Spring Bulletin 2015

The Park School

Spring Bulletin 2015

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2014–15

ALUMNI COMMITTEE 2014–15

Spring Bulletin 2015

Officers Vincent Chiang Chair Lanny Thorndike ’81 Vice Chair Peter Riehl Vice Chair Lee Englert Secretary Sam Wilderman Treasurer

Lilla Curran ’95 Co-Chair Abbott Lawrence ’85 Co-Chair

Editor Kate LaPine

John Barkan ’85 Peter Barkan ’86 Kathrene Tiffany Bell ’96 Jennifer Berylson Block ’94 Bob Bray ’53 Emily Potts Callejas ’89 Carlos Castillo ’97 Greg Cope ’71 Melissa Deland ’95 Sara Leventhal Fleiss ’95 David Glynn ’91 Abigail Ross Goodman ’91 Anne Collins Goodyear ’84 Jennifer Segal Herman ’82 Julia Lloyd Johannsen ’93 Greg Kadetsky ’96 Joanie Amick Kelly ’83 Bob Kenerson ’53 Amy Lampert ’63 Eve Wadsworth Lehrman ’95 Nia Lutch ’97 Melissa Daniels Madden ’85 Amy Lloyd McCarthy ’86 Eliza Drachman-Jones Quincy ’98 Kate Gormley Saeli ’02 Katharine Burrage Schmitt ’95 Alyssa Burrage Scott ’92 Jordan Scott ’89 Rebecca Lewin Scott ’89 Sarah Shoukimas Ryan ’97 Garrett Solomon ’86 Diana Walcott ’85 Laura Church Wilmerding ’84 Rebecca Wilsker ’00

Design Irene Chu

David Ball ’85 John Barkan ’85 Margaret Boasberg Seth Brennan Denise Jefferson Casper Polly Crozier Laura DeBonis Atul Dhir Shannon Falkson Heidi Johnson Conan Laughlin Amy Lloyd McCarthy ’86 Katie McWeeny Anne Mitchell Stephanie Neal-Johnson Nikki Nudelman Kate Olmsted Peter Philip Peter Riehl Garrett Solomon ’86 Kerry Swords Edward “EJ” Whelan, Jr. Emily Lubin Woods Ex Officio Michael Robinson Head of School Kimberly Boyd Assistant Head for Finance & Operations Cynthia Harmon Assistant Head for Program & Professional Development

Printing Puritan Capital The Bulletin is published twice yearly for the alumni, parents, and friends of The Park School. We welcome your comments and ideas.

The Park School 171 Goddard Avenue Brookline, Massachusetts 02445 To contact the Bulletin: Kate LaPine Director of Communications 617-274-6009 lapinek@parkschool.org To report alumni news: Rena LaRusso ’04 Director of Alumni Relations 617-274-6022 alumni@parkschool.org To make a gift to Park: Beatrix Sanders Director of Development 617-274-6020 sandersb@parkschool.org To report address changes: Peter Steinmetz Development Office Manager 617-274-6018 development@parkschool.org

Board Chairs Emeriti Kennett F. Burnes David D. Croll Charles C. Cunningham, Jr. George P. Denny III David G. Fubini M. Dozier Gardner John L. Hall II Kevin J. Maroni J. Michael Maynard Anne Worthington Prescott Suzie Tapson Deborah Jackson Weiss

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Headmaster Emeritus Robert S. Hurlbut, Jr.

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Cover Artwork Seascapes by Grade VI Seahorse by Priya Devavaram ’18 Yellow Fish by Isabel Sullivan ’18

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The Park School admits qualified students without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or family composition to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. Park does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or family composition or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational, admissions, financial aid, athletic and other policies and programs.

The Park School Spring Bulletin 2015

In this issue:

2

Letter from the Head of School

4

Around Park

Park Reclaims Champions Cup at Park/Shady Hill Day 2014

Park Students Sing at the White House

New Front Entrance Dedicated to Betsy Ball

The Snowiest Winter on Record!

On Stage 8

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COLLABORATION AND COACHING

Transforming the Culture of Teaching at Park

by Kate LaPine Alumni Notes Alumni Achievement Award 2014: Sadia Shepard ’90

Dear Park School Friends,

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As we head into the home stretch called spring, I want to take a moment to update you on some of the work we’ve been doing this year at Park.

A great deal is happening in my second year as Head of School, and

I hope you will find this update informative and see all the ways we are striving to make the School stronger.

PARK’S SELF-STUDY YEAR

Every ten years The Park School must go through a re-accreditation process in order to maintain our membership in the Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE). This very focused and intense process demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement and is the hallmark of excellent schools. As part of this process, we are engaged in a comprehensive self-study in preparation for a three-day visit by a team of educators in October 2015. The process of being reaccredited and examined validates the quality of Park’s educational program, and assures the community that we meet certain standards and are following “best practices” in all areas. The yearlong self-study process focuses on enhancing student learning and growth, and helps the School identify areas for improvement, demonstrating our willingness to be professional and accountable. It also focuses on health of the institution, which helps to ensure the long-term health of the School.

This year the faculty, staff, and trustees have been working hard to review every aspect of the school community from the academic program and the governing structure, to school services and the details of extracurricular programs. We appointed two veteran Park teachers to co-chair the process, Maria Fleming Alvarez ’81 and Kimberly

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Formisano. Under their leadership, more than 30 self-study committees are working to determine how well Park addresses certain standards, and are identifying strengths and areas for improvement.

GRADE IX STUDY GROUP

It is important to reflect on and evaluate aspects of our curriculum and program as part of our ongoing planning process.

Almost ten years ago, the School conducted a comprehensive review of the Grade IX program. It makes sense during our selfstudy year to once again take a look at the ninth grade. Led by Upper Division Head Alice Perera Lucey ’77 and myself, a task force made up of administrators, faculty, trustees, parents and alumni — representing a wide range of experiences at Park in general and with the ninth grade program in particular — is examining all aspects of Grade IX and will report its findings at the end of the year.

FACULTY EVALUATION

Two years ago faculty members Peter Bown and Jen Riley were among several teacher teams awarded Peter Amershadian Faulty Leadership Grants. Funded by Park21, these grants are designed to allow faculty members to take on a major leadership initiative outside of school hours in service of program innovation and the mission of the School.

Peter and Jen’s work focused on faculty supervision and evaluation. To continue the

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

14 –2015 work they began, the administrative leadership team is devoting time for planning and working collaboratively with faculty leaders to further develop supervision and evaluation instruments and processes. Our objectives are twofold: First, to identify and implement innovative approaches to faculty supervision and evaluation that reflect current “best practices;” Second, to provide Park teachers with more frequent opportunities to receive feedback and to reflect on their performance. This effort is a logical step to take as part of the self-study. But more importantly, it is an essential, proactive element of ensuring that Park continues to be a leader among independent schools in attracting, training, and retraining the very best faculty.

CURRICULUM MAPPING

Documenting and sharing curriculum across grades and disciplines is an essential aspect of maintaining school-wide standards for academic content, concepts and skills. In order to improve our ability to share and enhance curriculum, we have adopted the Rubicon Atlas Curriculum Mapping Software software system. Atlas provides transparency to all curriculum, easy accessibility for faculty, staff and administrators, and facilitates collaborative and focused conversations. We are in the process of training teachers on this new software, though this has to be secondary to the self-study and re-accreditation process. And, though this will take time, ultimately this work will directly and profoundly impact and benefit the students’ learning experiences. Down the road, once the curriculum has been fully integrated into the new system, parents will be able to access curriculum information, as well.

member of the School’s administrative leadership team and will contribute focused, strategic leadership in this mission-critical work.

The Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will provide valuable leadership and coaching for curriculum development at each grade level with inclusive, anti-bias curriculum and instructional practices. Coordinating with the division heads, Park’s new Director will help us to develop age-appropriate student programming.

The Director will also serve as a resource and leader for the whole community with matters of diversity, inclusion, multicultural practices and communication. I look forward to developing a strong partnership with the Director to sustain and deepen Park’s already strong work in this area, and encourage us all to continually cultivate our community’s capacity for honest, open conversation and growth.

These first two years of leadership at Park have been exciting — and humbling — privilege. Working collaboratively with such a talented faculty and staff, a dedicated board of trustees, engaged and supportive parents, a loyal alumni, and most of all, a fantastic student community has made this experience the absolute highlight of my career in education. I look forward to sharing further updates about our shared work. And, as always, I thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Michael Robinson Head of School

DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

In our ongoing efforts to sustain and strengthen our current diversity initiatives and to develop mindful, innovative school-wide practices and programs in the areas of diversity and social justice, the School is establishing a new position, the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, to begin July 1, 2015. The Director will be a

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

3

Park Reclaims Champions Cup at Park/Shady Hill Day 2014

“T

»»around park

here is no more important school rivalry in the country than Park vs. Shady Hill,” explains Park’s athletic director Bob Little. The longest private middle school rivalry in the nation started with “field days.”

