2022 2023
T H E FAY S C H O O L
FUTURE LEADERS OF THE WORLD
• We enhanced our approach, processes, and procedures for campus safety. • We created and hired for the position of Director of Curriculum so that your child’s teachers continue to grow and develop to support our ambitious approaches to teaching and learning. • We awarded our second annual Gena Lewis Distinguished Teacher Award to First Grade Teacher, Linleigh Alford. • We created our first ever Gator Art Car and participated in our first-ever Art Car Parade alongside 250+ vehicles and entries from 23 states along with Canada and Mexico.
LETTER FROM THE
HEAD OF SCHOOL MORGAN B. SCOVILLE, M.Ed. As a school 33 years young, I’m proud to say that the 2022-2023 school year may have been our best yet! Your children have benefited in many ways as Fay has boldly assumed a leadership position in early childhood and elementary education. We attribute this success to three key areas: the dedication of our faculty and staff, the trust and confidence that Fay families put into our school, and the bold and innovative priorities laid out in our Board of Trustees approved Strategic Plan. Results speak for themselves, and we offer you this list of accomplishments from the past year to make our case: • We created a myriad of valuable community partnerships with organizations such as the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Urban Harvest, and more. • The Independent School Association of the Southwest voted The Fay School into full membership and accreditation without hesitation. • We reached 100% participation in our Annual Fund for the second year in a row, an unprecedented accomplishment. • We completed installation of our research backed Bienenstock Natural Playground, the first for any school in Texas.
• Second Grader and Head of School for The Day, Ms. Alia Itkin, declared that The Fay School would have its first ever “All School Taylor Swift Dance Party!”
As we look to our Strategic Plan as our North Star, it is obvious that The Fay School has elevated its position, not just in the early childhood and elementary landscape, but in the entire independent school landscape. We are proud of Fay’s incredible teachers and staff, appreciative of your support and trust, and eager to keep deliberately building and educating the future leaders of this world! Thank you for making the 2022-2023 school year one of impact, intention, and success because when The Fay School is thriving, it is your children who benefit the most. Sincerely,
• Our Admissions Office enjoyed another record-breaking number of applications. • We held our first ever two-class musical at Houston Christian Highschool. • We all enjoyed the first ever Bingo Night and Movie Night to build community and to enjoy our outdoor oriented campus at night. • Fifth Grade Leaders exhibited authentic leadership when they created and organized our first-ever Dog Day! • A group of future leaders sang the National Anthem at the Space Cowboys, a first for our school! • Fifty-five professional development sessions were attended by faculty and staff. • Principal Sherman’s proposal was selected by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) to share how we implemented Trust Based Observations, alongside creator Craig Randall. • Head of School Morgan Scoville was selected by the NAIS to serve as a Faculty Member for the NAIS Institute for New Heads, one of only seven sitting heads to hold this honor. • We completed the update of all our classroom furniture to better support our Project Based Learning Units.
Morgan B. Scoville, M.Ed. Head of School
2022-2023
THE FAY SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES Omar Samji BOARD CHAIR
Jas Brar Sabrina Colgin Lauren Duke Marie Fay Evnochides
Erin Jones Justin Leighton Jared Levinthal Jeff Margolis Sarah Pollock
FOUNDING HEAD OF SCHOOL
Megan Pond
Alicia Gordy
Kate Withall
Jason Itkin
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I’m happy to report that the 2022-23 school year was one of the best in school history. The Fay School is a special place for everyone in our community, and we are extremely fortunate to have a myriad of powerful positive forces that continue to propel the school forward in its efforts to lead early childhood education. These forces include:
LETTER FROM THE
BOARD CHAIR
• A strong and established Head of School and Leadership Team, with Morgan Scoville completing his fifth year at Fay. • A committed and enthusiastic parent community, which just achieved its second-in-a-row 100% Annual Fund participation (which is truly remarkable). • Steady enrollment and long-term financial stability, with the student body just exceeding 300 and stable reserves.
OMAR SAMJI
• A robust strategic plan that focuses on Fay’s key differentiators, including outdoor and experiential learning, leadership development through emotional intelligence, and innovation.
During the 2022-23 school year, the Board undertook a thoughtful and deliberate exercise to responsibly and creatively capitalize on this confluence of the above positive factors to benefit the school for years to come. Our goal was to determine how best to invest in and improve our campus and learning spaces to ensure The Fay School remains the best early childhood and elementary school in Houston and beyond. Looking forward, we will continue to capitalize and expand on this work. To assist us in our efforts, the Board voted to add four new members and received notice that Fay has officially received accreditation from the Independent School Association of the Southwest (ISAS).
