The GAzette - Spring 2012 - Gould Academy Magazine

HEADING

OUT

In this issue: Just Like Dad page 12 Look Both Ways page 16

An Interview with Dan Kunkle

Gould Academy Head of School 2001-2012 Page 6

We miss your smile.

GouldAcademy Alumni Weekend

Friday, September 28 - Sunday, September 30, 2012 39 Church Street • Bethel, Maine www.gouldacademy.org

THE GOULD ACADEMY M A G A Z I N E

GouldAcademy HEAD OF SCHOOL Matt Ruby EDITOR Tucker Kimball PHOTOGRAPHY M. Dirk MacKnight DESIGN Greg Gilman CLASS NOTES COORDINATOR Becky Cummings

GA ZETTE

SPRING 2012

feature items PAGE 6

Interview with Dan Kunkle The GAzette sat down with newly retired Head of School Dan Kunkle to talk about his tenure at Gould, the school’s challenges and opportunities, and his plan for July 1, 2012.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Wendy E. Penley, President Charles A. Jacobs ’66 P ’03, Vice President Christine S. Teague ’66, Secretary Brian E. Blake ’73 Chris L. Brooks ’99 Dr. Donald M. Christie, Jr. ’60 C. Conway Felton III P ’99, ’02, ’05 Betsey B. Fitzgerald P ’03, ’06 Mary D. Gale P ’01, ’03 Johann H. Gouws Deborah F. Hammond ’61 Dr. Frank D. Lee P ’10 Dr. Glen W. McLaughlin ’88 Stephanie W. Montgomery P ’00 Richard H. Packard ’66 GP ’10, ’11, ’13 Marsha G. Planting P ’03 Richard H. Ramage ’61 Hope Schroy P ’04, ’07 Jan L. Skelton ’84 Sarah S. Taymore P ’09, ’11 Dr. John R. Vinton ’59 The GAzette is published twice a year by the Communications Office at Gould Academy.

We welcome your letters, story ideas and photos.

TO CONTACT THE EDITOR: Tucker Kimball | Director of Communications 39 Church Street | P.O. Box 860 | Bethel, ME 04217 kimballt@gouldacademy.org | (207) 824-7778 ON THE COVER: Dan Kunkle in the newly renovated Sanborn Family Library in Hanscom Hall.

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Look Both Ways Brian Walker ’83 came back to Bethel earlier this year to talk with english students about writing, his experience at Gould, and why it was important for him to write Black Boy White School.

Just Like Dad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hearts of Gold at Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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departments Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Around Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-25 In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

© 2012 Gould Academy www.gouldacademy.org

Developing the Whole Person Exploring the Whole World One Student at a Time

letters Dear Gould Community, When Richard Packard ’66, the board of trustees president at the time, called me in September to offer the head of school position, I had no hesitation in accepting. After months of research, two very intense and compelling visits, and meeting a host of great people, I was convinced. Kathy and I had seen all the pieces and accomplishments of this great school, but even that wasn’t the clincher. It’s something in the air of this place that Kathy described beautifully after our second visit: “Why do I feel homesick for a place I’ve never lived?”

What drew me to Gould initially were its humane spirit, innovative programs, academic strength, and natural beauty. The people, though, settled it. The students were bright, funny, caring, and passionate about their school. The faculty and staff were thoughtful, engaging, and clearly committed to Gould’s success. There is a ubiquitous enthusiasm about the community and its mission of educating “independent-minded, ethical citizens who will lead lives of purpose, action, excellence, and compassion in a dynamic world.”

Simply put, the school has the energy, talent, and resources to be a leader in responding to education’s 21st century challenges. Gould Academy has already developed advanced skills in helping students combine their pursuit of comprehensive and high level academic success with great accomplishment in sports and the arts. These skills in combination with Gould’s manifold human and natural resources present great opportunity for the long-term success of our students and the Academy.

Since I was selected in September, I’ve had the privilege of attending board of trustee meetings, working with faculty, staff, and administration on plans for 2012-13, and working closely with Dan Kunkle in hiring our new Director of Advancement Jeff Candura. In the coming year I will focus on developing relationships, understanding the school’s operations and culture, and building a common vision.

