rhonda Anglim
Michael Parkes
Yvette McGee Brown
Les Bostic, Ph.D.
Terry Sanders
Jamie Williamson Marjorie Garek, Trustee emerita
FACULTY AND STAFF
Shane Spicer
Maggie Alexeeff
Erika Feigles
Michelle Lewis
Ryan Stander
Erin Barr
Nicolle Fischer
Lexi Limbert
Jessica Stefanacci
Kevin Fish
Aaron Loskota
Celeste Stevenson
Jen Fitzer
Stacie Loskota
Vickie Fomich
Jennifer Martin-Gledhill
Chris Geisler
Karen Megahan
Scholarship Liaison Director of Marketing and Communications
Angela Bell
Faculty (2016)
George Brown
Faculty (until 2016)
Stephen Biehn Faculty
Gina Bishop Faculty
Dana Brennan Faculty
Leslie Buford
Language Specialist and Head of Specials
Scott Burton
Associate Head of School
Ben Burwinkel Faculty
Jana Cook
Development and Alumni Relations Specialist (2016)
Kyle Cook
Faculty (2016)
Lorien Dana Faculty
Susan Dapo
Payroll/ Accounts Receivable Manager
Jenny Davidson Faculty
Brian Davis Faculty
Robyn Delfino
Faculty Faculty Faculty Faculty Faculty Faculty
Kathleen Halligan
Math Curriculum Supervisor
Donna Hawkins Faculty
Leigh Hill
Executive Administrator (2016)
Steve Hiltner Faculty
Laura Hirsch
Institutional Advancement Division Assistant
Robyn Hoffman
Director of Institutional Advancement (until 2016)
Kristen Huenemann
Head of Middle Division
Liesl Huenemann Faculty
Kelly Hunter-Rice School Counselor
Kris Kling
Director of Technology (until 2016)
Austin Kochs
Faculty (2016) Faculty (2016)
Scholarship Liaison (2016) Faculty
Academic Dean
Executive Administrator (until 2016)
Sarah Meier
Faculty (2016)
Megan Menker Faculty
Anne Miller
Director of Annual Giving and Major Gifts (until 2016)
Faculty
Director of Admission and Auxiliary Programs
Diane Sumen Secretary
Michael Taylor Faculty
Jessica Templin
Faculty (until 2016)
Patricia Wallendjack Director of Institutional Advancement (2016)
Beth Weakley
Director of Finance
Linda Welch
Administrative Assistant
Jamie Williamson
Faculty
Language Remediation Supervisor
Head of School
Christie Prue
Admission Associate
Archana Ramanujam
Faculty (2016)
Director of Human Resources Speech Language Pathologist (2016)
Stephanie Royal
Outreach Director (2016)
Ruth Rubin
Head of High School
Devin Russell
Accounting Manager
Leslie Dilley
Ben Lehman
Miriam Skapik
Kelly Dunlevy
Michqua Levi
Rebecca Skinner
Faculty
Faculty
Lisa Neuhoff
Faculty
Sally Sayre
Faculty
Faculty
Nicole Whitaker
Information Technology Support Specialist Faculty
Samantha Smith
Maureen Moore
Faculty Faculty
Director of Technology (2016)
Faculty
Head of Lower Division Faculty
Shari Wolfe
Jacquelyn Yohman TUTORS:
Beth Abramovitz Megan Daughters Linda Freeman Walker Beth Hawks Sue Kear Sarah Latta Kristi Perry Glynda Rice Maddie Rivera Gabriella Shaffer LUNCH PROGRAM COORDINATOR:
Mangala Krishnaswamy (2016)
Judy Kochs (until 2016)
Institutional Advancement Staff Patricia Wallendjack Director of Institutional Advancement
Erin Barr Director of Marketing and Communications Jana Cook Development and Alumni Relations Specialist Laura Hirsch Institutional Advancement Division Assistant Graphic Design Kelly Keirn
MARBURN ACADEMY 1860 Walden Drive Columbus, OH 43229 614.433.0822 www.marburnacademy.org