While the Board’s role at Fay focuses on strengthening the school for future children, Morgan and the Leadership Team are focused on ensuring that the resources available today are used to enhance our children’s experience right now. Whether it is innovative professional development for our teachers, or unique experiential learning resources, Fay has the luxury of opting for the very best resources available to fulfill the hopes and dreams that each parent has for our child’s education at Fay – a place (as Morgan reminds us) that Marie Fay Evnochides founded on the principle that children come first. The coming years promise to be exciting, enriching, and impactful. Fay’s present and future have never been brighter and more exciting than it is today. I would be remiss if I did not recognize both Marie Fay Evnochides’ founding vision of the school, and the numerous community members on whose shoulders we stand today. We have a very exciting journey ahead as we build upon the last 33 years and take action to ensure the health and vibrancy of The Fay School for the next 33 years and beyond.
Sincerely,
Omar Samji Board Chair
PHILANTHROPY
AT FAY, WE SEE FUNDRAISING AS ONE OF MANY NATURAL OUTCOMES TO DELIVERING ON OUR VISION EACH AND EVERY DAY.
LETTER FROM THE
DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
The Fay School community is strong and leading the way thanks to your generosity. Thank you for allowing us to focus on our most valuable asset: your children and their education. We are deeply grateful for your support and partnership. With Gator Pride,
Lisa Arrington
LISA ARRINGTON
Director of Advancement
The Advancement Team consists of the Director of Advancement, Assistant Director of Advancement, Director of Admissions, Director of Extended Day, and the Director of Communications. The goal of this team is to provide innovative and future-focused tactics to promote the mission and strategic plan of the school. The Advancement Team strives to create a culture of philanthropy and engagement amongst the various constituencies. The Advancement Team deliberately creates opportunities to further solidify The Fay School as a Texas and national leader of early childhood and elementary education. Lisa Arrington Director of Advancement Jasmyn Artis Director of Communications
Since I joined the Fay School community in June, I have continued to be impressed by the strong support and generosity of parents, Trustees, faculty, staff, grandparents and friends. The 2022-23 school year was no exception, and community engagement and giving was at an all-time high. Philanthropy at Fay during the last year showed record support. The TEAM FAY Annual Fund, led by Sami and Justin Grefé, reached our goal of 100% participation from faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Fay families for the second year in a row. Every single member of our current Fay family came together as one team to support our efforts. This record figure is far above the national independent school average of 66% and is evidence of the true strength of the Fay community. Our devoted Parents’ Club, led by Co-Chairs James Spitz and Kristina Brar, created community and
connection for all Fay families. From introducing new events like the Fall Festival and an All-School Roller Rink party, planning beloved traditions like the Book Fair, to staffing Garden Days, the Parents’ Club efforts laid the groundwork for more frequent opportunities for parent involvement and engagement on campus. The Fay School experience is enhanced by this devoted group of parents whose impact goes far. The 2022-23 school year welcomed a new tradition, the Backyard Bash. Chaired by Libbie Libby and Kranthi Patel, the evening was a true success on every metric. The Backyard Bash committee transformed the Fay campus into a fun, festive, and elevated food and drink festival. While the mood was more casual, the event was a beautiful celebration of our community and a record-breaking fundraising success, raising more than $500,000 in support of our students’ educational experience.
Megan McNair Director of Admissions Rachel Rubin Director of Extended Day Lauren Sposato Assistant Director of Advancement
2022-2023
ANNUAL FUND RESULTS It is essential to take the opportunity every year to present our fundraising results and share the impact on your children. This continued level of support translated to an immediate impact for your children. During the 2022-2023 Annual Fund Campaign, the Fay community came together all in as TEAM FAY with 100% of faculty & staff, the Board of Trustees, and current Fay families participating with their support.
2023-2024
PRELIMINARY ANNUAL FUND RESULTS After the five-week 2023-2024 parent campaign, the Annual Fund triumphantly raised over $500,000 and saw 100% Fay Family, Faculty & Staff, and Board of Trustee participation in support of the vision of The Fay School for the third year in a row. Thank you to the 76 families who supported at the 1991 Society Circle Level with gifts of $2,500 and above. We are grateful for Annual Fund Chairs, Lina Ortega and Joseph Ngo, the dedicated group of parents who made up the TEAM FAY Annual Fund Committee, and all who supported the fund! We look forward to continuing our campaign as we reach out to our Fay grandparents and alumni families. If you wish to support the 2023-2024 Annual Fund, please contact the Director of Advancement, Lisa Arrington, at larrington@thefayschool.org. We look forward to celebrating our donors with our 2023-2024 Annual Report to be released in the fall of 2024. *The 2023-2024 Audited Financials will be released upon completion of our formal audit.
