Panther Pride

Our families are well aware that the foundation of a Pinewood education is our exceptional teachers. To shed light on what makes our educators truly remarkable, we turned to our Campus Heads for their insights.

Sarah Haun Lower Campus Head

I am inspired daily by the Lower Campus faculty. Each teacher is so unique and talented in their own right but together, collectively as a group, not only do they get along well with each other, they truly enjoy being together and act more as a "family" than simply as colleagues. The support they show for each other is akin to the support family members show to one another, both in joyful times and in more trying times. We have a "Sunshine Committee" at all three campuses whose members' job it is to recognize and share with others the events in one another's lives that are worth noting - weddings, births, and graduations as well as the more trying times when we may need a bit of extra support such as caring for aging parents or deaths in the family. As one example, my mother passed away recently and of course, it was an extremely sad and emotional time for me. While I was away and spending time with family on the east coast, I never had to worry about things being taken care of at school - I knew my Pinewood family would happily and proactively fill in any gaps that may have occurred due to my absence. Upon my return after my mother's memorial services, the love, support, kindness, and true concern I felt from the Pinewood faculty made all the difference. Together, we celebrate the good times and are there for each other during the more difficult times as well. Working collaboratively in this type of environment makes coming to work each day such a joyful and uplifting experience. The love and care we feel for one another are obvious to the students. Having happy, supported, fulfilled teachers creates an environment conducive to developing happy, healthy, and fulfilled students. It really is a simple formula and at Lower Campus, we have it down pat.

Brynn Hambly Middle Campus Head

Pinewood's Middle Campus teachers are more than just experts in their fields; they are compassionate individuals who genuinely care about nurturing kind students that contribute positively to our community. Recently, I witnessed one of the most heartwarming acts of community love. I saw a teacher helping a distressed student search for a lost item. Soon after, another teacher joined in the search. To my surprise, on their own volition, a PE class stopped their game to lend a helping hand, which ultimately resulted in finding the lost item. Through their actions, Pinewood teachers model the values of kindness and compassion, showing students that their actions can have a positive impact on our community.

Gabriel Lemmon Upper Campus Head

I am most inspired by our teachers' willingness to prioritize the learning experience of our students. Our teachers work so tremendously hard to develop engaging and meaningful lessons for our students. Teachers must have mastery of the curricula, utilize best practices in pedagogy, and most importantly, develop caring and supportive relationships with their students. The ability to achieve all of this is both an art and a science--and luckily for us, it happens daily at Pinewood.

Pinewood is a place that cares deeply about individuals. Our teachers live that mission and vision every day. Students constantly talk about how approachable, understanding, and supportive their teachers are. Our teachers welcome new students with open arms, find specific ways to build each student's confidence, and devote themselves to their subject areas in a way that inspires. All of this transcends the classroom and creates a culture of deep caring.

In February, Pinewood students Myles Fox '23, Autumn Porter-Shulz '24, and Derrick Harris '27 collaborated with the Upper Campus DEI committee and administration to host an impactful and uplifting Black History Month assembly for our high school community. The event featured a remarkable performance by Oriki Arts, a visiting group that showcased the culture and historical movements of the African diaspora. Myles, Autumn, and Derrick also contributed to the performance by sharing insights on historical eras and their significance. The assembly provided a powerful reminder to everyone present of the remarkable resilience and contributions of Black people throughout history and in our world today.

Our junior and senior Pinewood Scholars Program (PSP) students recently presented their project ideas to their Upper Campus teachers and administrators. Over a catered lunch, students introduced their oneminute “elevator pitches” detailing their project focus and their “ask” to the community. The students did a beautiful job summarizing their passion projects! Bravo!