Sack races, egg tosses, hoop rolling, and horse shoes were the first competitions held, but quickly the ante was raised and by the early 1940’s the boys were competing in football, basketball, and baseball and the girls in field hockey, netball, and lacrosse. Legions of young athletes (as many as 3,000 living alumni from each school) have participated in The Rivalry and their allegiance still runs deep. On Friday, October 24, Park’s Varsity Boys Soccer, Varsity Girls Soccer, and Varsity Field Hockey swept their competition back to Cambridge, keeping the trophy in Brookline for another year.

Park Students Sing at the White House

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n December, Janice Allen’s Inspirational Freedom Choir performed at the White House for President and Mrs. Obama! Congratulations to our students, their parents, and teachers — Janice Allen, Betty Hillmon and Mark Vialva — for pulling the trip off on short notice and for performing beautifully! Many thanks to NECN for allowing us to share a glimpse of their trip with you.

www.necn.com/news/new-england/Making-the-Grade-Childrens-Choir-Sings-at-White-House-286743351.html

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The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

New Front Entrance Dedicated to Betsy Ball

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arly on a cold morning in January, hundreds of current faculty, families, and special guests gathered to celebrate Betsy Ball’s remarkable 61 years of service and her 87th birthday. Following remarks by Board Chair Vinny Chiang and former heads of school Bob Hurlbut and Jerry Katz, the crowd joined Michael Robinson in a heartfelt rendition of “Happy Birthday” and hot chocolate.

The ceremony dedicated Park’s new front entrance to Betsy, installing a small plaque in the vestibule, which reads, “Our new front entrance is dedicated to Betsy Perry Ball whose warm, welcoming presence has graced the Park community since 1954.” The ceremony also acknowledged the time capsule that has been installed in recognition of Park’s 125th anniversary.

The Snowiest Winter on Record!

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inter walloped us—there’s no denying it! According to the National Weather Service, Boston broke the seasonal record for snowfall this winter, with a total of 110.6 inches by the end of March when the last flakes flew.

The previous record was set in 1995–96, when 107.6 inches fell.

Park’s maintenance crew worked diligently to keep the campus plowed. Nevertheless, the School closed five times this winter for weather: January 27th, January 28th, February 2nd, February 6th (broken water main!), and February 9th!

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

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On Stage Charlotte’s Web This fall, students in Grades VII and VIII brought the classic story of Charlotte’s Web to Park’s stage in the fall musical. After being saved by Fern, Wilbur the pig goes to live on the Zuckerman Farm where he meets all kinds of animals, including the Goose and Gander, the Sheep, Templeton the rat, and Charlotte the spider. As Charlotte works magic to save Wilbur from the normal fate for a farm pig, he learns what it means to have a dear friend.

4.50 From Paddington Adapted from an Agatha Christie novel, The 4.50 from Paddington was this winter’s eighth and ninth grade theatrical endeavor. Riding along comfortably in her train car, Elspeth McGillicuddy witnesses a murder that happens in a passing train. What should she do? Who is the murderer? And who has been murdered?

Luckily, she is on her way to visit her dear, elderly friend Miss Jane Marple, who dabbles in solving mysteries and can most certainly figure this one out. After hearing the story, Miss Marple deduces (quite correctly!) that the murderer is somehow connected to Rutherford Hall, home of the wealthy Crackenthorpe family. She convinces a young woman, Lucy Eyelsbarrow, to become a servant for the family so she can hunt for the body and spy on all the quirky members of the family. Lucy finally finds the body, but it is only the beginning of the puzzles about the mysterious train murder.

Seventh and eighth grade actors brought the classic E.B. White story to the Park School stage.

Miss Marple solves another one! Grade VIII and IX actors presented Agatha Christie’s 4.50 from Paddington.

Frog Prince In March, sixth-grade actors presented The Frog Prince, a musical adaptation of the Grimm brothers’ famed fairy tale. In this story with upbeat music and fun script, the frog prince, with the help of his amphibian friends, must outwit an evil witch and her pet snake. He befriends a lovely princess, the heir to the throne who, also under the witch’s spell, no one can understand. They save the kingdom, led by a dramatic king, a sweet queen, and a goofy court jester, and Eric the frog is turned back into a prince!

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Frogs, royalty, and an evil witch delighted audiences with a wonderful adaptation of The Frog Prince.

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

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COLLABORATION AND TRANSFORMING THE CULTURE OF

by Kate LaPine, Director of Communications

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The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

W

D COACHING

hy should we care about teacher collaboration in schools?

The answer lies in looking beyond, for schools exist as preparation for the greater world. It’s now widely understood that students — be they elementary, high school or college graduates — need to have learned to collaborate and work on teams in order to succeed in the global marketplace.

More and more, teamwork and collaboration are seen as essential skill sets to succeed in every sector of the global economy. For teachers to be able to lead and teach their students effectively in collaboration, they themselves need to experience and value the benefits of collaboration, teamwork, and coaching in their own work. Yet, teaching as a profession has historically been a solo enterprise, one where great teachers enter their classrooms, stand or sit alone with a group of students, with few professional partnerships. Therein lies the change that is happening throughout the educational world, and especially at The Park School…

TEACHING AT PARK

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COLLABORATION AND COACHING

B

y and large, Park is a very happy place to work.

Schools like Park are vibrant and convivial environments in which to learn and teach. Of the 167 members of the faculty and staff, 48 have been working here for more than 10 years, 21 have been here for more than 20 years, and a remarkable 14 have been here for more than 30! So, what makes great teachers stay at Park for decades? Although the School works hard to keep salaries competitive, it’s probably safe to assume it’s not the paycheck alone that makes folks stay. Rather, teachers cite the collegial environment, the warmth of the community, and the varied opportunities they are offered. That’s somewhat hard to define, yet quite tangible for those of us who are lucky enough to work here.

(Full disclosure: this is my second stint at Park, for a total of 16 years so far!)

It may be that what we refer to as community is actually congeniality, when what we really need in order to succeed is collegiality. Collegiality does not really mean what it sounds like (being “collegial” usually connotes being diplomatic and kind): instead, it refers to a culture of constructive criticism, respectful disagreement, and honest and open teamwork. In 2012, psychologist and school consultant Rob Evans wrote an article for Independent School Magazine called “Getting To No: Building True Collegiality in Schools.” Evans cites Roland Barth, founder of the Principals’ Center at Harvard University, who asserts that collegiality is “the least common form of relationship among adults in schools.” According to Barth and Evans,

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For schools to change from that “sole-practitioner culture” to a new “collaborative culture” — one that is open to and welcomes coaching, constructive criticism and respectful disagreement among teachers — requires leadership from both the Board, administrators, and faculty.

Congeniality is about getting along well, being friendly, warm, and supportive. Schools are full of good people who are cordial to and considerate of one another, who care about each other. When necessary, teachers cover each other’s classes and study halls. If asked, they offer advice about a student or a lesson plan. If one of them suffers an illness or has a family crisis, the rest rally to help. A school without this kind of mutual supportiveness is a deeply unhappy place.

Congeniality provides an essential foundation for a faculty’s sense of community and its work with students. What it doesn’t provide is any meaningful attention to that work. By itself, it fosters a culture of niceness and privacy, not a culture of growth. True collegiality requires more than being cordial and caring. It requires a focus on development and performance. It means sharing — deprivatizing — the work of teaching, and it means talking candidly, and being able to disagree constructively, about professional practice.

For most educators, none of this comes easily, which surprises and dismays many advocates of improved collegiality, who assume that an appetite and aptitude for collaboration should be the norm in schools.

But the fact is that most teachers are not ideally suited to collaborate — and the reasons make sense. They reflect inherent features of teaching itself and of teachers themselves — tendencies that are not only natural, but in key ways crucial to success with students. The forging and sustaining of a truly collegial, collaborative ethos in a faculty means confronting deeply embedded structural and personal challenges.

While high functioning teams are ubiquitous in business and medical settings, they are the exception in schools, where historically, individual teachers have worked autonomously as skilled artisans in their own separate classrooms. For schools to change from that “sole-practitioner culture” to a new “collaborative culture”— one that is open to and welcomes coaching, constructive criticism and respectful disagreement among teachers — requires leadership from both the Board, administrators, and faculty.

According to Head of School Emeritus Jerry Katz, “Park is one of a number of leading independent schools that is thinking creatively about schedules and workloads to provide more time for faculty collaboration and learning.” Indeed, the last three capital campaigns, The Park School Pursuit (2003–04), Foundations for the Future (2006–10) and Park21 (2010–present) have raised funds specifically for professional development and innovation.

This year, $284,000, a full one percent of the operating budget, is budgeted for professional development. That money funded 118 faculty, administrators, and staff participating in 747 additional days of work in 2014.

