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Judy Williams, former Lower School faculty, wrote: “After ‘retiring’ from PDS in 2009 my husband Charlie and I accepted teaching jobs at The American School in Switzerland (TASIS). We enjoyed four great years there, teaching an international student population Monday through Friday and traveling on weekends. We returned to the States in 2013 and are enjoying retirement in Bridgehampton, NY. We like to play tennis and golf, and we take lots of walks on the beach. We have been lucky to escape the cold northern winters by heading to Florida and we take a long trip every August. Last summer we went to Ireland, England, Belgium and Holland. Our older daughter, Christina ’94, is a trauma surgeon in Cincinnati. She tries to spend three months every year with Doctors Without Borders. Our younger daughter, Austin ’97, lives with her husband and two wonderful children in Denver. She just completed a Master’s degree program in cultural anthropology and has started a doctoral Former Lower School faculty program. That’s it in a member Judy Williams, with her nutshell. Happy Birthday husband Charlie and their two PDS.”
GJ Melendez-Torres ’07 in London with former Upper School English teacher, Mary Williams
Mary also wrote, “Catching up with G. J. brought back a vivid memory from my very first Friday of teaching at PDS: September, 2003; last period, Friday afternoon; room 204. The Class of ’07 had just entered grade IX, and my amazing section settled immediately into working on the writing prompt I had suggested. As I leaned against the window ledge, admiring their focus, their enthusiasm, their responsiveness, and their seven minute silence, I was certain that I had landed in a very special place! And what a lovely array of memories have followed over 11 years in the classroom, and, since retiring in 2014, in my continuing work in support of the Lively Arts Program and Imagine the Possibilities.”
Former Faculty News
memories of my 22 years on the PDS faculty—fourth grade plays, eighth grade musicals, concerts galore, etc. etc. I loved almost every minute of it!! Please convey my greetings to former students and faculty friends. Hopefully on some trip back East I can stop by and say ‘hi!’ Love to all.” Jan would love to hear from former students and colleagues. Her email is: JanWestrick0076@comcast.net.
Kate Winton wrote: “John (Baldwin) and I started teaching at the Taipei American School last August and love living in Taiwan! It’s been great fun teaching internationally, and Taipei is a perfect base for amazing travels in SE Asia — Xmas in Thailand, Chinese New Year scuba diving in the Philippines, and spring break cherry blossoms in Japan. This summer we’ll be sailing in Vanuatu, sharing a yurt on the Steppes with Mongolian friends, and seeing orangutans in Borneo, so no complaints beyond our missing Erin (Burns) ’08 and Kelsey (Burns) ’10 and good friends stateside. We welcome visitors!”
grandchildren
Mary Williams, former Upper School English teacher, wrote: “While traveling in Europe this summer, my granddaughter, Amani Speller, and I spent a delightful afternoon with G. J. Melendez-Torres ’07, who was passing through London en route to presenting a paper in Dublin, Ireland. G.J. has accepted an appointment as Assistant Professor of Health Technology Assessment, Epidemiology and Evidence Synthesis at Warwick Medical School in Coventry, UK, that began in October.” Erin Burns ’08 with John Baldwin and Kate Winton SPRING 2016