Chair of the Board of Trustees Message

CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

DR. REBECCA E. STIMSON ’73

AS BOARD CHAIR, I GET THE DISTINCT HONOR OF BEING ON THE GPS

CAMPUS FOR THE BEST DAYS. During the opening day ceremony, I deliver a message to the girls and watch with joy and enthusiasm as the newest members of the sisterhood, the sixth-graders, walk into Frierson Theatre amid cheers and applause.

On Commencement, I’m there to say a few sage words and then watch with pride as our newest alumnae take their fi rst steps away from campus to begin their next academic journeys. I’m also on campus for board meetings, for special announcements, May Day, and for athletic and arts events as I’m able.

The campus of GPS is a special place. I have memories of being a student here, of being a parent and watching my daughter experience the same traditions I did.

So this year became a year of fi rsts for me and everyone who loves GPS. We closed campus at the end of the school day on Friday, March 13. And against every hope and expectation, we remained closed for the rest of the 2019-20 school year. We could no longer see the girls walk (or dance or cartwheel) across Smith Courtyard. No games or matches or meets were played. The classrooms sat empty.

It could have been a very dark time for us as a school, but our faculty and staff endeavored to ensure that even though 205 Island Avenue was closed, learning and laughing and caring for each other endured. Virtual classrooms helped the girls stay connected to each other and to their teachers.

I have no doubt that if there were a tangible way to measure the success of how a school adapts to a pandemic, GPS would stand head and shoulders above the rest. The pride I feel when I walk on campus swelled when I heard stories of teachers working after hours to host trivia night for their girls. They created special dress up days and ‘bring your pet to class’ days just to show they cared.

That feeling of connection and the commitment the GPS community has for each other transferred to our giving. Bruiser Bee, our biggest fundraiser for the Impact Fund, was cancelled at the last minute and still went on to raise more money than the year before. (See page 56.) We established a separate fund to address immediate and ongoing needs of our families as well as faculty and staff who were experiencing income instability due to COVID-19. The Bridge Fund (page 46) continues to receive donations from those who care about each GPS girl and her teachers. The generosity of our GPS community in times of need touches something really deep within me.

As your board chair, my role is to ensure that the school we all love is here today, tomorrow, and far into the future. When I see fi rsthand that even a pandemic can’t deter our school from its mission, I am more than proud to play my part in leading the board. I am, and always will be, a GPS Bruiser. Here’s to the GIRLS!

Dr. Rebecca E. Stimson ’73 Board Chair

Executive Committee: Dr. Rebecca E. Stimson ’73 Clay Watson Amy Thomas Kerri Martin Bartlett ’75 Jen Kline Holly Lynch Harwell ’84 Dr. Autumn A. Graves Board Chair Vice Chair Treasurer/Finance Chair Secretary/Recorder Development Chair Past Chair Head of School

Amy Arrowsmith Danna Bailey ’89 Caroline Caulkins Bentley ’83 Glenn Breazeale Jr. Charlie Brock Allison Cowan Carroll ’89 Dr. R. Allen Coffman Melissa Woodall Curtis ’85 Stacy Eiselstein Johnel Angel Evans ’92 Marcy Porter Michelle Ruest Dr. Annette C. Smith Dr. Mary P. Tanner Ben Vance Dori Thornton Waller ’99 Mary Moncure Watson ’74 Thad Whitfield

Ex Officio Trustee: Dr. Autumn A. Graves, Head of School