Beginning as early as 2000, the School began

providing faculty significant stipends for summer professional development work as a means to incentivize and reward teachers for extending their work year. Teachers who participate in a workshop during the summer receive $200 per day. “Park’s solid commitment to professional development is definitely a draw in recruiting faculty,” says Cynthia Harmon, Assistant Head for Program & Professional Development. “We have a reputation as both a high demand and a high support school; we expect a lot from our teachers, but we give a lot in return. Our generous stipends for participating in professional development are a big part of that.” Kimberly Boyd, Assistant Head for Finance & Operations, concurs.

“Park’s generous stipends are rare at other schools. At 4.5 percent, we far exceed our peers in terms of professional development as a percentage of salaries.”

In 2009, Park embarked on a school-wide commitment to professional development in differentiated instruction (DI). Differentiated learning is an intentional part of lesson planning, instruction, and assessment that is meant to make learning accessible and individualized to every student. Teachers who are trained in DI proactively modify curricula, teaching methods, resources,

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

During a “Day of Collaboration” in 2014, Grade II teachers (Sarah Bourque, Carly Ellis, Kat Callard, and Jessica Niebuhr) redesigned the social studies curriculum for the second grade.

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COLLABORATION AND COACHING

and learning activities, while trying to address the needs of individual students’ learning styles. Over the span of three summers, every teacher completed 36 hours of training in an extensive DI course. “We tried to roll out the DI program in a systematic way,” Cynthia explains.

“So we provided an opportunity for faculty to further hone their skills and knowledge during ongoing coaching sessions with an educational consultant specializing in K–12 school pedagogy named Pamela Penna.”

Pamela Penna, Park’s Faculty Coach, works with teachers, with departments, and with whole divisions to help teachers learn how to improve their craft, their curriculum, and their ways of teaching.

COACHING

“M

y first job at Park was as the DI coach, supporting the course and bringing it to life in individual teachers’ classrooms,” Pamela Penna recalls. A few years later, the Park21 strategic plan identified the need for a faculty “coach” for the School, to serve as an additional resource to support and push our faculty to reach out for best practices and implement them in real time.

Pamela was an obvious choice. She received a BA in elementary education from UMass, Amherst, and a MEd in curriculum and instruction from Lesley University, and had already worked with the majority of Park’s teachers during summer DI workshops. Head of School Michael Robinson explains, “It was clear that the faculty would benefit from a mentor and coach who would guide us through the transition to a new way of interaction — to true collegiality and collaboration. We needed to learn how to do what we wanted to do. Fortunately, we could turn to Pamela!”

Pamela works with teachers, with departments, and with whole divisions to help teachers learn how to improve their craft, their curriculum, and their ways of teaching. In two years, she has already worked individually or in small groups with 56 percent of Park’s faculty, plus the entire Lower and Middle Divisions as a whole. Three days a week, Pamela commutes to Park from Lunenburg, Massachusetts. Her days are filled with large, ongoing long-term projects such as curriculum planning with individuals and teams of teachers, as well as more discreet tasks such as analyzing the effective use of the very beginning and the very ending of a class lesson. “There’s huge variety in my job,” Pamela explains.

“I’m not a subject specific coach, yet if I’m working with a teacher or team on improving a math unit or lesson, I focus on effective lesson design and pedagogy, such as targeting student engagement, building necessary collaborative skills in students, asking purposeful questions, ongoing assessment and variety of instructional techniques.”

“A big part of teaching and learning is classroom management and that has become a big focus of my time,” Pamela explains. She observes teachers and then

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It was clear that the faculty would benefit from a mentor and coach who would guide us through the transition to a new way of interaction — to true collegiality and collaboration.

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

FACULTY COACHING IN PRACTICE: Carly Ellis, Grade II Teacher At our Grade II team meetings, we sometimes brainstorm ideas about classroom management and how to handle student behavior issues. I have several energetic students in my classroom and felt my usual modifications were not working and needed some advice. My team suggested Pamela. I e-mailed her that day and within the week, Pamela and I met oneon-one where we discussed what I was working on in terms of classroom management. The

following week, she observed four different lessons for 30–60 minutes each. Within 24 hours she had sent me her notes on her observations. Pamela had them colored coded so that I could see quickly the time I was praising them, redirecting them, or making behavior expectations clear. We had a follow up meeting that week to go over her notes.

Having Pamela observe in an unbiased way really let me see the forest through the trees,

or whatever that saying is! I was so focused on what some of these students were doing that I couldn’t see that the rest of my class was learning. It turned out that even some of these kids were learning, even though they were in constant motion. I feel it has changed my teaching because I felt truly supported and validated as a teacher that I could actually exhale a little and recognize all the good I was doing.

Over the year, Pamela

follows up to give them feedback about the lesson.

Often, teachers will ask advice about how to modify their approach. “They will come in saying, ‘Why isn’t this working? It went beautifully last year!’ But with every group of kids, you need a new approach. That’s another area where I can be helpful.”

A FACULTY COACH? WHY?

D

on’t we all appreciate getting a few tips from the golf or tennis pro to take our games up a notch?

And who wouldn’t like to take their work game up a notch, too? The market has responded accordingly. In addition to athletic coaches, there are now coaches for your career, leadership, finances, and your life. In his 2011 New Yorker article, “Personal Best,” Atul Gawande describes the benefits of coaching for his own career as a surgeon. In the article, Gawande also introduces Jim Knight, director of the Kansas Coaching Project at

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

has built a strong sense of trust between herself and my team, which is important when asking someone to come in to your classroom to see how you can improve. It can be a vulnerable situation and it helps to know that there is no judgment and the coach really is there for you 100 percent. I feel that from Pamela. She is a true asset to Park School and our teachers.

How can we clone her?

the University of Kansas, who is the guru of teaching coaching to teachers. Gawande asserts, “There was a moment in sports when employing a coach was unimaginable — and then came a time when not doing so was unimaginable. We care about results in sports, and if we care half as much about results in schools and in hospitals we may reach the same conclusion.”

Pamela is not the only coach at Park. With the advent of Park21, the role of the curriculum specialist has changed to include coaching as well. In fact, when their job descriptions changed, the specialists traveled to the University of Kansas to be trained by Jim Knight himself! Pamela recalls, “It was a terrific multi-day conference and traveling together allowed us a great opportunity to support each other in our coaching endeavors.

One common output from this training is that most of us are now using video when we coach.” Jim Knight calls this having a clear picture of ‘the current reality.’

Since their coaches’ training, Sue Segar (language arts specialist for Grades K– II), Katrina Mills (math specialist for Grades K– II), Anita Brush (language arts specialist for

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COLLABORATION AND COACHING

Grades III –V), and Steven Goldman (math specialist for Grades III –V), split their time between working directly with students in the classroom and helping the teachers hone the curriculum and their teaching. The specialists have regular meetings with grade-level teams every other week, and regular meetings with individual teachers on the alternate weeks.

Coaching can include coordination, agenda setting, and helping the teams work well together. The curriculum specialist coaches encourage the teams to develop good practices and provide opportunities to grow and learn. “When the time is being well used,” Steven says, “It is less about my agenda and more about what we can accomplish together.” At the team level, the specialists delve into subjects that affect the whole grade. For example, Anita has been working with the Grade III team to assess student learning in terms of a specific writing unit. At first, Anita met the four Grade III teachers to discuss the goals, and at the end of the unit, the group discussed students’ written assessments to reflect on what they had learned, and compared these with their in-class work. “The discussion helped the Grade III team see that most students had met the broad goals of the unit,” Anita explains. “Students felt that the writing unit was difficult. We teachers concluded that this hard work

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“One of the things that makes the coaching model different is the acknowledgement that people do not change behavior because of your eloquence, your authority, or your perceived experience, but because they trust that you have their best interests at heart.

was where much of the learning had occurred and paved the way for their success on the assessment.”

When working one-on-one with teachers, the specialists can tailor their sessions to the individual teacher’s needs. With some teachers the time is spent planning together for upcoming units, discussing individual students, or trying to implement a new strategy or class structure. The specialists try to honor the individual teacher’s wishes in using the time in a way that will be most valuable to her or him. A third grade teacher approached Anita for advice on getting students to develop their own ideas about nonfiction writing. “Together,” Anita says, “We brainstormed a set of prompts that might help students articulate their thoughts. We also decided that

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

Anita Brush, the School’s Literacy Specialist for the Middle Division, meets weekly with each team of teachers. She has been working with the Grade III faculty to redesign and evaluate a new writing unit.

because this was hard work for students, we would move gradually from the concrete to the more abstract.”

She also created a simple, clear form that would help students’ thinking. “I try use video or observation or at least self-reflection as a way of deciding what we need to work on next to improve our teaching all of my coaching sessions,” Steven says. Over the course of the year, eight Middle Division teachers have used video as a way of looking at how they teach. It is a powerful tool. Coaches also focus on goals and making those goals quantifiable whenever possible. “Talking vaguely about teaching is not as productive as setting goals we can measure,” he continues. “If we make a change in the classroom we should be able to look back and talk about the specific outcomes and whether they have had an impact on a target goal, such as level of engagement.

