Vassiliadis Family Chair in English Enhances Professional Development
Advancing Parker's Mission
BY TRACY JONES This past November, members of the English Department traveled to Atlanta for the National Conference of Teachers of English, joining over 6,000 educators, authors and advocates to share best practices and new ideas for empowering students through language, literature and writing.
Highlights included a breakfast lecture with S.E. Hinton, author of “The Outsiders,” attended by Kristy Keith ʼ82 and Gretchen Taylor ʼ92 (who were among the few to be granted a photo with Hinton). Carol Obermeier and Rachel Krause participated in an afternoon of inquiry-based curriculum development and produced an entire teaching unit. “In attending the conference exhibit hall, I was able to take home over twenty advance copies of young adult novels from authors that I knew our students adore,” Keith said. “Seeing their excited faces as we opened the big box of books and sifted through all our new reading material was priceless. That moment validated the feelings of gratitude and awe I experienced at the conference with the incredible groups of students I get to work with year after year.”
Nancee Lewis Photography
The consensus among the attendees was that the conference provided some of the most compelling and timely professional training they had ever received.
Chris Harrington, Carol Vassiliadis and Kevin Yaley in February 2017 at the Head of School home.
This was exactly the excitement and enthusiasm that Chris Harrington, the current Vassiliadis Family Chair in English hoped the conference would inspire. “Our teachers returned to Parker reinvigorated about teaching and brought back new ideas that could be used in the classroom.” Expenses for the trip were underwritten by the Vassiliadis endowment gift. Established in 2012 by Carol Vassiliadis, former Trustee and parent of Andrew ʼ01 and Melissa ʼ04, the Vassiliadis Family Chair in English recognizes
an exceptional faculty member who embodies excellence in educational pedagogy. “I was honored to be named Chair but even more thrilled that the Vassiliadis’ generosity included funds to support professional development and leadership opportunities for the entire English department,” said Harrington. “Itʼs a department award, and we don't take it for granted. We feel incredibly validated by it.” n
“Our teachers returned to Parker reinvigorated about teaching and brought back new ideas that could be used in the classroom.” - Chris Harrington, Vassiliadis Family Chair in English WINTER/SPRING 2017 PARKER MAGAZINE
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