The Annual Fund directly advances the various initiatives identified in our Strategic Plan. This plan captures Fay’s future and places your children on an accelerated and authentic path to leadership through social, emotional intelligence while leveraging experiential and outdoor learning. Some of the ways that the 2022-2023 Annual Fund was put into action include: • The completion of the Bienenstock natural playscape • Enhancing campus security and safety • Supporting our faculty and staff – we attract talented professionals by offering competitive benefits, salaries, and unique professional development opportunities so Fay teachers keep enhancing their craft as educators. • Saying “yes” to innovative teaching and learning opportunities that fall outside of the operating budget. • Maintaining our beautiful campus – daily maintenance of our school and any unforeseen facility needs that require immediate attention like new HVAC equipment and new flooring in classrooms.
Leadership giving at the top circles of support constituted over 78% of the total funds received in the 2022-2023 Annual Fund. These monies represent the core of the fund’s ability to support programs at The Fay School. We thank the following leadership donors for their vision and willingness to support Fay. 2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
72 Donors
72 Donors
70 Donors
79 Donors
80 Donors
86 Donors
101 Donors
126 Donors
Founder’s Circle
Fay Forest Circle
Bayou Circle
Lina Ortega and Joseph Ngo
Lauren and Brandon Duke Amanda and Randall Fenlon Don and Colletta McMillan Foundation Emma Lewis and Charles Orzech Mahwish and Haroonur Rashid
Lisa and Amir Ansari Bailey Dalton-Binion and Gregory Binion Katie and Jas Brar Kristina and Kip Brar Sylvia and Adam Burke Natalia and Michael Cannon Sabrina and Paul Colgin Melissa and Marc Cougle Shiva Patel and Richard Di Virgilio Seema and Sam Farooqi Ann and Phillip Fox Paula and Jonathan Goldberg Alicia and Garrett Gordy Gabriela and Steven Graubart Priscila and David Gross Kelly and Kim Hales Kimberly and Daniel Horowitz Ann and James Lebeck Suzanne Elmilady and Todd Leffler April and Benjamin Leibman Lauren and Russell Libby Kristy Godwin and David Martin
($35,000 and above)
Leadership Circle
($25,000 - $34,999) Danielle and Lawrence Berry Ivy Liu and Charles Dong Marie and Steve Evnochides
Head’s Circle
($10,000 - $24,999) Stephanie Harrison and Theodore Carpenter Joanna Kornfeld and Paul Friedman Thanatcha and Matthew Goitia Sami and Justin Grefé Kisha and Jason Itkin Megan and Andrew Levy Katherine and Ronald Lee, Jr. Mary Rose Erin and Jacob Slosburg Courtney Wulfe
($7,500 - $9,999)
Fay Farm Circle ($5,000 - $7,499)
Mimi and Zachry Brown Alexandra and Richard Bruskoff Maris and Jason Castro Tina Ansari-Cotton and Troy Cotton Dana and Stephen David Lauren and Clark Edlund Sarjana Momin and Sayeed Khowja Libbie and Jesse Libby Lauren and Russell Libby Aimie Killeen and Chris Mastoris Sara and Nathen McEown Susan Lee and Henry Mok Erin and John Nelson Kranthi and Amish Patel Melinda and Connor Riseden Brooke and Holden Rushing Katy and Sandy Shurin
($2,500 - $4,999) Fabiola and Filippo Meacci Asha and Faisal Momin Apoorva Jadhav and Ekim Muyan Lee Bar-Eli and Clifford Nash Erin and John Nelson Kelly and Cody Nicholson Emma Lewis and Charles Orzech Kavita and Tejas Patel Sarah and Beau Pollock Jenny and James Rogers Katherine and Richard Rose Thomas and DonNell Rushing Morgan B. Scoville Shandy Shade Leslie and Andrew Snelgrove Adrianne Morse and Jared Spain James and Brian Spitz Basak and Scott Stookey Howard and Jody Sweed Piper Poulliard and Eric Trestman Kate and Timothy Withall Oxana Beliaeva and Forrest Wylie Lauren and Charles Ziff
“
My son goes to school every day, happy and excited to learn. Whether in the classroom with amazing teachers, in the Fay Forest for Outdoor Education, digging in the Garden, or hatching baby chicks for the Chicken Coop, the children at Fay have many unique and enriching learning experiences. That is why I support the Annual Fund; it makes all of those truly special opportunities possible. – Courtney Wulfe, Parent of Ky ‘24
GENERAL GIVING The Fay School received 342 gifts to the 2022-2023 Annual Fund representing support from current families, alumni families, grandparents, foundations, corporations, and friends of Fay.