Even if we are using the time simply to improve our content knowledge of a topic (such as unpacking how students learn fractions), we should be stopping periodically to assess whether what we are doing is having an impact on students and whether we are meeting our larger goals.”

Fundamentally, good coaching is rooted in the coaching relationship. It is that relationship that makes it possible for people to feel comfortable taking risks, look

honestly at their performance, and stretch themselves.

Steven explains, “One of the things that makes the coaching model different is the acknowledgement that people do not change behavior because of your eloquence, your authority, or your perceived experience, but because they trust that you have their best interests at heart. It is truly about working together towards a goal the teacher believes in, coupled with the belief that the coach is able to and wants to help the teacher achieve that goal.”

COLLABORATION

“P

ark has a very hardworking and dedicated faculty,” Pamela Penna remarks. “They are eager to collaborate and engage in the creative process of continuously improving their teaching.” She explains, “Typically in schools, we tend to think we’re collaborating, but really what we’re doing is sharing and being really nice to each other. I’ll share something with you, and you’ll say, “Oh, that’s very interesting, cool!” And you might ask me a question and you might offer me a compliment, and we’ll both walk away knowing what the other person is

FACULTY COACHING IN PRACTICE: Ellen Desmond, Upper Division English Teacher We do a great job at Park talking about plans on a department level, and we’re constantly sharing lesson plans and materials, but it’s hard to find time to actually carry out new ideas and report back to each other. Having new eyes

take a look at what the department has done in the past enables us to articulate what changes would be beneficial for specific students. Working one-on-one with Pamela has allowed me to better tailor my instruction to my students and

organize my classes so that I can maximize their learning.

We’ve worked on two main things: classroom management tools and final assessments — tests and culminating writing pieces. She’s visited my classes several times to

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

observe and take video clips that we then discussed during our weekly meeting. We’ve dissected drafts of my materials, working to make directions and outcomes clearer to students.

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COLLABORATION AND COACHING

COLLABORATION IN PRACTICE: Grade V Social Studies Curriculum Change Studying Japan was a hallmark of Park’s fifth grade for a very long time. Understandably, the social studies curricula is closely linked to how teachers approach reading and writing. When the Grade V team adopted the Lucy Calkins Reading & Writing program a few years ago, some beloved social studies assignments, like writing Japanese folk tales, didn’t align as well.

Immigration was already part of the Grade V social studies curriculum, with a focus on the turn-of-the-century experience at Ellis Island. The fifth grade team began thinking about ways to expand this rich curriculum, while also identifying ways to connect some new projects to the reading and writing curriculum. Grade V teacher Courtney Bonang explains, “We got our chance to

tackle this challenging assignment in the winter of 2014, while our students were engaged in another Park21 project, Psite Week.* With Grade Level Assistants and Interns moving the curriculum along in the classroom all week, our team could spend five days with Pamela Penna — collaborating and focusing on the social studies curriculum. That time helped tremendously. We could tackle the big overarching questions and begin linking the activities with the desired outcomes. Pamela is so good at what she does! She made sure we were really clear about intentions and timing it out.”

The team knew they were going to start with the Statue of Liberty and an introduction to immigration. With Pamela’s help, the fifth grade teachers embarked on a thoughtful process to expand

the unit on Angell Island immigration and create a new unit on modern immigration since the 1950s. “We’ve spent both days of collaboration this year just focusing on modern immigration,” Courtney says. “We ended up breaking up the modern day lessons between the four of us.”

Courtney notes that the Days of Collaboration are exciting, stimulating, and intense. The addition of grade level assistants and creating more time for collaboration has succeeded in providing an opportunity for the fifth grade team to work together — deeply.

She concludes, “The new schedule has given us the time to digest, which really did help tremendously in retooling the social studies curriculum. Collaboration time is very helpful, but borne out of every meeting is a big to-do list!”

*PSite (Park School’s Institute for Transformative Education): an inter-disciplinary, weeklong, project-based immersion curriculum. The Grade V pilot focused on real-life immigration stories of Park School parents.

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Students are often asked to cooperate and collaborate in small groups.

up to and so it goes. And every week we get together and we feel great. But now we’re saying, beyond feeling good, what else is it for?” With an eye to fostering a culture of growth, and developing a true “collaborative culture,” Pamela set out to train and support the faculty in effective, action-based collaboration.

An expert facilitator, Pamela has been sharing many tips with the faculty to make meetings more effective and results-oriented. “Going to meetings can be hard,” Pamela acknowledges, “and they sometimes feel like a waste of time because teachers feel that they could be spending that hour doing what they need to do for their own students.” Lower Division Head Andrew Segar and Upper Division Head Alice Lucey have both asked Pamela to tweak their weekly division meetings. Andrew says, “Division meetings now feel more worthwhile because we’re achieving something measurable.” Pamela shares these suggestions freely. “I teach collaboration for when I’m not there. It can be hard to collaborate when you have to come to an agreement together. Teachers are used to being in their own domains, in their own classrooms, so I offer roles that make a meeting effective — Who is documenting? Who is the timekeeper?

Who is the keeper of the norms?” With Pamela’s help, a department or grade level team will figure out ahead of time how not to insult each other inadvertently, or step on each other’s toes. Instead, they recognize what’s important to each member of the team and create their own norms and roles. Many teams now have their own lists that they bring to each meeting.

Time for Collaboration The School’s strategic plan, Park21, has provided the funding to implement several new innovations to make Park a more collegial and collaborative place. Of course, teachers at Park have been stretching themselves and working together long before Park21 began. However, the plan has been a catalyst for bringing teacher collaboration to the forefront in a way that was not previously possible. Teachers now have more time in the school day to meet and innovate more regularly, to meet with Pamela and other specialists, and to observe each other’s classes.

Grade Level Assistants in Grades I-V Grade level assistants help with non-instructional tasks

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COLLABORATION AND COACHING

We are asking our students to cooperate and collaborate and we are realizing that it is complicated. Being able to empathize with what students are going through as learners will only make us better teachers of the process.

such as lunch, recess, and carpool, and provide a bridge between the four classroom teachers, sharing ideas and experiences within the grade-level teams. While the assistants are with students, it has given teachers newfound time to observe their colleagues in other classrooms, to meet more frequently with math and language arts specialists, and to collaborate weekly as grade-level teams to design innovative ways to strengthen curriculum during the school year. “The assistants enable the teaching team to get together more often,” Pamela explains. “They use the time for developing common units of study, common lessons and common assessments, team learning, delving into complex teaching tools, and figuring out how to implement new strategies in the classrooms.”

Days of Collaboration With the addition of grade level assistants, teachers now have the opportunity to meet weekly on a more frequent basis. But it is challenging to go deeply into a challenging topic in a 45-minute period. Fortunately, Park’s new schedule allows for this kind of exploration as well. Twice a year, each grade level team leaves their classes to the grade level assistants and retreats to the conference room for an in-depth, all-day meeting: the Day of Collaboration. A great amount of work goes into the lead-up to these days, to ensure that the time is used to the maximum benefit. Moreover, the larger ideas unearthed and explored in the Days of Collaboration are then followed up on throughout the year at weekly meetings.

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ransforming culture takes time. As the School enters into its fourth year of Park21-inspired initiatives, faculty are becoming more comfortable with the changes and are becoming more collegial, more collaborative, and more open to constructive suggestions, too.

Pamela Penna concludes, “We are asking our students to cooperate and collaborate in all different configurations such as small groups and partnerships. How can we expect the kids to take on this collaboration successfully if we ourselves are not taking it on? We are realizing that it is complicated and difficult, and being able to empathize with them and know what they are going through as learners will only make us better teachers of the process, I think.”

SOURCES University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning and the Kansas Coaching Project http://instructionalcoach. org/about Personal Best: Top athletes and singers have coaches.

Should you? By Atul Gawande.

The New Yorker. October 3, 2011 http://www.newyorker. com/magazine/2011/10/03/ personal-best Getting To No: Building True Collegiality in Schools by Robert Evans Independent School Magazine.

Winter 2012 http://www.nais.org/ Magazines-Newsletters/ ISMagazine/Pages/GettingTo-No.aspx

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n Tuesday, April 28th, a wide assortment of faculty & staff gathered in the Library to reconnect with current and former trustees. Pictured here: 1) John Barkan ’85 (trustee) and Amy Lampert ’63 (former trustee); 2) Rick Edie (former trustee) and Hilary Fabre; 3) Marshall Neilson and Sally Baker (former trustee); 4) Nicole Murray (former trustee) and Head of School Michael Robinson; 5) Nancy Faulkner (former trustee), Amy Lloyd McCarthy ’86 (trustee), and Kim Faulkner ’45 (former trustee); 6) Alison Connolly and Linda Whitlock (former trustee); 7) Betty Hillmon and Ellen Poss (former trustee); 8) Debby Jackson Weiss (former Board Chair) and Margo Ayers Smith; 9) Kathy Coen, Anne McNay (former trustee) and Comfort Halsey Cope.