Meeting and listening to members of the Gould community plays a central role in this work. In addition to one-on-one meetings with faculty, staff, and trustees, we will host small gatherings on campus and in other cities where I will learn from alumni, parents, Bethel community members, and friends of Gould. I know your insights will prove invaluable. And, if you’re coming through Bethel, stop by for a cup of coffee!

Finally, it is a privilege to follow Dan Kunkle in this work. As I join the Gould community, I hope to honor his leadership and the legacy of the many talented leaders of the last 176 years.

Sincerely,

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Matt Ruby Head of School

hanscom dedication ceremony Gould formally dedicated the newly renovated first floor of Hanscom Hall on Saturday, May 5. The renovation included a reimagined Sanborn Family Library, a new faculty lounge, and updated administrative offices.

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1. Dan and Kathy Kunkle lead the ribbon cutting ceremony for the first phase of the Hanscom Renovation. | 2. English teacher Dave Bean and trustee Marsha Planting P ’03 3. Former Head of School Bill Clough | 4. Eric Ritter ’95 | 5. Head of School Matt Ruby with Susan Mason P ’12, Board of Trustees Vice President Charlie Jacobs ’66 P ’03 and artist George Mason P ’12 | 6. The ribbon cutting reception in Sanborn Family Library. | 7. Paul Maguire stands in front of the new classroom named in his honor in the Sanborn Family Library. | 8. Architect Scott Simons with trustee Dr. Frank Lee P ’10 and Carol Hall P ’10 in the new Samuel Bigelow Faculty Lounge | 9. Dan Kunkle and trustee Debby Hammond ’61

around campus GOING GREENER Science Teacher Pete Hedden and his advisees mounted solar panels on the roof of the McLaughlin Science Center during Gould’s Earth Day celebration. Jaime Frailey’s geometry class helped design the rack, which allows for the panels to tilt seasonally. The panels will find their way into the science curriculum as a solar energy feasibility study.

Left to Right: Alec Manning ’14, Sawyer Harkins ’14, Pete Hedden, Jeb Clarke ’12

Left to Right: Damian Dryjas ’12, Tutu Ekpebor ’12, Evan Fitzgerald ’12, and Matt Falconer ’12

COMMENCEMENT Gould presented diplomas to 79 seniors at its 176th Commencement on Saturday, May 26. Valedictorian Molly Siegel ’12 of Bethel, ME addressed her classmates under the tent. “We have spent the last four years of our lives being groomed to go out in the world and be successful, but I challenge you to define success in terms of your impact on the world,” she said. Siegel will attend Dartmouth College in the fall.

Keep up to date on all things Gould at:

gouldacademy.org/news-blogs

a spring to remember Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse

Cycling

The varsity boys’ lacrosse team beat Hebron Academy 15-3 to earn its third MAISAD title in a row.

The boys then made an impressive run in the New England Small School Lacrosse Tournament, losing in the semi-finals 15-10 to a strong Dexter School team of Brookline, MA.

The Gould cycling team wrapped up its 2012 season by bringing home the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) trophy.

Varsity Baseball The Gould Academy varsity baseball team reclaimed the MAISAD title after nine years, beating Hebron Academy 12-2.

Tennis Laura Laguia Garcia ’14 and Usua Larribau Aramburu ’14 took the MAISAD doubles title for the girls’ varsity tennis team, beating teammates Carolina Rodriguez ’13 and Maddie Whittier ’14.

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The boys’ varsity tennis team tied Kents Hill for the MAISAD championship, while Ron Ruiz ’12 and Yannick Voland ’13 took the MAISAD doubles title, beating teammates Michael Young ’12 and Brooks Layman ’14.

Dan Kunkle smiles easily in the newly renovated Sanborn Family Library.

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HEADING

OUT

An Interview With Dan Kunkle

Gould Academy Head of School 2001-2012

by Tucker Kimball Dan Kunkle first visited western Maine by canoe, nearly

Bill and Ki left here after 18 years. Anything that I think

thirty years before he would become head of school at

we’ve done to improve the place is building on that really

Gould Academy. The canoe trip left an indelible mark.

important work that they did for almost two decades.

