I n sights: 2022-2023 Fall 2023 Dear Friends, One of the highlights of my first year at Whitfield—and one of my favorite Whitfield traditions—was seeing the seniors lined up along the sides of the front walk on the first day of school. Cheering and clapping, high fives and fist bumps—this is not how I remember my year starting when I was in school! You see this same kind of community spirit in small ways every day at assembly, when we cheer students’ birthdays or a big win for a middle school sports team (or varsity team!). And you see it—and hear it in ways that are almost deafening—each day during Spirit Week. Prospective parents feel it in more subtle but equally powerful ways when they come to visit, noticing the way our students act in the halls or interact with teachers and peers in their classes. As much as anything else I’ve come to know and appreciate this past year, it’s this Whitfield spirit and sense of community. In our first year, Helena and I have also come to love St. Louis. We’ve become regulars at the Art Museum and the Botanical Gardens, and seen performances at the Fox, the MUNY, and Symphony. Although we haven’t yet made it to a Blues game, we’ve seen St. Louis City win and, unfortunately, the Cardinals lose (I’m beginning to think we may be bad luck…), and we’re doing our best to sample St. Louis’ great restaurant offerings. In short, we’ve thrown ourselves into the life of this amazing city. On the opposite page, you'll find an article on a transformational gift from Kyle Kerner ’96 and Lauren Weissman Kerner ’96. This extraordinary gift will endow a full-time Learning Specialist position and expand the school’s Academic Success team, currently led by The Kerner Family Director of Teaching & Learning Mead Ploszay. The Kerners, who have been giving back to Whitfield for 13 consecutive years, both benefited from the personalized learning experience of a Whitfield education. Their gift will not only help to create equitable educational experiences for our neurodiverse students, but will also help us to expand academic programs and support for all students. In the following pages, you’ll read about our outstanding College Counseling team, Amanda Henry and Ebony Sistrunk. With their focus on fit and student satisfaction, they guide our students and their families through an application process that can be bewildering and overwhelming. Amanda and Ebony meet each student where they are—in propria persona—to help them find those colleges and universities that will be the best fit and set them up for long term success. You’ll also read a small sampling of the inspiring things our students did last year—on and off-campus, in and out of the classroom. You’ll read about our winning sports teams—wrestling, esports, soccer, tennis, and basketball—documentary film-making, the full-throated (and mask-less) return of Whitfield performing arts, and the Glassman Leadership program. Finally, in the year ahead, I look forward to sharing with you news about and updates on the school's new strategic plan, adapted by a unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees earlier this fall. In the meantime, I am pleased to share our Mission and first-ever Vision Statement (see right). Together, these two statements reaffirm touchstone Whitfield School values: community and trust, kindness and integrity. These words and ideas have always been at the heart of what we do. At the same time, these statements clarify our commitment to diversity and to providing a "small school" experience—to know each child and meet them where they are. And they clarify that the Whitfield experience is about discovery and transformation—intellectual, social, emotional. That it's about inspiring and empowering young people to become their best selves, to lead lives of meaning and purpose. GO WARRIORS!
Chris Cunningham, Ph.D. Head of School
Whitfield Receives Transformational Gift to Expand Academic Success Team
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hitfield School has received a transformational gift from Kyle Kerner ’96 and Lauren Weissman Kerner ’96 to endow a full-time Learning Specialist position and expand the school’s Academic Success team, currently led by The Kerner Family Director of Teaching & Learning Mead Ploszay.
The Kerners, who have been giving back to Whitfield for 13 consecutive years, both benefited from the personalized learning experience of a Whitfield education. They care deeply about helping schools create equitable educational experiences for neurodiverse students, while at the same time, expanding academic programs and support for all students. “At Whitfield, we empower all students to understand and leverage their cognitive and personal strengths,” said Head of School Chris Cunningham. “The Kerner gift will expand professional development opportunities for our faculty, deepening their understanding of learning differences and broadening their repertoire of strategies for teaching our neurodiverse students. But research shows that good teaching for neurodiverse students is just good teaching–so this gift will improve the academic experience for all of our students.” Gifts of this magnitude allow Whitfield to be even more competitive in the independent school marketplace. "Supporting neurodiversity means celebrating the unique ways in which we experience the world and recognizing that the contributions of our diverse minds can drive positive change and create a thriving, vibrant world," said Lauren Weissman Kerner ’96. As active and engaged alumni, the Kerners’ commitment to advancing the school’s mission is an inspiration for our entire community. “We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Kyle and Lauren Kerner,” said Director of Development Kelly Edwards. “Their extraordinary support will enhance academic programs for all students, providing more challenge, support, and learning opportunities.”
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Supporting neurodiversity means celebrating the unique ways in which we experience the world and recognizing that the contributions of our diverse minds can drive positive change and create a thriving, vibrant world. -Lauren Weissman Kerner ’96, alumna
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Whitfield would like to dedicate this edition of Insights to Becky Marsh who served as the voice of the school for 29 years. BOARD OF TRUSTEES • 2023-2024 MISSION: A small school community committed to kindness and trust, Whitfield inspires a diverse student body to lead lives of curiosity, integrity, and purpose VISION: Empowering young people to discover and become their best selves.
STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION: Whitfield School is an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory day school for grades 6–12. Whitfield seeks to maintain a student body diverse in geographic, economic, racial and religious backgrounds. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion or color in administering its academic policies, admissions policies, athletic policies, financial aid program or other school activities.
Ron Fox ’74 (Chair) Derik King (Vice Chair) David Ressner (Treasurer) Karen Myers (Secretary) Andy Bryan Brian Chao ’08 John Corn Dave Cooperstein Tamara Estrill-Lett Jeffrey Evitts Corey Jones Kris Mannen ’05
Paul Minorini Melissa Howe O’Connor ’08 Asim Raza Scott Rhodes ’98 Geneen Von Kloha Philip B. Cady Jr. ’70 Bruno B. Schmitter Wayne L. Smith II Chris Cunningham, Ph.D. Head of School (Ex-Officio)
Questions or comments should be addressed to: Erin Walsh, director of communications and marketing, erin.walsh@whitfieldschool.org Whitfield School • 175 South Mason Road • St. Louis, Missouri 63141 • 314-434-5141 Visit Whitfield’s web site: whitfieldschool.org
