What our faculty members have been learning, doing and presenting.

Arts Department Chair and Dance Director Tessa Hailu is the co-founder and artistic director of Immix Dance Project, a professional contemporary dance company. This spring, the company debuted its new evening-length work called the “Nth Degree” at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford.

In the spring of 2024, Cathie Hillian P’25, ’27, associate director of counseling, was formally invited to serve a three-year term on the School Growth and Collaboration Commission of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). The commission generates, leads, supports and moderates programs for CAIS educators. Commissioners also create programming that responds to perceived needs in the education community, or to showcase the work of CAIS schools.

Maureen Lamb, chair of the Language Department and Latin teacher, is a recipient of the inaugural GenerationAI Luminary Award from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). The award recognizes visionary educators who are revolutionizing their classrooms through the use of innovative AI applications. Lamb was one of 10 educators who were presented with the award on June 30 at ISTE’s annual conference in Texas.

Mathematics Teacher Eileen Mooney had her paintings displayed in a solo exhibition from April 6 to May 10 at the Mark W. Pottery Gallery at The Taft School. Called “Recent Work,” the show reflected how Mooney expresses diverse dynamics of being objects, landscapes, light through her perception as well as her experimentation with abstraction.

At the Institute for Global Learning (formerly the Global Educators Benchmark Group) annual conference in April in Miami, Director of Porter’s Center for Global Leadership and Auxiliary Programs Sophie Paris facilitated a panel discussion about developing leadership competencies and skills through global learning. She also announced the winners of the Global Educator of the Year and the Salmon Prize awards.

In January, Timothy Quinn, chief academic officer, dean of faculty and humanities teacher, was one of five Connecticut teachers named a Morehead-Cain Impact Educator for 2025. This award celebrates K–12 educators worldwide who are shaping tomorrow’s changemakers and are recognized by exceptional high school seniors for their positive influence on students’ lives and leadership development.

In April, Quinn was a guest on the Public and Private radio show by Brian and Company. He spoke about artificial intelligence; teachers; diversity, equity and inclusion; and the future of education.

In February, Academic Dean Elizabeth Simison, Dean of Curriculum and Humanities Teacher Nelle Andrews P’22 and Director of the Institute for Global Education and Spanish Teacher Santiago Enrique P’28 presented “Creating Mission-Driven Global Programming Through Institution-Wide Collaboration” at the annual conference of the National Association of Independent Schools in Nashville.

In April, Simison and Santiago presented “Global Education Redefined: The Transformative Impact of Curricular Innovation” at the annual conference of the Institute for Global Learning in Miami.

At the annual conference of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools that took place in Philadelphia in June, Simison delivered multiple presentations. Two were with Nelle Andrews: “Empowering Global Citizens: Collaborative Programming in Girls’ Education” and “Mastery, Not Metrics: Reducing Stress and Redefining Success in Girls’ Education”; and one was with Director of Counseling Amanda Kice ’93: “Foundational Kool-Aid: A Recipe for Inquisitive, Healthy and Reflective Learners.”

Meanwhile, Simison was also a contributor to the Skills for the Future Progression Education Team organized by Lyons Assessment Consulting and the Carnegie Foundation. Her role involved reviewing and revising research progressions for educators and students.

Grier de Langley Torrence P’21, ’23, visual art director and the Margaret How Wallace ’27 Teaching Chair, had his painting “Main St Rising” featured in the Castles in the Sky show at the Hill-Stead Museum over the summer.

Tune in to learn more