The Head's Heads UP!
As a school, we cannot live into our mission at Chesapeake Academy without the coaching, modeling, nurturing, enthusiasm, high expectations, and love of this dynamic group of faculty and staff. Each one plays an important role in the lives of our students and families.
School people are definitely feeling the weight of on-going pressures of educating in a pandemic. And while we are so truly lucky to be in-person doing the work we do, this marathon of COVID school has required each of us to dig deep, stay positive, and set an optimistic, “can-do” tone for each day.
As we approach Valentine's Day, I hope you'll indulge me in my own reflection about the people who make up this community of professionals and allow me to share with you a little glimpse of what makes each one so special.
Tiffany Harrison has stepped into the first grade teaching position with a passion and purpose for working with younger learners. She has embraced what makes emerging readers and mathematicians so fun, and makes the first grade classroom a special place to be! What a wonderful addition to the lower school team!
Susan May brings her love of literature to children every day. She finds ways to connect with the academic classrooms, bringing language arts and library skills to class. Children love seeing her “oxymoron of the week” on the board and getting recommendations from her on the next good book.
Rosetta Struse brings her nurturing and creativity to every part of her day with students. Her love for children and her gentle nature shine through in every interaction with or about students. Her pre-k through second grade PE classes are fun, funny, and purposeful. Extended day is a happy place because of her leadership.
A pied piper of kindergarteners, Molly Vanderpool leads them on adventures of every kind in and out of the classroom. Always thinking about the elements of childhood that are special, Molly never misses an opportunity to get outside with exploring kindergarteners. Molly models creativity, joy, and inquiry with the students and adults throughout CA.
Courtney Reisner, volunteer extraordinaire, has a connection to each student who has ever been in a classroom where she has worked in the last 12 years. Plus, Ms. Courtney send cards for every holiday, making each CA employee feel special.
Jane Allen–or Coach–brings her high energy, her athletic expertise, organization, and enthusiasm for the Ospreys to everything she does. From reenergizing the PE program...to managing coaches...to supporting advisees... to helping with events...to greeting the kids each morning, Coach Allen is all in all the time.
Ashley Duncan brings a collaborative spirit to all that she does. The first one to say, “I can help,” she is a flexible teacher who can work easily with kids of all ages. Spanish classes are multi-sensory and engaging so that each student builds vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills as they are ready. ¡Qué maravillosa!
Catherine Emery has a natural gift for working with students of all ages. At the helm of the fourth grade program this year, she is always patient, always kind, and always insightful. She is a calm, trusted adult for students who holds them accountable to bring their best selves to each endeavor.
Beth Clark has amazing “spidey senses” and brings deep empathy to a child's journey. She recognizes and affirms others' gifts. She absolutely sees the best in each child. Her ability to partner with parents about what makes the early childhood years special is a treasure.
Cameron Wilson, our custodian, is reliable and steady, making sure that our facilities are ready for the next day. Adapting to COVID protocols, he ensures rooms are clean and sanitized to keep us healthy.
A gifted musician and gatherer of children, Barbara Hays celebrates the rhythm within each child, bringing students together to create beautiful music. Whether introducing students to ukelele, guitar, piano, tone chimes, or composition, she makes sure music is embedded in our lives.
An expert in learning support, Kenzie Manetz does not shy away from new challenges. She supports each teacher and each student so that our students are successful. She models good practice throughout her work with individuals and makes sure that students love learning as much as she does!
Sonja Smith is a creative thinker and problem solver in all aspects of school life. Sonja is always an upbeat and flexible team player who can work with anyone–student or adult--to yield great results. She pushes herself outside of her comfort zone over and over again, which shows kids they can, too!
An terrific ambassador for CA, Kelly Antonio welcomes families with a warm smile, ready to help them see themselves at Chesapeake Academy. Kelly knows our program well and believes in everything we do–she shares that love easily, making sure that new students and families are brought into the Osprey nest!
Martha Rogers is the consummate cheerleader for her students. Always ready to try a new approach or a new project, Martha models risk taking and a “can do” spirit for her students. “Ok, cats, we got this!” Martha is a supportive colleague who brings enthusiasm and energy to all we do at CA!
Niki Allen continues to be such a team player at CA, adding so much to the Learning Support Services crew. Her work with individual students and small groups allows students to shine and find their success in the academic classroom.
Keyetta DuNomes has brought her international experiences from teaching abroad to the sixth grade geography and literature programs bringing valuable perspectives. She cares deeply about her students, wants to make sure that they have the skills they need to be successful, and makes sure they know it.
Catherine Emry has a deep knowledge of every child, family member, grandparent, special friend, and donor who has been part of the CA community. She rallies the troops to volunteer in all capacities to help CA. She is expert, organized, humble, and genuine. Catherine makes our events shine and makes supporters of the school feel so special.
Marshall Novak is a natural teacher, and leader of the eighth grade homeroom crew. She inspires students in all levels of math to find strategies to learning that are multidimensional and confidence building for mathematicians. In US history, she helps students dig deep into the concepts important to our nation's history, all the while making learning fun, accessible, and relevant.
Dean of Students, coach, advisor, math teacher, literature teacher, Hillary Smith wears every hat with the same commitment to the development of young people as learners and leaders. Hillary has an innate sense of what each student needs at any given moment. She holds students accountable with love and sets high expectations that they want to reach.
An experienced educator who “fits” anywhere, Kelley Calkins has always been so flexible in helping our teachers and students. Upbeat and fun, she keeps our pre-k students engaged all morning, and then jumps into Learning Support Services in the afternoons, working with individual student academic plans.
Connie Smith, the keeper of our world, is efficient and effective, and always seems to have every detail of the school in her head. Even more important, she is always kind, caring, and responsive to the those of us who rely on her capabilities. She always has a smile and is the perfect “first contact” for our school community.
Kim Dynia is the consummate innovator, never resting on her laurels, but always engaging to lead what's next. Kim is CA's lead learner, and invites others to learn along with her. She brings her knowledge of technology, curriculum, and best practices in instruction to lead professional development and the continuing evolution of the program of the school.
Always looking for how to best position CA for today and the future, Richard Abbott brings expertise as well as humor to his work. Richard is the backbone of operations in every sense and helps anyone who needs his help. He keeps the wheels on the bus (literally and figuratively) and juggles so much to keep us all working well.
Robin Blake, or “the Energizer Bunny” as I call her, is full of energy and enthusiasm. She jumps in with both feet to whatever will benefit the students and school the most. Spirited, engaging, Robin is the first one in the building every day, always going the extra mile or miles to make sure students have what they need.
Anne Carol Wood has been a fantastic addition to Lower School, making the second grade program a model of differentiated instruction and collaborative, purposeful teamwork. She has created a happy community of learners who build their own independence each and every day!
Becca Baker supports our extended day program, making sure that everyone is learning and smiling throughout each day afternoon in Wiley! We're proud to have this talented former Osprey on our team!
“Collaboration is not about gluing together existing egos. It's about the ideas that never existed until after everyone entered the room.” These folks give their all every day and come up with a magical mix of creativity, expertise, good humor, flexibility, and teamwork that I've never seen anywhere else. Send them lots of love this Valentine's Day!
Julie