“I instantly became enchanted by the beauty and serenity

One place I would point to where I have felt a great deal

of the Maine woods, mountains, and lakes,” he’d later

of progress over 10 years is just in the increasingly more

write in 2000 in his acceptance letter to Board of Trustees

effective work that we’ve done to support students and

President and alumus Al Ordway ’58. “I have journeyed

challenge students.

visit remain strong. It will be wonderful to return for a longer stay.”

We’ve instituted quite a few procedures, systems, means for review to watch after students in the academic program and advising program, and I feel very proud of the job that

Eleven years after that letter, Dan Kunkle is retiring from

we do delivering to one student at a time. To me that prob-

Gould and from a nearly 40-year career in independent

ably stands out above all else. That value was certainly here

boarding school education.

when we arrived, and I think it has only grown.

The GAzette sat down with him to talk about life as the

Everything I can point to has an awful lot to do with put-

head of school at Gould, the school’s challenges and op-

ting the right person in the right place. One of the most

portunities, and his plan for July 1, 2012.

satisfying pieces of my work as a head of school for 20

What are the top three moments that you are most proud of as Gould’s head of school?

I think that it’s always difficult to choose three not because there aren’t 100 to choose from. To commit to what’s most important is really hard.

years has been the work of finding the right people. I’ve really enjoyed that part of the experience.

We’ve really advanced the sustainability of the school as an institution through the last capital campaign and other efforts over the last 10 years. We have a school that has consistently experienced stronger enrollment profiles.

Kathy and I have always felt very good about the school

We’ve raised money to completely retire our capital debt,

that we found here when we arrived - the school that

which is something that was hard to imagine 10 years

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far and wide since that time, but the images from that

OVER THE YEARS

Dan Kunkle follows Bill Clough as the 48th head of school at Gould Academy.

Gould World

Using U.S. airliners, terrorists attack the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. on September 11.

2001

Former leader of Iraq Saddam Hussein is captured in Tikrit.

2002

2003

ago. We’ve weathered two very big storms financially - the months following 9/11 and the months following the 2008 recession. So, it wasn’t the most propitious decade in many ways to work on sustainability, but we’ve done that anyway.

The third would be the work over the last 10 years to fully develop and integrate our On-Snow program into the school. I realize that sounds a little foolish because we’re not done yet; we’re not there yet. But we’ve made tremendous strides.

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A new strategic plan is published focusing on individual learning, rich experiential programming, faculty compensation and professional development, and long-range financial sustainability.

The first public version of web browser Mozilla Firefox is released.

The ability to deliver that care for kids on a one at a time basis is going to continue to be very important.

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Google introduces Gmail to the public.

The Campaign for Gould Academy’s Future comes to a close after the formal dedication of the newly constructed McLaughlin Science Center.

We are on a great trajectory in terms of that program and not just in the competition area, given the fact that we’ve got a couple hundred kids at the mountain every

Gould begins plans to send its ninth grade class to China in 2008.

2004

Hurricane Katrina ravages the Gulf of Mexico.

Liquid water is discovered on Enceladus, the sixth largest moon of Saturn.

2005

afternoon in the winter, and given the publicity that we’ve seen recently with the Rugrats program and our work with Maine Adaptive Sport. (The On-Snow program) is a big broad program that involves 200 Gould kids and another 250 or more kids that are part of the weekend program, which we manage for Sunday River. Obviously, that’s a really complex undertaking to take something that big and integrate it into what is a pretty traditional independent boarding school model. I’m extremely happy with where it is, and I’m excited with where it can go.

Any moments over the last 11 years that you care not to relive?

I’m not going to answer that question. (Laughs.)

I don’t know about “care not to relive.” There are with this job a lot of very difficult moments and a lot of big challenges.