INAUGURAL SPRING GATHERING OF CURRENT & FORMER TRUSTEES AND FACULTY & STAFF

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Annual Gathering of Former Board Chairs and Vice Chairs February 2015

Alumni Notes

From left to right: Lanny Thorndike ‘81, Vinny Chiang (current Board Chair), Kevin J. Maroni, Suzie Tapson, Deborah Jackson Weiss, John Hall, David Croll, Michael Maynard, Kennett Burnes, Charlie Cunningham and Head of School Michael Robinson. Missing from photo but in attendance was David Fubini.

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Wetzels this spring in Austin, Texas.

Pam shared many stories of her time at Park during World War II, when the School were located on Kennard Road and Grace May Cole was Headmistress. While many things have changed over the years, Pam was delighted to learn that Park’s mission of simplicity and sincerity is still the core of who we are. Thank you, Pam, for the wonderful visit!

Bob Ehrman writes, “In my retirement, I’m living in a comfortable senior residence in Westwood, Mass. called Foxhill Village. I enjoy lots of activities here including movies, lectures, concerts, and trips to interesting places. The food is great, and there are two dining rooms. I should mention that we have a well-equipped gym with two skilled instructors. Incidentally, I’m 92 years old.”

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Class Representative Bob Bray

Class Representative Putty McDowell

1955 Class Representative Needed!

1944 Jerone “Jerri” Godfrey Paul

writes, “In my 85th year I’m still volunteering for church and community (Meals on Wheels, host at a nature sanctuary). Not so much camping and hiking anymore, but I’ve taken up writing children’s books. One effort has two copies, one in each local library. I will always be grateful for the excellent education I received at Park.”

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Class Representative Natalie Park Shutz Jessica Conaway from Park’s Development Office had the great fortune of visiting with Pamela Taylor

Class Representative Amy Lampert

1964 Class Representative Needed!

1965 Class Representative Needed!

1966 Class Representative Wigs Frank

1967 Class Representative Davis Rowley

Class Representative Needed!

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Peggy Wolman and her husband, Richard, will celebrate their silver wedding anniversary this summer.

They continue to enjoy their “encore career” working together as dating coaches and matchmakers throughout the country.

Class Representative Vicky Hall Kehlenbeck

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Class Representative Needed!

1962 Class Representative Needed!

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1969 Class Representative Needed!

1970 Class Representative Anne Singer Paul Ayoub looks forward to seeing many classmates at the reunion in May. “Some has changed and much remains the same since our last reunion. I’m married to Jane

Far left: Pamela Taylor Wetzels ’45 Left: Scott Krentzman ‘81 and Phil Gambone (former faculty) caught up at a winter event at Boston University Academy.

Below: In January, the School’s new front entrance was dedicated to Betsy Perry Ball. Three of her biggest fans came out to celebrate: Greg Cope ’71, and her sons Rob Ball ’83 and David Ball ’85.

Cronin Ayoub and my daughter, Lizzie Ayoub (Park School ’09) is a junior at Vanderbilt. I’m a partner at the law firm of Nutter, McClennen & Fish LLP, focusing on business and commercial real estate. I had the privilege of serving as Secretary to the Board of Trustees of Park from 2004–2007, and recently was elected to serve as the Chairman of the National Board of Directors of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.” Nick Nyhart is president of the Every Voice Center, a national nonprofit based in Washington DC, which works for an equitable campaign finance system. After more than 30 years in Connecticut, he recently moved back to the Boston area with his wife, a Unitarian minister. His son, Sam, is working as an actor in Chicago.

His daughters, Hannah and Maris, are students at the University of Chicago and Tufts. Lauranne Dayton Oliveau and her husband started an “intentional community” cohousing development in Virginia and have been enjoying being part of its success. Her mother, Rusty is active and living with them. Daughter #1 is a junior at the Savannah College of Art and Design and Daughter #2 is a sophomore at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Lauranne says, “I love working with teenagers and children in personal development courses and in the local school system.” Sarah Ewell Smith lives in Kennebunkport in a house she and her husband designed and built. She is currently supervising

40 volunteers helping poor and elderly do their taxes; they average about 2,800 returns per year. Sarah worked for a stained glass kaleidoscope artist, Sue Rioux Designs, for 15 years. Plumbing and electrical work are her hobbies! Your class rep, Anne Singer, lives with her husband and 5 cats in Central New Jersey. “I’ve been volunteering with special needs children learning how to swim, autistic children horseback riding, and with the county rape crisis center.”

1971 Class Representative Needed!

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Class Representatives Margaret Smith Bell Rodger Cohen

Class Representatives Matt Carothers Alex Mehlman

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Class Representatives Colin McNay Bill Sullivan

Class Representatives Allison Nash Mael

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1983

Class Representative Needed!

Class Representative Tenney Mead Cover

Class Representatives Lisa Livens Freeman Elise Mott

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Class Representative Rick Berenson

Class Representative Sam Solomon

Class Representative Anne Collins Goodyear

Macy Lawrence Ratliff sent in this update: “I love teaching yoga and mindfulness to kids ages 2–10! Such joy it brings! On sabbatical from my ESL work — spent an amazing month in Tibet with a wonderful group on a spiritual pilgrimage with an incredible trek around Mt. Kailash. Love my interactions with my old Park School friends Julia Talcott, Susan

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Class Representative needed!

Class Representative needed!

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Class Representatives Lalla Carothers Sally Solomon

Class Representatives Mark Epker Jay Livens

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Storey, Maggie Frank O’Connor, and Betsy Leahy.

1980 Class Representative Susan Schorr

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SIXTH ANNUAL

February Fete D

espite the large amounts of snow clogging the streets, over 75 Park alumni came together at the Hampshire House on Thursday, February 5th for the sixth Annual Park Alumni February Fete. We were thrilled to have an alumnus from the Class of 1937, and his friend from the Class of 1947! Guests heard from Alumni Committee Co-chairs Lilla Curran ’95 and Abbott Lawrence ’85. Vice Chair of the Board Pete Riehl also spoke to guests, and welcomed Head of School Michael Robinson to share a few words on the value of alumni engagement at Park. It was a fun-filled evening and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year!

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1. Mary Sarah Baker Fairweather ’87 and Elizabeth Wiellette ’85 2. 1995 classmates: Sara Leventhal Fleiss, Katharine Burrage Schmitt, Lilla Curran, and Diana Potter 3. Spencer Bush-Brown ’00 and Greg Cope ’71 4. Jonah Fay, Rena LaRusso, and Jenna Kaplan — all Class of 2004 — with Michael Robinson, Head of School 5. Virginia Pescosolido ’47 and Robert Ehrman ’37 6. Sally Baker and Eloise Lawrence ’88 7. Bob Bray ’53 and Bea Sanders, Director of Development 8. Joan Amick Kelly ’83 and Phoebe Gallagher Winder ’84 9. Headmaster emeritus Bob Hurlbut, Kathrene Tiffany Bell ’96 and Anderson Bell 10. Samantha Frick ’05 and guest 11. Richard Knapp ’90, David Glynn ’91, Betsy Glynn, Nashan Vassall ’95, Diana Walcott ’85, Ali Epker Ruch ’89, and Amanda Lawrence 12. Alison Connolly with daughters Brianna Connolly ’01 and Caitlin Connolly ’98

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1987 Class Representatives Mary Sarah Baker Fairweather Geoffrey Glick

Left: Mary Sarah Baker Fairweather ’87 cuddles with a furry friend at the Cape Cod MSPCA. Below: During her trip around the world, Jenna Glasser ’87 got to kiss a camel in the market in Fez, Morocco!

Sarah Conway is working in the

climate change office at the State Department and also serves on the US delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as the Lead Climate Finance Negotiator. “Needless to say it’s an interesting, important, and busy time as we move closer to the 21st Conference of the Parties to be held in Paris in December when we hope to finalize an ambitious, inclusive, and durable new global climate change agreement.” Jenna Glasser writes, “I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to travel around the world for 6 months, which of course extended slightly longer, and included an unforgettable dinner in Paris with Ashley Maddox. I fell completely in love with many parts of the world, (continued on page 24)

Alumni Achievement Award: SADIA SHEPARD ’90 Park proudly presented the 2014 Alumni Achievement Award to Sadia Shepard ’90 on Friday, November 21, 2014. During a special Morning Meeting presentation, Sadia shared a clip from her documentary In Search of the Bene Israel. She spoke about growing up in a multi-faith home, and her journeys in India and Pakistan as research for her books and documentaries.

Caption

Sadia spent the morning at Park visiting with students and faculty, and then visited several classrooms throughout the day, from a Grade II class through a Grade IX lunch. Sadia embodies many of Park School’s values, and it was wonderful to hear about her passions that led to the creation of her memoir as well as her film work. It was so wonderful to have this remarkable alumna back at Park to inspire others to dig deeper into their own narratives and backgrounds. Congratulations, Sadia!

