News of the School Spring 2014 Park Tudor School
John Williams to retire in June
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fter a 41-year career at Park Tudor, Director of Fine Arts John Williams will officially retire from that role at the end of this school year. However, he won’t be leaving Park Tudor behind. He’ll move on to a new role as emeritus director of fine arts. In announcing his retirement, Williams said, “I’ve loved teaching Park Tudor students for the last 41 years and overseeing the Fine Arts program. I am happy to move on to a new phase of my life and delighted that it includes a continuing professional relationship with this school that I love so dearly.” Head of School Matthew Miller says Williams will continue to “play a key strategic role in supporting friends and alumni of the school, cultivating and highlighting exceptional moments in the Arts, and helping to maintain Park Tudor’s
deep commitment to the Arts. John has long been synonymous with the Arts at Park Tudor, where he has overseen an extraordinary faculty and developed a program that is second to none.” Current Assistant Director of Fine Arts Heather Teets will replace Williams as director of fine arts beginning July 1. Teets joined Park Tudor in 2001. She teaches photography and graphic design and is a member of the Academic Affairs Committee. “Heather is a passionate educator, a skilled teacher and administrator, and a tireless advocate for the Arts,” says Miller. “She and John will work closely in the coming months to ensure that the transition is seamless.” Williams will be honored at end-ofyear events, including the spring vocal concert. Stay tuned for additional details.
John Williams
Focus on faculty • Park Tudor hosted a consortium of community-engagement and service-learning facilitators from 11 area private schools in November, convened by Community Engagement Coordinator Cammy Dubie and Upper School Counselor Joan Grinkmeyer. The group meets quarterly to exchange ideas and resources to increase volunteerism and support the schools’ commitment to service. The 2013-2014 school year marks the second year for the group, which continues to grow in number. • Athletic Director Brad Lennon presented a workshop on non-public school athletic administration at the National High School Athletic Directors Conference in Anaheim, CA in December. The conference was held in conjunction with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association annual meetings.
• Dr. John Daves, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, was featured in the February 2014 issue of “The Indiana News,” which focused on “Celebrating African American World Changers.”
• Upper School Spanish teacher Francisco Hidalgo recently trained teachers at an International Baccalaureate workshop in Los Angeles that prepares schools to offer the IB program.
• Lower School music teacher Jennifer Nie sang with the Indianapolis Opera in the Viva Verdi concert on November 17. The concert, “Giuseppe Verdi’s Greatest Hits,” was presented by the Indianapolis Opera and the Italian Heritage Society of Indiana to celebrate the composer’s 200th anniversary and the 2013 Year of Italian Culture in the United States. Nie also sang in the chorus of the Indianapolis Opera Company production of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” in December.
• Upper School History teacher Jeff Johnson completed “Crisis and Trauma in Schools,” a graduate workshop at Butler University. He also participated in the workshop “Tools to Respond to the Antibullying Legislation (HEA 1423)” at Butler University.
• Latin and Classical Greek teacher Clifford Hull continues in his multi-year role as a member of the AP Latin Exam Development • Boys Lacrosse Coach Tim Clark was fea- Committee, writing the AP Latin exam for tured in the November issue of “Lacrosse” 2015. He is one of three high-school teachmagazine. He was profiled for his contri- ers who, together with three college profesbutions to lacrosse and his commitment to sors, serve on this committee. increasing diversity within the sport and making it accessible to more youth.
• Social Studies Department Chair Sven Dubie and Upper School Psychologist and Learning Support Specialist Lisa Mercurio attended the 2013 Annual Conference of the Independent Schools Association of the Central States in St. Louis in November. They took part in sessions focusing on creating a positive and inclusive school community that contributes to better mental health and learning; developing strategies to nurture healthy interpersonal relationships and nip bullying in the bud; and exploring societal perceptions of gender among school-aged children.
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