Retiring Faculty
Ellie Griffin Director of Health and Counseling, 1974–2010
O
ne colleague described 1974, when Ellie arrived at Milton, this way: “The world was changing, schools were changing, and the role of women in schools was changing. Schools were just beginning to think about how adolescents grow outside of academics and athletics.” Since then Ellie has been a leader, at Milton and in the independent school world, in advancing our understanding of gender and adolescent development. The start was not a promising one. Ellie gave up teaching French at Hamilton-Wenham High School to follow her husband, Dick, who was hired to teach history, coach wrestling, and restore order to a thenunruly Robbins House. Ellie signed on to co-head Robbins. Since a woman leading a boys’ dorm was more than unconventional at the time, that appointment was kept sub rosa. Only the head of school knew, officially. Given Ellie’s personality— direct, probing, forceful, and committed to doing right—that appointment was not kept quiet for long. Students identified Ellie as someone they could trust. Faculty spouses gravitated to Ellie for similar reasons. She encouraged them, in the words of one spouse, “in doing things that gave value to the School. Nowadays that idea seems commonplace, but back then it was almost radical. She changed traditions.” Ellie realized that she had found a calling as a counselor. To assure success in that role, she earned a master’s in counseling psychology from Lesley College while working parttime at Milton. At that same time, events in the independent schools indicated the need for more intensive work on educating adolescents about issues of sexuality. So, in 1978, Ellie teamed with Jack Starmer, then completing his own mas-
ter’s in public health, to create HS&R: our Human Sexuality and Relationships course. The course was groundbreaking, advanced in its concept and successful in its execution, and even now, 30 years later, schools ask Ellie to help them develop similar programs. Milton students who have taken the course (some 3,000 and counting) often cite HS&R as a memorable and enjoyable part of their time at Milton. Always looking to make the course more effective, Ellie instituted SECS (Students Educating the Community about Sexuality), a select group of seniors who serve as teaching aides in the HS&R classes. A number of SECS seniors have created peer counseling programs at their colleges, using Ellie’s concepts. Nationally, she is co-founder and co-director of the Human Development Institute and, since 1979, has consulted with schools on issues of sexuality, gender, and adolescent development. For 23 years she taught young teachers about these issues at the Boarding Conference. She served on and then chaired the Council of Women in Independent Schools for NAIS. She is co-founder and co-director of the Independent School Gender Project which has been addressing issues of equity for girls and women in a number of independent schools since 1997. She leads workshops every summer, notably for independent school management. For many, Ellie is the guru of gender and adolescent development; she is a significant national presence. Ellie’s role at Milton marked a turning point and created a legacy; she founded the counseling department. After degree work at Lesley, Ellie quickly moved from half-time to fulltime counselor at Milton; the need was great. Ellie has worked
Ellie and Dick Griffin
tirelessly to make sure Milton serves students’ emotional and psychological needs, growing the counseling department to three full-time counselors, initiating studies on race and gender, helping to develop the affective education program. Said a colleague, “Ellie has been a strong proponent of all students, an important initiator of ideas and programs. Most importantly, she has honored confidentiality in all her work and has made her office a safe place for student and adults to bring their troubles.” Ellie was awarded the Moyer Chair in recognition of her caring work with students. We will miss Ellie’s strength. Few can hold as steady in a storm; Ellie helps us hold onto our better selves with her ability to stay clear-eyed and calm in the most challenging circumstances. We will miss
Ellie’s courage. When she sees a wrong, she names it. Ellie’s willingness to speak about uncomfortable truth has led the community to many meaningful discussions. We will miss Ellie’s love and friendship. Ellie was attentive to our well-being, encouraging of our taking next steps, and joyful about the good things in our lives. Thank you, Ellie, for what you have meant to so many of us for so many years. Milton is a better place because of your gifts to us and your long, faithful commitment to the health of our School community. Rob Skinner ’72 Director of College Counseling
Milton Magazine
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