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
$561,938
$572,107
$584,000
$517,896
$439,900
$530,527
$660,000
$584,903
Gator Supporter ($1,000-$2,499)
Tawnia and David Adelman Saba and Irfan Ali Mina and Oluwaseun Alonge Adele Houghton and Fernando Autrique Niki Roberts and Krisa Benskin Alisa Baker and Ryan Black Suzanne and Robert Blakely Michelle and Renzo Bolivar Amy and Josh Bray Charlotte Broussard Andrew Chang and Angela Chang Jacy and Grant Cooper Jamie and Peter Dillon Shoshana and Jeffrey Dinerstein Stephanie Martinez Larrea and Rodrigo Dominguez Sotomayor Sandra and Lynn Eastham Kristen Latta and David Endelman Neha and Abhinav Goyal Kristin Kott and Steven Granda Kulsoom and Muzzamil Hasan Sana Malik and Shayan Hasnain Morgen Doty Hool and Kevin Hool Taylor Imel Sushma Charania and Zeeshan Jivani Erin Jones
Poonam Kapoor Amy and Justin Keiter Sana and Mudassir Khan Dilnaz and Sulmaan Lateef Cheryl Goudy and David Lavallee Linzi and Justin Leighton Jana and David Macfarlane Nazma and Altaf Makanojiya Megan and Matthew Markland Marcy and Jeff Margolis Jo and Shawn McDonald Sarah Watts and Stefan Mckinney Jenya and Alex Menkhaus Kallie and Benjamin Miller Jennie and Edward Miller Rahila and Arif Momin Craig Murray Amy and Preben Nielsen Andrea Osborne Lyndsie and Ian Palmer Roxanne and Shane Pettipas Pernia Latif and Arif Qureshi Marina and Andrew Roberts Carolyn Rubenstein Neda and Amir Sabzevari Rabia and Omar Samji Sonia Scarselli Rekha Chalasani and Aditya Singh Nancy and Greg Smidt Stephanie and Christopher Smith Gabriela and Quitman Smith Jay Stewart
Steffie and Ross Tomson Chelsea and Yang Wang Kelly Whitcomb Barbara Wulfe Kay and Fred Zeidman
Friend of Ernie ($1-$999)
Heather and Mark Adam Alvin Adelman Neha and Mohit Agrawal Safia Durab and Faraz Ahmad Nilofur and David Alfi Linleigh Alford Sabina and Asif Ali Asra Sameer and Syed Ali Alyssa Allen Paige and Andrew Alvis Alyssa Andaverde Jasmyn and Javon Artis Sandra and Ben Backor Robert F. Baldwin, III Cristina Cordeddu and Renato Barbedo Karla Barcus Jay and Monica Berckley Emma Berno Burke Butler and David Berry Caroline Best Courtney Black
Mahereen Maherali and Faizan Bodhani Kathryn McFarlane and Michael Boxer Lizzie Bright Melissa and Phillip Brown Beverly Browne Yau-San Tam and Nicholas Bryant Olga Rodriguez and Oscar Calderon Kristine Caldwell Alex Cammarota Smith Nicole and Seth Caplan Chris Carlson Tess and John Chaney II Kimberly and James Chapman Robin Chiswell Evelyn Crockett Ahmiyah Crowder Scott Cunningham Haifa Hamdi and Daly Daly Nila and Krishna Danda Adam Dock Sarah Dropek and Jesse Huebner Barbara Duecker Ann Eberle Jeff Fountain George Francisco Kelly Froelich Michael Garcia Mayra and Yuri Gelfand
Tessa Gerall Serena Ghesani Pam Gibaut Carin and Sameer Giga Elizabeth and C.L. Gildroy Michelle Goddin Vandana Thapar and Leonel Gomez Anangela and Rodolfo Gonzalez Xochytl Greer Nancy and Mel Gross John Grube Jorge Guevara Anita Manoharan and Amit Gupta Melissa Halleran Jaclyn and Charles Harrison Lesley Davis and Chad Harrison Carolyn Hart Laura and Terry Harvey Sabeena and Jazib Hasan Lauren and Mark Havel Jennifer and Tommy Hayes Meredith Hedemann Abby and Louis Hendel Samantha Holroyd Megan Hopkins Dillon Hutyra Samantha and Christopher Jacobe Betsy Jansa Jennifer and Thomas Kane Merih and Hasan Kayar
Aaron Keiter Natasha and Aadel Khan Evan Kinat Clea and Kody Kobza Gina Xu and Benjamin Koh Erin Kondelis and Brandon Campbell Roshni and Ankil Lalu Nina and Phong Le Angelyn and Jared Levinthal Kathleen Lindsey Brenda Lockett Nancy and David Loncarich Eugene F. Loveland Katherine Lydecker Ali Lyman Leah and Andrew Madof Chinh Dang and Lam Mai Monica Clemente Sequeira and Andriy Martsi Jakima McDowell Coby and Frank McElroy KC McMordie Megan McNair Carmen Medina Shumaila and Fayyaz Mohamedali Sana and Fahim Momin Rashmi and Tanveer Momin Rufina Sunesara and Shehzad Momin Liena and William Morrison