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Class of 1987

continued from page 23 and had I been forced to stop and stay forever in almost any of the places I went, I would have been perfectly happy — except that my dog was back here in the States. So I’ve returned, and am settling in a new city — Los Angeles — filled with a lot of old friends, some Parkies among them. Having lunch with Ali Friedman Baird and Dana Jackson made me so thankful for friendships that last more than half a lifetime, and multiple geographies, and I’m looking forward to more adventures, closer to home, as I get to know LA. I’m still ruminating on travel, adventures, and the nature of identity at www.worthpackingin. com. Pictures from the 17 countries I visited, as well as from my US road trips before and after, can be found there too. Mary Sarah Baker Fairweather, husband Sam, and dog Axel are going on their second year on Cape Cod and look forward to some warm weather! Mary Sarah says, “I continue to love working at the Cape Cod MSPCA and feel pretty lucky to work every day with animals and an incredibly supportive staff and volunteer corps. We hosted the firstever MSPCA Polar Bear Plunge on Super Bowl Sunday to raise funds for our capital campaign to build a new adoption center. It was, to put it mildly, a refreshing experience!

Besides working for the MSPCA, I deploy a few times a year with the ASPCA on natural and man-made disasters throughout the US. It’s been fun being close to Nicole Barrick Chiasson on the Cape and staying in touch with so many from our class.” Because of a job promotion for her husband at American Express, Kate Miliken Vaughey left Scottsdale, Arizona for Bronxville, New York. “Given that my son and daughter have never seen snow, they are in for a major wake up call. The only consolation: no more scorpions!”

Clockwise from top left: William Arends Doherty. Son of Leslie Eckel ’91 and Tim Doherty. Grandson of the late Leslie Arends Eckel, former Kindergarten teacher; Lilla Curran ’95 and Kevin Nelson at their wedding in December 2013; Wyatt Knowles Bell, son of Kathrene Tiffany Bell ’96 and Anderson Bell.

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Class Representatives Zachary Cherry Alexander Rabinsky

Class Representatives Kathrene Tiffany Bell Nick Brescia Merrill Hawkins Katayoun Shahroki

1991 Class Representative Needed!

1992 Class Representative Needed!

1993 Class Representatives Jessica Ko Beck Jaime Quiros Alison Ross

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1994

Class Representative Liza Cohen Gates

Class Representatives Alan Bern Aba Taylor

1989 Class Representatives Dahlia Aronson Ian Glick Rebecca Lewin Scott

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1995 Class Representative Lilla Curran

Congratulations to Andrew Taylor for being nominated for a Best Chef Award by the James Beard Foundation! Andrew and Mike Wiley own two restaurants, Eventide Oyster Co, and Hugo’s, both in Portland, Maine. The two chefs are also in the process of opening a third restaurant, The Honey Paw.

1997 Class Representatives Sarah Conway Suzy McManmon Sarah Robbat Congratulations are in order for the Class of 1997 — both for achievements and for gathering the most class notes!

Ashley Hall-Casey and her hus-

band, Job, welcomed Cooper Hall Casey into the world on July 2, 2014.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: 1. Amy Lloyd McCarthy ’86 with Eliza Grossman ’14 2. Digging in on lobsters! 3. Katrina Newbury ’85 with friends!

4. Greg Cope ’71 with Peggy Lash Wolman ’60 5. Mitchell cousins enjoying the fun! 6. Donuteating contest! 7. Joan Amick Kelly ’83 and Will Kelly ’19 8. Rena LaRusso ’04 with Lilla Curran ’95 9. John Barkan ’85 goes head-tohead with Jacob Barkan ’17 10. Taking a break from the lobster to try out the playground.

11. Donut-eating contest second heat! 12. Class of 2014 friends 13. Under the awning 14. Lulu Pierce ’19, lobster (aka Will Kelly ’19) and Michael Robinson 15. Amos Lawrence ’21 takes the lead in the sack race! 16. Rose and Cassie Scott, daughters of Andrew Scott ’93 17. Julie Deland and Reeves Deland

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On a sunny Sunday in September, approximately 80 Park alumni and their families joined Head of School Michael Robinson to celebrate the end of the summer at the annual Park Alumni Clambake. Alumni from the classes ranging from 1953– 2014 were present (as well as future alumni from the Class of ’23!). Kids participated in the donut-eating contest and potato sack races, and everyone was thrilled to welcome back the life-sized lobster. A fun day was had by all!

Please mark your calendars and join us next September.

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Below: Last summer, Ashley Hall Casey ’97, her son Cooper, and Sintra Bailey Constant ’97, and her daughter Millie had a mini-reunion!

Right: Suzy McManmon ’97 ran the 2015 Boston Marathon on behalf of the American Stroke Association.

Far right: Nathan Henderson ’98 takes a well-deserved nap with new son Lewis Henderson. Nathan and Lewis’s mom, Racey Bingham, will be getting married on September 18, 2015.

“We’ll be sailing gorgeous local cargo down the coast with a lot of associated public programming about the seaweed commons, trade history, and a vision for more regional food shed.” Severine welcomes all Park folks to learn more about the events, lectures, exhibits, film screenings, and buying local groceries from the 178-foot schooner, the Harvey Gammage, www.thegreenhorns.net/ mainesailfreight They live in Brookline, and Ashley is currently getting her master’s degree in social work at Boston College. Brendan Cooney lives with his wife, Lilly, in Brookline. He regularly keeps up with Park friends!

Caroline Ress Lichter is a guidance counselor at Arlington High School.

She just celebrated her second anniversary with her husband in their home in Somerville. Chase Johnson completed his service in the Marine Corps last year and is now clerking on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans. In his spare time, he is working on his oyster shucking ability and Cajun dance moves.

Anna Lewis just celebrated her one-year anniversary with husband Alex Israel in February. They live in Santa Monica and have a puppy named Mortie. Stuart McNay married Tanya Tran on August 17, 2014. They currently live in Rhode Island. Frederick Warburg married Beckett Hart on August 30, 2014, and lives in the South End. Sarah Robatt-Primavera recently moved back to Concord with her Italian husband Daniele and son Leon.

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Jimmy Berylson lives in Boston

and works at an investment firm.

Elizabeth Hughes finished her architecture degree and has moved back to Boston. She is working for a small firm and is enjoying training for a busy season of triathlons.

Suzy McManmon has resettled in Boston and will be running the Boston Marathon on behalf of the American Stroke Association. Last year, Suzy raised over $25,000 for stroke research and hopes to raise $30,000 this year. To check on her results, visit www.tedysteam.com/ mcmanmon. Kelly O’Reilly lives in Denver and works as a writer.

Sintra Bailey Constant is “living in Atlanta with my husband Jon and 2-year-old daughter, Millie. I am an industrial real estate broker and Jon is managing director of a financial services office. I loved seeing Ashley and Coops and Vera and Annie over Christmas. This summer, when she’s not harvesting seaweed in Maine, Severine Fleming will be visiting Boston often as Greenhorns is coordinating a project in partnership with the Boston Public Markets and Crown of Maine.

1998 Class Representatives Lydia Hawkins Meg Lloyd Sarah Swettberg

1999 Class Representatives Colin Arnold Elizabeth Weyman Susanna Whitaker Waters Hilary Minot Capato and her husband moved from NYC to Boston in December 2014, “just in time for the blizzards, but it is great to be home and closer to family. I received my MBA from Columbia in 2013 and have been working at Epsilon in their healthcare vertical market since graduating. Overall, all is well — no kiddos, but we do have a beloved yellow lab who is spoiled rotten.” David Kenner lives in Beirut, Lebanon, where he is the Middle East editor for Foreign Policy Magazine. He travels frequently to Cairo, Instanbul, Tel Aviv, Gaza,

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Suruj, Ankara, and other spots in the region.

2000 Class Representative Jessica Whitman Seney We got this update from Michael Kavanagh’s mom, Stacey: Michael Kavanagh got engaged to Jane Heyer on September 28, 2014. They plan to wed in April 2016. We are thrilled. Michael is also attending Georgia Tech for his master’s, and is expected to graduate in 2016. We hope all is well at Park.”

2001 Class Representative Ben Bullitt Kate Haskell writes, “This year is a very special one for me. This spring marks 11 years of military service and this fall I will be getting married. I am currently a Naval instructor pilot in Pensacola, Florida.

My fiancé is a Naval flight officer stationed in Nevada. We will be getting married over Labor Day weekend at my family’s home in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.”

2002 Class Representative Needed!

Robert Campbell writes, “I am currently working at Goldman Sachs in their investment banking division in London. I have been

ALUMNI MORNING MEETING SPEAKERS Park was delighted to welcome back three alumni back to Park for special Morning Meeting presentations during the 2014 –15 School year: First to visit was Adam Rutherford ’01, who came to speak on December 8th. Adam talked about passion, and specifically his passions that were fostered at Park. Adam was always interested in planes, to which his Park teachers can attest, and this passion eventually developed into his career as a pilot for American Airlines. Music is another passion Adam had since he was at Park, which has continued to be a hobby to this day. Adam asked students, ‘Where will your passion take you?’ ‘What role will passion play in your life?’ He encouraged the students to find their passion and work hard to turn it into a career or hobby. Thank you Adam for sharing your passions with Park!

