STEPHANIE NEAL-JOHNSON
KATE OLMSTED
A
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s the assistant secretary/ chief of staff for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Stephanie combines her legal background with a deep knowledge of public policy and savvy political acumen to advance the DOT and its projects in the community. Prior to this appointment, Stephanie served as the director of public affairs and community relations at the MBTA, and was a founding partner at the law firm Johnson Haley, where her practice advocated for Massachusettsbased businesses. Prior to starting the firm, Stephanie served as legal counsel for Phillips Exeter Academy for several years and as the assistant to the vice president for human resources at MIT. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar. Born in Atlanta, Stephanie grew up in Ohio but came to New England to attend Phillips Exeter Academy. At Columbia University, she studied urban studies and political science and spent a term in France. After completing law school at Boston University, she entered public service through campaigns and later as the legislative director to a Massachusetts State Senator. Since she was a
child, Stephanie has been an advisor, counselor, and encourager to many people. Sensing her call to greater purpose in service to others, Stephanie accepted the call to ministry and began pursuing theological studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Recently ordained, Stephanie is a member of the ministerial team at Myrtle Baptist Church in Newton. Stephanie is pleased to have been involved in a number of boards supporting the arts and culture in Boston and currently serves on the board of Mother Caroline Academy as well as the Friends of the Public Garden. “I am very interested insuring access and kindness to all people in our society.” At Park, Stephanie has served as a member of the Diversity Committee. “Park’s panoramic world view applies to the School’s pedagogy as well as the thoughtful composition of the student body,” she says. Stephanie and Frederich Johnson, her husband of 18 years, live in Milton with their two sons, Jabari ’14 and Jonah ’16. They enjoy many activities — especially sporting events, cooking, and spirited debate.
ate is a life-long student of teaching and learning. As an art history student at Princeton and while working at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art after graduation, she studied museum education programs and soon realized that visual learning was merely one of many effective paths to a child’s brain. Fascinated, Kate decided to become a teacher and earned her EdM from Harvard. She then taught second and third grades for three years at The Learning Project in the Back Bay. Kate quickly discovered how little her teacher training had prepared her to address the individual needs of each child, particularly those with language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia. She was fortunate, however, to have an experienced mentor introduce her to direct, systematic, multi-sensory instruction — an approach that is essential for many learners and beneficial to others. After the birth of Eliza ’14, Kate ran a private tutoring practice for five years. When her second child, Charlotte ’16, reached school age, Kate returned to graduate school to pursue her growing passion for reading instruction. She earned a CAS from MGH’s Institute of Health Professions and after finishing this
The Park Bulletin | Fall 2011
program, worked at the Boston Renaissance Charter School as a part-time reading specialist. For the past three years, she has held a similar position at the Chestnut Hill School. Kate is thrilled that Eliza and Charlotte have had the opportunity to experience the dedicated and thoughtful teaching so prevalent at Park. She is looking forward to when Xander (3) has the chance to join the Park community as well. “Decisions at Park seem grounded in thoughtful student-based rationales. The passion for teaching and learning at Park is palpable.” As a teacher and parent, Kate knows Park is exceptional. Kate has served on the boards of The Pomfret School, The Learning Project, and The Newton Mothers’ Forum and is looking forward to joining the Board at Park. Kate and her husband, John Grossman, grew up in Manhattan where Kate attended The Spence School through ninth grade. The Olmsted/Grossman family lives in Chestnut Hill and enjoys the outdoors, playing tennis, and reading and traveling together.
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