Kerri Namoc Shoba and Neema Navai Daniel Ned Thresa Newkirk Ozden and Fatih Ozkanoglu Han Pham and Joon Park Dalal and Nasir Pasha Jaanki and Ronak Patel Elizabeth Perez Pam and Bill Perreault Timothy and Emma Peterson Fiyyaz Pirani Stacey Pougatcheva Katherine Price Meredith and Ross Purdy Robert Ramirez Sadia and Feroz Rehman Syeda and Adrian Reyes William and Cathie Riley Annie and Gregory Rosenfeld Kathryn Rovegno Rachel Rubin Ashley Rutherford Oksana and Robert Sabo Margaret and Enrique Sanchez Ryan Sanchez Khadija and Yanos Saravanos Jacki and Andrew Schaefer Noreen Shaw Crystal and Hussein Shel Melissa Sherman
Anjum Kherani and Amaan Siddiqi Mana Yegani and Jed Silverman Kristen and Elson Smith Lauren and Tony Sposato Lindsay Stewart Alefiya Akbarally and Omar Suby Yuliya Rudenko and Eli Svetlov Gary Tabakman Jennifer and Adam Taylor Stephanie Pullen and Weisun Teh Nathalie Tardif and Philippe Teijeira Felicia Tew Harriet and Mason Tomson Leanna Tran Kelly and Matthew Turner Lindsay Lambert and Mark Valdez Sherida and Tony Vida Alicia and Jay Villarreal Valerie Wallace Maren and Michael Watson Jamie and Jeffrey Weinberg Stephanie Kellam and Chris White Alexandra and Eli Witus Emily Womack Asraa and Faeez Yousuff Atessa and Keu Zafar Khadija and Naveed Zafar Ketam Hamdan and Amir Zegar Julie and Ziad Zieni
“
Our contribution to the Annual Fund exemplifies our confidence in the educational approach and alignment with the school’s strategic vision. The strength of the community at The Fay School is one of the school’s defining qualities. The success of the Annual Fund is a testament to the whole community rallying together around a common goal - our children, the Fay Gators. It feels good to be a part of something bigger and see the tangible impact on our children’s school experience yearly from our collective participation in the Annual Fund. We love The Fay School! – Lauren Libby, Parent of Shaun ‘27 and Nathan ‘30
Faculty + Staff The Fay School Staff is a group of dedicated individuals working each day to fulfill the school’s mission. As professionals in their respective fields, they perform to the highest standards in elementary and preschool education. We are proud that these community members have expressed their support of the school’s mission through a gift to the 2022-2023 Annual Fund.
Adam Dock Ahmiyah Crowder Alex Cammarota Smith Alyssa Andaverde Ann Eberle Ashley Rutherford Barbara Duecker Betsy Jansa Beverly Browne Brenda Lockett Carmen Medina Caroline Best Carolyn Hart Cathie Riley Chandler Williamson Chris Carlson Courtney Black Daniel Ned Dillon Hutyra Elizabeth Travis Emily Womack Emma Berno Emma Peterson Evan Kinat
Evelyn Crockett Felicia Tew Jakima McDowell Jasmyn Artis Jeff Fountain Jennifer Hayes John Grube Jorge Guevara Katherine Price Kathleen Lindsey Kathryn Rovegno KC McMordie Kelly Froelich Kristine Caldwell Lauren Sposato Lindsay Stewart Linleigh Alford Lizzie Bright Margaret Sanchez Megan Hopkins Megan McNair Melissa Sherman Meredith Hedemann Michael Garcia
Michelle Goddin Monica Berckley Morgan Scoville Nancy Loncarich Ozden Ozkanoglu Pam Gibaut Rachel Rubin Robert Ramirez Ross Purdy Ryan Sanchez Sarah Dropek Scott Cunningham Serena Dhukka Stacey Pougatcheva Tessa Gerall Thresa Newkirk Valerie Wallace
CORPORATE FRIENDS
GRANDPARENTS
Thank you to our corporate friends for partnering with us through matching gifts, sponsorships and donations. • Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center
• Zurich North America
• Palace Social
• Baker Hughes
• Shell Oil Company
• Goldman, Sachs & Co.