Vanessa Kerry ’92 came to Morning Meeting on January 16th as part of Park’s Global Citizenship Speaker Series. Vanessa is the CEO of Seed Global Health, which is a non-profit partnered with the Peace Corps. Seed’s mission is “to strengthen health education and delivery in places facing a dire shortage of health professionals by working with partner countries to meet their long-term health care human resource needs.” The program places health professionals alongside local medical and nursing faculty counterparts to provide training and services in resource-limited areas. Vanessa cited her time at Park as a place that supported her to explore her surroundings. Park is so proud of Vanessa’s accomplishments, and we are so pleased Vanessa came back to share them with us!

Sadia Shepard ’90 also spoke at Morning Meeting in December when she received the 2014 Alumni Achievement Award. Please see page 23 for the full account.

Top: Adam Rutherford ’01 (center) gives a vibraphone lesson to music teachers Mark Vialva and Betty Hillmon. Center: 1992 classmates Alyssa Burrage Scott (left) and Sarah Hall Weigel (right) congratulated Vanessa Kerry after her presentation in January. Bottom: Comfort Halsey Cope, Alice Perera Lucey ’77, Sadia Shepard ’90, and Rena LaRusso ’04.

> ALUMNI, if you are interested in coming back to share something about yourself at Morning Meeting, please contact Director of Alumni Affairs Rena LaRusso ’04 at alumni@parkschool.org

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e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e Park alumni from the classes of 2011–2015 returned to Park for the Annual Alumni Bagel Breakfast right before Yule Festival. This annual event has grown into a tradition for young alumni to reconnect with former 1 teachers and friends over bagels, before leading the crowd at Yule Fest with the perennial favorite, “Children Go Where I Send Thee!”

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4 1. TOP ROW: Zach Herman ’16, Rohan Dhir ’14, JJ DeMarco ’16, Caleb Coleman ’16, Thaddeus Howe ’16, Robert Crawford ’14, Max Haigney ’15, Thacher Formisano ’16 BOTTOM ROW: Will Adam ’16, Jonah Johnson ’16, David Tsai ’15, Orlando Cruz ’15, Emmett Hoins ’15 2. Wiley Holton ’12, Hannah Hecht ’11, Alexis Kelly ’11, Kaleigh Mentzer ’11, Catharine Hemp ’11, Margo Smith 3. Jaleel Williams ’12 and Alan Rivera 4. Eliza Grossman ’14 and Ellie Formisano ’14 5. Caroline Beecher ’15, Jurnee Pelier ’15, Moni Sparrow ’15, Jonathan DeJesus ’15, Julia Holton ’15 Kate Kelly ’15, Sewina Yu’15, and Matt Kaufman ’15 6. Wiley Holton ’12, Jake PhilbinCross ’11, Hannah Hecht ’11, Alexis Kelly ’11, Kaleigh Mentzer ’11, Catharine Hemp ’11, Alice Perera Lucey ’77, and Kathy Coen FRONT ROW: Sarah Clavijo ’11 and Amy Simpson ’11 7. Jake Philbin-Cross ’11, Paul Toussaint, and Daniel Baumel ’15

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a product design company called Foray. “The mission of Foray is to reimagine medical devices as beautiful consumer products. Our hope is that by creating objects which are both superior functionally but also more appealing aesthetically, we can combat the stigma associated with traditional products and people’s ensuing reluctance to use them.” Congratulations to Katherine Gormley on her marriage to Tyler Saeli on October 18, 2014.

Park alumni included Margaret Gormley Donahue ’99, Caroline Gormley ’04, Pearson Smith Alspach ’02, Page Smith ’05, Philip Martignetti ’03, Christina Croll ’03, and Samantha Bendetson ’02. Current Trustee Conan

Laughlin and former Trustee David Croll were also in attendance.

2004 Top left: Katherine Gormley ’02 married Tyler Saeli on October 18th, 2014

Class Representative Steven Fox Eliza Cope is excited to be a Park teaching apprentice during the 2015-16 school year!

Top right: 2003 classmates Oliver Ames and Dwight Curtis, along with a close friend from Exeter, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro last August.

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Left: Simon Ebbott ’06 played golf in Nepal on a recent visit!

Class Representative Lily Bullitt Sabrina Lee writes, “I’m a first year

here for 5 years this summer after moving from NYC and it has been absolutely amazing living in Chelsea and working in the city.

Being a British citizen (my father is English) has made European travel on a weekly basis very convenient.

I have been to most countries in the EU with the exception of Denmark and that is next on my list! I have been spending a lot of time in Sweden, as that is where my girlfriend is from. Heading to Barcelona this spring and Cuba.”

Fellow classmate Claire Davis lives in Dublin, Ireland, and goes by the stage name Cal Folger Day. She is a songwriter and performer and in May 2013, released her first EP Drom-d’reau. Her second official

release was Adornament in February 2015. She also produces chapbooks and has been a featured artist at the Dublin, Brooklyn, and Washington DC zine fests. Eleanor Foote graduated from Stanford in 2010 and worked at the Parthenon Group in San Francisco for four years. She is now an MBA candidate at Harvard Business School. After college and two years as a police officer in Seattle, Daniel Resnick-Ault enrolled at Brown Medical School, where he is now finishing up his fourth year. He is still deciding where to go for his residency next year so can figure out where he will be living for the next four years!

2003 Class Representative Diana Rutherford Oliver Ames and Dwight Curtis, along with a close friend from Phillips Exeter, successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro this past August at end of an arduous six-day climb of the Umbwe/Western Breach route. They summited at 6:00 a.m. and were treated to magnificent views of the roof of Africa.

Dwight is onto pursuing graduate school, and Oliver plans to climb Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, in Alaska this coming spring. Hal Ebbott, along with two other partners, recently started

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

student at Harvard Law School, where I am preparing for a career as a public defender. I have spent the last two years working for a civil rights group in DC on workers’ rights and plan to continue doing anti-poverty work after law school.

This summer, I will be living in New York, working for the Bronx Defenders. Aldel Brown ’04 is actually in my same section at law school!

2006 Class Representative McCall Cruz Madeleine Mitchell graduated from Williams in 2013, is currently living in Boston and working at Fidelity. Simon Ebbott writes, “I currently live and work in Ho Chi Minh City, where I am teaching English, math, and science to grade four students in several of the public schools. I am planning on moving to New Zealand this summer to live and work there for a while. I

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Minnesota, I have enjoyed all the opportunities to get outside with other students who also love the outdoors.” Carter Rose will graduate from St. George’s School this spring.

2012 Class Representatives Enya Meade Jaleel Williams The Class of 2012 is waiting to hear about news from colleges this spring, but is balancing out the nerves with some travel. Jaleel Williams went to Disney World with some of his high school friends, and Wiley Holton is also in Florida watching some Red Sox spring training. Sophia Clarke is on a school trip in Europe. Enya Meade took a trip to England and then jetted off to Florida as well!

Above: Thomas Cope ’07 had a mini reunion with his former advisor Wanda Holland Greene in San Francisco.

2013

Right: Josh Ruder ’09 completed this sculpture, “Together, Alone,” in 2014.

Crafted from marble, granite, and wood, it measures 24.5 x 50 x 4 inches.

Class Representatives Maddie Hurley Kat Mitchell

2014

recently came back from a trip to Nepal where I got to drive motorcycles and play golf!”

2007 Class Representatives Thomas Cope Benjamin Schwartz

Entering Student Outdoor Program (AESOP) leader of incoming college freshmen. She was recently named an Office of Intercultural Education Fellow specializing in student-faculty connections and a community-engaged research for her work on the invisibility of homelessness.

Go, Lydia!

Annie Goodridge was named Female Field Athlete of the Week by the NCAC. Annie currently attends Oberlin College, and is on the women’s track and field squad.

She claimed first in the women’s triple jump, and finished second in the long jump against a meet against Denison University. Congratulations, Annie!

2009

2011

Class Representatives Mercedes Garcia-Orozco Cary Williams

Class Representatives Grace Donnell-Kilmer Eliza Thomas

Josh Ruder is a junior at Brown University, majoring in visual arts with a focus on sculpture. His summer plans include interning at a sculpture studio and foundry in North Carolina. Josh is also a passionate rock climber.

Eliza Thomas is a freshman at Carleton College and loves it so far.

“It’s been great to get involved with the women’s club soccer and lacrosse teams, and I am an active member of the outdoor club called CANOE (Carleton Association for Nature and Outdoor Enthusiasts).

I’ve also been volunteering at the local middle school once a week through a mentorship program called Eye To Eye, which has been very fun and also challenging.

Although it’s been a cold winter in

Thomas Cope will be graduat-

ing from Connecticut College this spring with a degree in classics, and is currently interning at NBC sports.

