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View From My Window: Letter from the Head of School
All of my 40 post-college years have been spent in education as a grad student, teacher, coach or leadership team member. I did have one undergraduate semester when I was not taking classes. I worked at Fish & Richardson, a patent law firm in Boston. From my lofty position, most often perched by the copy machine, I remember a sense of competition among the attorneys for whom I worked. Sometimes, they were competing with members of the same firm, most often, they were talking tough about other law firms.
Maybe that brief experience has made me forever appreciative of how consistent schools are at collaborating. Our competition is typically on a field or in a gym; it’s occasionally fierce but so often respectful. My gut has always been that educators’ shared commitment to students applies to one’s own student body as well as to someone else’s. We all want to see each successive generation have the best possible experience as students, wherever those students spend their K-12 years.
Alumni stories are incredibly important, and we cherish them at FWCD. I hope every reader of the Falconer is impressed by reports on fellow graduates, and I hope you are energized by what is going on today at 4200 Country Day Lane. Let me take this chance to renew a regular appeal: Please share with us what you and/or a classmate are up to. Our pride in fellow Falcons is a proverbial “rising tide that lifts all ships.” Send your news to Eleanor Siff, our new Alumni Relations Coordinator, at alumnirelations@fwcd.com.
In this issue, be proud of FWCD’s celebration of our 60th year, including the discussion I was lucky to moderate with former Heads of School Geoffrey Butler H’98 and Evan Peterson H’15. Our Science Department hosted a remarkable solar eclipse program on April 8, highlighted by all 1,300 students, faculty and staff converging on the Howard Family Field, experiencing 2 minutes and 33 seconds of totality. As alumni, you know how memorable graduation is. The Class of 2024 had a doozy, thanks to Alumni Association President Asad Dean ’90 and the live falcon he brought with him.
The Lower School building and our new athletic fields, along with significant endowment progress, mean the Forward Together Campaign has already profoundly impacted students and teachers. Constituency Co-chairs Heather and Ryan Senter have created enthusiasm for the campaign. Along with a powerful team led by William Butler ’96, our Advancement Office reports us close to reaching our $41 million goal. I hope every alum, former parent or grandparent will join current FWCD community members in making a gift, no matter the size. We are eager to close the campaign by December 31, 2024. Each contribution is about students having the best experience possible.
With deepest gratitude,
Head of School, Fort Worth Country Day