• Masami Photography
• Mia’s Table
• EDF Trading North America
• InTwo Shop
• Kroger
• Chevron
A gift to the next generation
We would like to thank the following grandparents who made gifts to The Fay School in 2022-2023 in honor of their grandchildren. We are lucky to have such a wonderful group of grandparents who take the extra step and support our school through one of our fundraising opportunities. Katherine and Ronald E. Lee, Jr.
In Honor of Kate Leighton
Craig Murray
In Honor of Lowe Miller
Kay and Fred Zeidman
In Honor of Sam and Charlie Snelgrove
Sandra and Ben Backor
In honor of Maris Duke
Harriet and Mason Tomson
In honor of Tessa and Georgia Tomson
Elizabeth and C.L Gildroy
In honor of Phillip and Elizabeth Fox
Nancy and Greg Smidt
In honor of Jackson Bright
Nancy and Mel Gross
In honor of Johnny Gross
Eileen and Aaron Keiter
In honor of Ariella and Zoe Keiter
Alvin Adelman
In honor of Sophia Adelman
DonNell and Thomas Rushing
In honor of Barringer Rushing
ALUMNI PARENTS We would like to thank the following alumni parents and friends of Fay who continue to support our mission. Jennifer and Thomas Kane Heather and Mark Adam
Liena and William Morrison Angelyn and Jared Levinthal
Megan and Matt Pond Alicia and Garrett Gordy
HONORING A LEGACY IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT WE HONOR OUR FOUNDER, MARIE FAY EVNOCHIDES, AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO STAND BEHIND HER VISION FOR FAY.
INAUGURAL MEMBERS
2014-2015 MEMBERS
2018-2019 MEMBERS
Melynda and Steve Dunn Steve and Marie Fay Evnochides Carolyn Grant Fay Paige and Tilman Fertitta Josie and Conrad Goerl Bella and Gordon Gsell Terri and John Havens Carol and Stephen King Wendy and Chris Mehling Paula and Hal Mentz Laura Boyd and Brinkley Morse Kassandra and Michael Winstone
Elva and Truett Akin Gabriela and Daniel Dror Linda and Jim Fischer Susan and Jeff Gray Lauren and Geoffrey Harrison Masu and Badar Khan Karen and Chris Kreidler Laura and Brannon Robertson Besse and Michael Ross
Oxana Beliaeva and Forrest Wylie
2011-2012 MEMBERS
Leslie Goldman and Scott Aitken Ruth and Scott Calabrese Sarah Svoboda and Chris Taylor
Beth Coblentz Mara and Jorge Troop
2016-2017 MEMBERS
2012-2013 MEMBERS
Over thirty years ago, The Fay School opened its doors and began a journey that would touch the lives of all who encountered it. The founding Head of School, Marie Fay Evnochides, envisioned “a place where children come first.” Today, that vision reverberates in all that we do, creating an environment unlike any other—a special place made possible due to our unwavering commitment to children and families. In the school’s 20th year, we were incredibly proud to announce the formation of the Marie Fay Evnochides Society. Named for our visionary founder, the society was created to permanently recognize Annual Fund supporters who make The Fay School a philanthropic priority. Members of the Marie Fay Evnochides Society are those who have made lifetime, cumulative gifts to The Fay School Annual Fund of $50,000 or more. They exemplify Marie’s vision, and their support ensures that The Fay School continues to impact young lives.
2015-2016 MEMBERS
Chad Clay Tracy and Robin Gay Elaine Block and Dennis O’Rourke Joan Neuhaus
2013-2014 MEMBERS Angie Munoz and Luis Javier Gonzalez Anastasia and Preston Marshall
Jessica and Jonathan Barrett Danya and Clint Bogart Sabrina and Paul Colgin Caroline and Bruce Hurley
2019-2020 MEMBERS Bailey Dalton Binion and Greg Binion Ali and Rich Bruskoff Debbey and Glenn Guy Lina Ortega and Joseph Ngo
2020-2021 MEMBERS Philip Ball Sugene Kim and Bob Basu Ellisa Kerswell and Nicholas Gole Cheryl and Will Jordan Marcy and Jeffrey Margolis Shilpa Damle-Mogri and Zen Mogri Sonia Scarselli
2022-2023 INDUCTEES 2017-2018 MEMBERS Danielle and Lawrence Berry Alicia and Garrett Gordy Erin Jones Keith Morris Kallie and Ben Miller Julie and Karl Sturm
Michael and Natalia Cannon Tina Ansari-Cotton and Troy Cotton Lauren and Brandon Duke Joanna Kornfeld and Paul Friedman Cheryl Goudy and David Lavallee Courtney Wulfe
TEAM FAY 2022-2023
ANNUAL FUND COMMITTEE The success of the 2022-2023 Annual Fund would not have been possible without this dedicated group of parent volunteers.