Just within this community that’s immediate, there are 350 to 400 lives when you include all faculty. There’s a big piece of human drama going on almost every day. Often times when the head of school is asked to be involved in that drama whatever it is, it’s challenging, and it’s painful, and sometimes it’s sad, or there’s a lot of anger or whatever in terms of negative emotions. That’s always hard; that’s very hard, and I’m ready to not have that responsibility now. But, rather than saying I regret having those

2006

Gould’s ninth grade travels to China for the Four Point Program for the first time.

Boyne Resorts purchases Gould’s “second campus” Sunday River Ski Resort.

Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces the iPhone.

2007

The H1N1 virus, or “Swine Flu,” is given pandemic status by the World Health Organization.

Gould introduces its one-to-one laptop program where every student and faculty member receives an Apple MacBook.

Matt Ruby follows Dan Kunkle as the 49th head of school at Gould Academy.

Gould celebrates its 175th anniversary.

After kicking off in 2008, Gould’s second comprehensive capital campaign, True Blue: The Campaign for a Greater Gould, raises $10 million in its first year.

Barack Obama is elected the 44th President of the United States, the first AfricanAmerican President in the country’s history.

2008

2009

The largest oil spill in the history of the United States occurs when a British Petroleum deep-water rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico.

2010

Al-Queda leader Osama Bin Laden is killed by U.S. Navy Seals in his hideout Encyclopedia in Pakistan.

Britannica discontinues its printed encyclopedia sets.

2011

2012 Sources: www.historyorb.com

experiences, I should say that I feel privileged to have

that’s been growing or gaining popularity for several

been invited into other people’s lives in that way.

generations if ever. It’s not a growth industry in that way.

I think it’s got to be the financial challenge, continuing to strive toward true sustainability.

I don’t know that it’s really declining either among the segment of our society that has always considered it, but there’s no indication that there’s going to be some kind of cultural change that’s going to make it easier.

So, you combine those things and you realize that we’re

There are a lot of inherit things that make it hard and

going to have to continue to work very hard to find

there a number of things that give you great hope too.

students, to find families to participate in this. But, at the

We’re not in an area of the country that’s experiencing

same time we are doing some things, and I’ve alluded to

any kind of strong demographic trends, so that means we

them before, that really give you hope that we’re going to

have to work harder by going outside of the immediate

meet that challenge and meet it very successfully.

region to continue to generate interest among families coming to Gould.

I think in this day and age that the ability to deliver that care for kids in all respect to their lives on a one at a time

We have a challenge with a respect to location. A lot

basis is going to continue to be very important, very sought

of schools that families look at when they’re looking at

after, also very expensive, and the expensive part is another

Gould are schools that lie along the I93 corridor in New

piece of the challenge. I think that the demand for that will

Hampshire, and it’s just much easier sell to a Boston

always be there if we protect it and keep it strong.

family in terms of the ease of travel and the frequency of

What’s the greatest opportunity for Gould?

getting up to school to see their kids play in games and stuff like that. So, we’ve got a location challenge, and we

It’s hard to think about one overriding opportunity for

have a demographic challenge.

Gould, and I think in a funny way that’s been one of our

The third piece of challenge, and this is all about the sustainability challenge, is the idea that boarding school in our culture and in our society has not been something

challenges for more than the past 10 years. We see opportunity in several big chunks, and so we do more than one thing; we do several things and doing several things well really stretches us.

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What do you see as the single biggest challenge facing Gould in the next 10 years?

The opportunities continue to be providing a really great

attention very quickly went from being primarily internally

program, providing great attention to kids individu-

focused to thinking about enrollment, student recruitment

ally, and looking for new opportunities that perhaps we

and admissions. That was a huge piece of a challenge that

haven't thought of or developed seriously that can help do

had to be addressed immediately and effectively.

these things, while at the same time balancing cost and complexity. Maybe part of the opportunity lies in ceasing to do some things that are not as attractive anymore in exchange for new things that really are. And, it’s not up to me to say what those are.

How has your thinking as a head of school evolved since your first year at Gould?

I thought of the role of head of the school as the sort of traditional headmaster role, the head teacher, the head of the faculty, one very much focused on the internal life of the school.