Alexa Zilberfarb wrote to say she graduated in May 2014 with a degree in geology from Scripps College in Claremont, California.

“I am now working for an environmental consulting company in Washington, D.C.!”

2008 Class Representatives Manizeh Afridi Marielle Rabins Lydia Mitchell is completing her

senior year at Bates College was a Habitat for Humanity Annual

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2010 Class Representatives Annie Goodridge Gilad Seckler Michela Thomsen

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

Class Representatives Ellie Formisano Olivia Mills Rohan Dhir is attending Belmont Hill School. Ellie Formisano is approaching spring term at Phillips Academy, after a nice two-week break skiing in Colorado and Vermont. “I’ve been in touch with a ton of my Park friends, and plan on seeing some of them over break. I visited Park last week and caught up with my advisor from last year, Mr. Rivera, and my Spanish teacher for three years, Ms. Come.” Olivia Mills writes, “I’m halfway through my third term at Boston Latin School, and also went skiing for break. I have been in touch with a lot of my friends from Park, and we are planning on seeing each other soon! I also have a couple classes with Livia Kelly at BLS; she went to Park from Pre-K–7th grade so we see each other every day! Also I am going to try out for lacrosse in the spring.”

NEEKON VAFA ’12 In October 2014, Park alum Neekon Vafa and fellow Milton Academy student Harry Kwon went to MIT’s Internet of Things Hackathon. Neekon and Harry were the only two high school students participating, most of the attendees were working professionals. Neekon and Harry got to choose which team they wanted to join, and ended up picking the ‘Perfect Playlist’ project, which was awarded first prize! “Although we were younger than the other team members, we both understood what they understood and what they were saying,” says Neekon. “We also contributed our own ideas and felt very comfortable as part of the team.” Neekon’s team were awarded first prize. Congratulations, Neekon!

Neekon Vafa ’12 (standing on right in blue) and Milton Academy classmate Harry Kwon (standing on left) work with their team members at the MIT Internet of Things Hackathon.

http://www.milton.edu/news/14-10_mit_hackathon.cfm

Past Faculty David Lawton and Phil Gambone recently visited Ruth Williams,

who was seriously ill this winter but is doing much better. Ruth is moving to an assisted living center and would love to hear from her former students and colleagues.

Please write or visit her at: Ruth Williams The Scandinavian Living Center 206 Waltham Street, Apt. #206 West Newton, MA 02468

Marriages 1992 Elizabeth Sandman and

Mark Norian June 20, 2014 1995 Lilla Curran and Kevin Nelson

December 2013 1997 Anna Lewis and Alex Israel

February 2014 2000 Jeremy Leventhal and

Caroline Scheinfeld April 18, 2015

Left to right: On Mother’s Day, Julia Lloyd Johannsen ’93 gave birth to Linda Rose Johannsen. She is pictured here with big brothers Marshall (left) and Oscar (right); Jon Casey, husband of Ashley Hall Casey ’97, holds baby Yoda aka Cooper.

2002 Katherine Gormley and

Tyler Saeli October 18, 2014 2003 Jamie Cohen and Hagai Ovadia

Arrivals

1996 Kathrene Tiffany Bell

1991 Leslie Eckel and Tim Doherty

and Anderson Bell Wyatt Knowles Bell October 30, 2014

William Arends Doherty September 24, 2014

October 18, 2014

1993 Julia Lloyd Johannsen

Christina Croll and Field Failing

and Pete Johannsen Linda Rose Johannsen May 10, 2015

December 13, 2014

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

1997 Ashley Hall Casey and Jon Casey

Cooper Casey July 2, 2014 Nia Lutch and Michael Kreppel Caroline Deupree Kreppel September 25, 2014

31

Left to right: New arrivals belonging to Eliza DrachmanJones Quincy ’98, Sarah Shoukimas Ryan ’97, and Nia Lutch ’97

Sarah Shoukimas Ryan

and Michael Ryan Caroline Marie Ryan November 22, 2014 1998 Eliza Drachman-Jones Quincy

and Rich Quincy Louisa Anne Quincy December 8, 2014 Nathan Henderson and Racey Henderson Lewis Henderson April 7, 2015 2000 Charlie Young and Laura Young

Georgia Robert Young May 2014

Jessica Stone Baker ’89

J

essica Stone Baker lost her courageous fight against breast cancer in April. Taken too young at 40, she had a very special spirit and was a giving and loving healer.

A graduate of The Park School, Concord Academy, and Occidental College, Jessica pursued her passion for healing, and integrated the concepts of Ayurveda, yoga, and shiatsu.

She was a certified Ayurvedic practitioner, a graduate of Boulder College of Massage Therapy, and held an associate’s degree in advanced techniques. A registered yoga teacher, Jessica founded The Mindful Body in Boulder, Colorado.

She is survived by her loving parents, Randy Stone and Jim Hahn, and dear family and friends.

The memorial service will be private.

Donations can be made to the Jessica Stone Baker Scholarship Fund at The Park School, for girls of diversity, 171 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445. A future date will be announced to celebrate Jessica’s life with family and friends.

In Memoriam Jessica Stone Baker ’89

Norman Leventhal

James G. Sise, MD ’60

April 19, 2015

April 5, 2015 Grandfather of Sara Leventhal Fleiss ’95, Rebecca Leventhal ’97, Alexander Leventhal ’97, Jeremy Leventhal ’00, and Evan Leventhal ’05

January 26, 2014 Brother of Richard Sise ’67

John F. Bok

September 27, 2014 Father to Alexander ’74 and Geoffrey Bok ’76 Grandfather of Kenzie Bok ’04, Abby Bok ’06, and Oliver Bok ’10 Susan Coppedge

December 6, 2014 Stepmother to Schuyler Coppedge ’88, Walker Coppedge ’91, Luke Coppedge ’95, and Sophie Coppedge ’00 Nicholas Frost ’82

September 25, 2013 Brother of Elisabeth Frost ’72 and Kitta Frost ’74

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In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to the Moore Free Library of Newfane (23 West St. Newfane, VT 05345), the Brattleboro Music Center (38 Walnut St. Brattleboro, VT 05301) or the Westport River Watershed Alliance (1151 Main Rd. Westport, MA 02790).

Elizabeth Simonds Maynard

August 8, 2014 Mother to Edwin Maynard ’71, Elizabeth Gordon ’72, Daniel Maynard ’76, Virginia Maynard Swain ’74 Aunt to Holly Simonds ’87, Elizabeth Simonds Thompson ’80, and Nina Simonds Trowbridge ’82 J. Louis Newell ’50

March 2, 2015 Brother of Anne Newell Robertson ’54

There will be a celebration of Targ’s life on Saturday, August 22 at 2 p.m. at the Westport United Methodist Church in Westport, MA.

Margaret ‘Targ’ Wicks Spicer

April 9, 2015 Mother of Douglas Spicer ’74, Elizabeth Spicer ’71, Margaret Spicer ’77, and Matthew Spicer ’69.

Wife of John Spicer.

The Park Bulletin | Spring 2015

LOST ALUMNI…

) FOUND! ( ----------Our alumni are some of Park’s strongest advocates and are great role models for our current students. We would love to keep EVERY ALUM up-to-date with current Park programs, achievements, and school events. Unfortunately, out of 3,000+ alumni, we have lost touch with about half.

This past February, the Park Alumni Office reached out to its vast network of parents of alumni to try to reconnect with former Park students. The response has been overwhelming — so far, we’ve updated more than 200 records! We are so grateful to the many wonderful parents that are helping us stay connected with their alumni children. Thanks to them, here’s just a couple of the folks we found: Cameron Kelly

LYDIA MITCHELL, CLASS OF 2008, was a Habitat for Humanity AESOP (annual entering student outdoor program) leader of incoming college freshmen at Bates College. She was also recently named an Office of Intercultural Education Fellow specializing in studentfaculty connections and a community-engaged research fellow at Bates College for her work on the invisibility of homelessness. She is currently completing her senior year at Bates.

Cal Folger Day

CLAIRE DAVIS, CLASS OF 2002, is a Dublin-based songwriter and performer under the name Cal Folger Day. You can find out more on her website: http://calfolgerday.net

DOUGLAS PRESLEY, CLASS OF 1999, is a national security policy specialist living in Alexandria, Virginia.

He is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy and the Harvard Kennedy School. And as a small bit of trivia — during his time as a senior cadet the Air Force Academy, he appeared on one of Wheel of Fortune’s Denver shows!

Help us find more lost alumni!

Parents of Alumni, is your alum still receiving Park mailings at your home? Let’s fix that!

Alumni, are you reading this Bulletin in your parents’ home, but you’re just visiting?

Bring us up to date!

To update your (or your child’s) address, phone, and email, please call Sara Tollerud at 617.274.6023 or email alumni@parkschool.org.

J THANK YO

U!

The Park School 171 Goddard Avenue Brookline, Massachusetts 02445

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