Sami and Justin Grefé
Lina Ortega and Joseph Ngo
Annual Fund Chairs
New Family Chairs
Zachry and Mimi Brown
PARENT COMMITTEE:
Matt and Meg Markland
Randall and Amanda Fenlon
Shawn and Jo McDonald
Phillip and Ann Fox
Nathen and Sara McEown
Steven and Gaby Graubart
Charles and Emma Orzech
Kim and Kelly Hales
Connor and Mindy Riseden
Taylor Imel
James and Jenny Rogers
Todd and Suzanne Leffler
Mary Rose
Russell and Lauren Libby
Holden and Brooke Rushing
Andrew and Leah Madof
Courtney Wulfe
FAY STAFF REPRESENTATIVE Ryan Sanchez
“
We are constantly blown away by how much our children learn. Whether it’s an outdoor education class, a math lesson on the porch, or Gaga ball during recess, the energy and positivity surrounding our kids’ experiences is palpable. The school’s focus on leadership development through emotional intelligence, highlighted in the recent strategic plan, sets the school apart as the gold standard in Houston. – Sami and Justin Grefé, Parents of Annabel ‘24, Ellie ‘26, and Jack ‘27
PARENTS’ CLUB HARD WORK, PHILANTHROPY, AND COMMUNITY Many thanks to this devoted group of parent volunteers who helped us throughout the 2022-23 school year.
Parents’ Club Co-Chairs: Kristina Brar James Spitz
Fall Festival Jamie Dillon Amy Keiter
Book Fair Jana Macfarlane Gabriela Smith
Family Engagement Nilofur Alfi Dana David Sandra Eastham
Backyard Bash Libbie Libby Kranthi Patel Faculty & Staff Appreciation Fabiola Bonari Julie Zeini
Golf Tournament Tess and Jack Chaney Lauren and Clark Edlund Grandparents & Special Friends Day Carin Giga Jody Sweed
ROOM PARENTS
PI PII K 1 2 3 4 5 James Spitz
Rekha Chalasani
Alisa Baker
Maris Castro
Shiva DiVirgilio
Leslie Snelgrove
Courtney Wulfe
Bailey Dalton
GENA LEWIS FUND The Gena Lewis Fund was established by the Marie Fay Evnochides Fund (MFE Fund) in the fall of 2021 to celebrate former Fay teacher Gena Lewis and to help further drive the implementation of Priority 2 in our Strategic Plan, redefining the academic experience by excelling in experiential and outdoor learning. Gena Lewis left an indelible mark at The Fay School as a First Grade Teacher. During her 18-year tenure at The Fay School, Gena started the “Open Work” program that laid the groundwork for the experiential learning in Fay’s classrooms today. As a result, the Marie Fay Evnochides Fund established a teaching award in her honor. This annual award will fund selected experiential activities or projects and recognize the teacher or teachers who proposed the idea.
2023 Gena Lewis Award Ceremony Congratulations to our 2023 Gena Lewis Distinguished Teacher Award recipient, First Grade Lead Teacher Ms. Alford! Her winning project proposal focuses on pollinators with the driving question, “How do plants and insects on our campus interact with one another?” Students will study native Texas plants and insects using the Fay Garden, Fay Forest, and more. We are looking forward to seeing this innovative project unfold in the next year.
2023 Art Car Parade In April of 2023, The Fay School participated in the Houston Art Car Parade for the first time in school history. This was a very special project because it was the first funded by the Gena Lewis Distinguished Teacher Award made possible by the Marie Fay Evnochides Fund. Fay Art Teacher Katherine Price’s Art Car Proposal was selected in 2022 and focused on engaging and including children in every grade at Fay to design our first-ever Art Car.