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That is related to a bigger change in a concept that is true everywhere now. You hear people talking about it everywhere. There are no longer headmasters; they’re all heads of school; they’re all CEOs. They’re all involved in the internal life of the school and trying to be good leaders internally, but they also have to be business leaders; they have to really understand the financial structure of the school; they have to understand the student recruitment part; they have to understand fund development and fund raising, and they have to understand communications. Those are the big operating pieces of it. The biggest of which, but only one of which, is the internal life of the school, which

It did not take long at all (Pauses.); 9/11 occurred on my sec-

used to be almost the entire focus. It used to be easy. No,

ond day of classes at Gould, and the financial challenges and

just kidding. (Laughs.)

the drop in enrollment began to occur shortly thereafter. My

What is your first order of business on July 1?

I am trying to grow a wild flower meadow right next to our house. We already have a really great view, but to have an even greater view out our living room window, I’ll probably be working on that.

I). We’re really grateful to have had the opportunity. We have huge admiration for this school, for the faculty, for the students, for the trustees. It’s just a very wonderful place, and I know it’s going to continue to be so and will get even better.

Any advice for the new guy?

Any last thoughts?

This has been a really wonderful 11 years for (Kathy and

No! And, if you want to publish that question and my answer it’s okay. (Laughs.)

Tracey Wilkerson

(Spanish teacher, Dorm Parent, Sustainability Coordinator)

& Pete Hedden

(Science teacher, Head golf coach, Dorm Parent)

Why do we give to Gould?

INSPIRATION.

We love the diversity of programs Gould is able to offer its students.

We give to the Annual Fund because we support an environment that encourages learning and growth in every aspect of life.

INSPIRATION. SCHOLARSHIP. GRATITUDE. OPTIMISM. PAYING IT FORWARD. PAYING IT BACK. RESPECT. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

Why will YOU give to this year’s Annual Fund?

Please make your gift today.

www.give.gouldacademy.org

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Just Like Tomi Chipman ’10 was sitting in an anthropology class at Bates College in Lewiston, on a pre-med track, and realized she’d rather be out in the field with her dad.

By last fall, she’d made up her mind.

When she graduates, Chipman wants to be a farmer.

Story by Kathryn Skelton

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Reprinted with permission of The Lewiston-Auburn Sun Journal

Doug Chipman stands with his daughter, Tomi, in one of their greenhouses in Poland. Tomi, a student at Bates College, plans to follow in her father’s footsteps and be a farmer. |Photo by Jose Leiva / Sun Journal

history. Chipman will be the eighth generation and the first woman to carry on a family tradition that goes back to farmer Ben Chipman in 1781.

Her parents are stunned. But happy.

It’s worked.

"We’re one of the bigger farms in southern Maine for what we do," he said.

Ben Chipman’s original 1700s acreage, on Range Hill Road, is still in the family. He’s buried in the family

"Even last week, Mom said, ’You sure you don’t want to be

graveyard between the Chipman house and Doug’s

a doctor?’" Chipman said. "’No, Mom, I want to farm.’"

parents.

Tomi’s father, Doug, said he didn’t remember a de-

Doug and wife Elaine farm 60 acres in Poland, Minot,

finitive, "I-want-to-be-a-farmer" moment. His father,

New Gloucester and Gray. The Chipmans have six

Ellsworth, had a few cows. He still hays.

greenhouses (with heat) and 11 hoop houses (without).

"Before I got out of high school I started growing vegetables and supplying other farm stands," said Doug Chipman, 51. "The end run was just to grow the farm and make it stronger."

After classes let out at Bates, Tomi spent April planting 3,000 tomatoes and 1,000 cucumbers, along with beets, lettuce, zucchini and other vegetables.

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Lots of people farm. Her decision holds a little more

It dawned on me ... I don’t want to be a physical therapist.

She used to join Doug in the vegetable fields when she

"It takes continually reinvesting, to spend money on

was as young as a year old.

land and new equipment," Whitcomb said. The field

"We’d go out picking peas," he said. "I’d have her sitting in front of me in the bushels."

Tomi, 20, was an alpine racer when she attended Gould Academy in Bethel, graduating in 2010. She’s

each other."

That can be work, he said.

