Kerri Martin Bartlett ’75: Giving Back to Support Future Generations of Leaders

One GPS alumna was fortified by FURTHERING A LEGACY self-confidence developed years before at GPS, as she ascended Throughout her career Bartlett held where she again relied on her self-confidence to get her the stairs of the United States’ a number of supervisory highest court early in her career. positions in the U.S. Attorney’s Today, she and her family have Office and later did some law founded an endowment to school teaching. Now retired, celebrate and recognize talented Bartlett lives in New York City, students’ achievements. and she has been excited to be back in touch with the GPS BELIEF IN HERSELF “I WANT TO ENSURE community. After serving on the board of her daughters’ As Kerri Martin Bartlett ’75 walked THAT THOSE GIRLS all-girls school in New York, up the stairs to the iconic Supreme Court building to interview for a HAVE THE SAME Bartlett connected with Maria Kain Matthews ’75, a classmate coveted clerkship, she gave herself a EXPERIENCE I HAD and former associate in the GPS pep talk: Getting this job may be a long shot, but if I can get it, I know I can do the work. —THAT THEY FEEL BOTH CHALLENGED Development Office. Bartlett was interested in giving back and reconnecting with GPS. Her belief in herself—and tireless AND SUPPORTED. “I realized what an incredibly preparation—worked. Bartlett WE’RE ALL DIFFERENT strong role GPS had played in clerked for Supreme Court Justice William H. Rehnquist for a year, where she worked on the most AND HAVE DIFFERENT GOALS IN LIFE, BUT my life,” Bartlett says. She was ready to continue the school’s legacy. Bartlett joined the Board challenging legal issues of the day. WHAT I KNOW IS of Trustees eight years ago, now “The experience was daunting and exhilarating—and the THAT GPS PROVIDES serving as its secretary, and she’s enjoyed playing a critical confidence and competence I ALL THE TOOLS FOR role in helping the school felt while working at the Court MAKING THOSE GOALS address challenges and prepare were years in the making,” Bartlett says. “They extend back to my time at GPS, where my teachers encouraged me to BECOME A REALITY.” – KERRI MARTIN BARTLETT ’75 for its future. In working with former Head of School Dr. Autumn Graves, believe in myself and follow Bartlett was surprised to learn my dreams. For me, everything there wasn’t a strong merit-based unquestionably started at GPS.” scholarship program for students. Following her work for the Supreme Court, the University family of educators, suggested that they contribute some of of Virginia Law School graduate worked for the U.S. the family’s resources to start a merit-based scholarship in Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, his wife’s name. Her husband, who comes from a through many tough moments, including prosecuting the “I’m very pleased to be able to support girls of outstanding FBI’s Top 10 Most-Wanted Fugitive. academic merit who want to attend GPS,” Bartlett says. “I’m hopeful the fund can grow and that more young “When you’re on the battle line like that, healthy self- women will have the opportunity for a GPS education. confidence is a job requirement,” Bartlett says. Often the And I want to ensure that those girls have the same only woman in the courtroom, Bartlett knew she belonged experience I had—that they feel both challenged and there, in part based on the solid foundation she received at supported. We’re all different and have different goals in GPS from the time she first walked through the doors as a life, but what I know is that GPS provides all the tools for seventh-grader. making those goals become a reality.”