2023 BACKYARD BASH HIGHLIGHT The Backyard Bash was a new event in the 2022-2023 school year and was the beginning of a new tradition at Fay – an every-other-year event model that is alternated with a formal Gala. The Fay School Campus was transformed into a food and drink festival and featured amazing Houston restaurants and establishments. Co-Chairs Libbie Libby and Kranthi Patel were dynamic leaders of this new concept and created an evening to remember that also raised a record-breaking amount of money for the school. We are grateful to them for their leadership and the many parent volunteers who joined them. Attendees enjoyed an engaging live auction, big board, and participated in a record-breaking Paddles Up initiative raising over $140,000 for our new natural playscape. Altogether, the event raised over $640,000 for your children’s education! Thank you to our Title Sponsor Nichols Brar Weitzner and Thomas Attorneys and thank you to the talented, enthusiastic, and dedicated volunteers for their work on a beautiful evening celebrating the Fay community. Auction Maris Castro and Amanda Fenlon Decorations Samantha Jacobe and Lyndsie Palmer Photography Jacki Schaefer
Sign Up Parties and Teacher Treasures Jamie Dillon and Jody Sweed Student Art Kristina Brar and Dana David
Volunteer Coordinator Lauren Libby Parents’ Club Co-chairs Kristina Brar and James Spitz
Corporate Partners Title Partner
Bronze Partners
Theorem Vineyards
Pasha Law
Made possible by Kisha and Jason Itkin
Made possible by Dalal and Nasir Pasha
Big State Home Buyers
Diamond Partners Hsiao Family Foundation Made possible by Lina Ortega and Joseph Ngo
The Dong Family Made possible by Ivy and Charles Dong
Silver Partners Toombs Imel & Associates Made possible by Taylor Imel
Made possible by James and Brian Spitz
Bayou City Dermatology Made possible by Karen Sra and Nishil Patel
Nichols Brar Weitzner & Thomas Made possible by Kristina and Kip Brar
Sanctuary Spa Made possible by Sabrina and Paul Colgin
American Gilsonite Company Made possible by Kristin and Steve Granda
Oporto Fooding House & Wine Made possible by Shiva Patel and Rick Di Virgilio
Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty, Made possible by Elizabeth Chipman, Seth Caplan, and Tess Chaney
Underwriters Harvest Couples
Garden Couples
Lisa and Amir Ansari Katie and Jas Brar Dana and Steve David Raymond Duroy Lauren and Brandon Duke Sandra and Lynn Eastham Lauren and Clark Edlund Amanda and Randall Fenlon Paula and Jonathan Goldberg Sami and Justin Grefé Priscila and David Gross Emma Lewis and Charles Orzech Kavita Patel Sarah and Beau Pollock Jennifer and James Rogers Erin and Jacob Slosburg Gabriela and Quitman Smith Courtney Wulfe
Tawnia and David Adelman Amy and Josh Bray Maris and Jason Castro Mayra and Yuri Gelfand Lee Bar-Eli and Clifford Nash Katy and Sandy Shurin
Gala Event Sponsors Bar
Registration
Carolyn Rubenstein
Danielle and Lawrence Berry
Food
Entertainment
Libbie and Jesse Libby
Mimi and Zachry Brown
Decorations
Photography
Kranthi and Amish Patel
Sara and Nathen McEown
FAY GOLF TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHT In February 2023, we hosted our second golf tournament at Sugar Creek Country Club in Sugar Land! Thank you to our event chairs and all who participated, and thank you to the talented, enthusiastic, and dedicated volunteers for their work on a beautiful evening celebrating the Fay community.
2022-2023 CORPORATE PARTNERS
These generous businesses have committed significant funding to help Fay accomplish its mission on a daily basis. Please consider supporting those who support Fay, our corporate partners:
BRONZE PARTNERS
TITLE PARTNER
Made possible by Dalal and Nasir Pasha
Made possible by James and Brian Spitz
Made possibly by Karen Sra and Nishil Patel
Made possible by Kristina and Kip Brar
Made possibly by Sabrina and Paul Colgin
Made possible by Kristin and Steve Granda
Made possible by Kisha and Jason Itkin
DIAMOND PARTNERS
Made possible by Lina Ortega and Joseph Ngo
Made possible by Ivy and Charles Dong
Made possible by Shiva Patel and Rick Di Virgilio
SILVER PARTNERS
Made possible by Taylor Imel For more information on becoming a 2024 Corporate Partner please contact Director of Advancement, Lisa Arrington, at larrington@thefayschool.org
Save the date for the next Fay Gala on April 6, 2024!
Made possibly by Elizabeth Chipman, Seth Caplan, and Tess Chaney
Images Captured by Gary Blake Photography Annual Report Design by 396 Studios