Tomi has seen firsthand, and Doug has warned, that

sport. She picked the college for its intimate feel, like

farming is hard. There are long days from April to Oc-

Gould, and started two years ago thinking she’d go into

tober. There’s more pressure on land every year.

"We get the winters off. Nothing grows in the winter;

"It wasn’t clear-cut that I wanted to farm until I went to

I’ve tried," Doug Chipman said. "We’re better off resting

college last year," she said. "It dawned on me ... I don’t

and we give it hell when things warm up again."

want to be a physical therapist."

He also skis and ski races. Tomi’s name came from a

The great outdoors, and the chance to work with dad,

cover model on a ski magazine. She has a younger sister,

beckoned. A junior at Bates this fall, she plans to finish

Alana, who will not be farming.

her degree in biology.

"We’re definitely a team and I really, really like that," Tomi Chipman said. "We really need each other to get things done around here. He’s taught me how to work hard, just watching him. He has built it up over 30 years; I don’t want to see that go to waste with what he’s done."

"My sister calls me crazy all the time," Tomi Chipman said. The last time, "all I could do is laugh at her."

The Chipmans have farm stands in Poland on Carpenter Road, on Route 26 in Gray and on Route 302 in Raymond, and have a field of pick-your-own strawberries on Goodwin Road in Minot that Tomi will start staffing this weekend. The family sold its popular

Doug Chipman is still marveling a bit.

Pumpkin Land to Harvest Hill Farms three years ago.

"Seven generations of ignorance — we figured we’d

"This farm’s constantly changed over seven generations,"

educate the eighth and she still wants to be a farmer,"

Doug Chipman said. "She’s going to have to find her

he said.

niche."

But there’s pride in his voice.

For the first time this year, the Chipmans started a com-

Maine Agriculture Commissioner Walter Whitcomb said it’s rare to hit eight generations, though he has

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family, "but it means that you all have to get along with

now president of Bates’ Competitive Ski Team, a club

physical therapy.

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is so capital-intensive that it makes sense to pass on to

heard of 10.

Maine has roughly 8,000 family farms, a number that’s been growing recently.

munity-supported agriculture program, selling shares of vegetables and calling it the Friends of the Farmer Club.

Tomi said she’s trying to think creatively for the future.

"I am determined to prove to people that small family farms are not a dying breed, that local and fresh are where it’s at," she said.

Why do I give to Gould?

Chris Brooks Class of ’99

GRATITUDE. I support the Annual Fund, and I volunteer as the alumni representative to the board of trustees, because I am grateful to Gould for giving me so much more than just an education.

INSPIRATION. SCHOLARSHIP. GRATITUDE. OPTIMISM. PAYING IT FORWARD. PAYING IT BACK. RESPECT. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Why will YOU give to this year’s Annual Fund?

Please make your gift today.

www.give.gouldacademy.org

breathe easy

The Gould Girls Ride team from right to left: Heather Hayward, Meredith Gadd ’04, Lauren Head, Rebecca Andreozzi, Molly Fitzgerald ’06, and Jorie Ohlson ’06

The Gould Girls Ride team finished their inaugural run in the 2012 Trek Across Maine on June 17. The annual three Thanks in part to a fundraising event thrown by Allison Stevens ’99 at the Thirsty Pig (Portland, ME) in May, the team raised $3,585 for the American Lung Association. For information on how you can join the team or make a donation for next year’s Trek, contact Jorie Ohlson ’06 at jorie.ohlson@gmail.com or (603)986-5812.

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day, 180 mile bike event takes teams from the western mountains of Sunday River to the Maine coast in Belfast.

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Brian Walker ’83 with his book Black Boy White School

Look

By Tucker Kimball

both ways lac erview w ith Brian F. W alker ’83 A hor of B t n I ut An

Like Walker, Ant Jones is an AfricanAmerican, born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. As a young teen, Ant leaves Cleveland to attend the fictitious Belton Academy, a small, predominantly white private boarding school in rural Maine.

The young adult novel explores race relations and cultural identity through Ant’s navigation of two selves – “Ant” from Cleveland and “Tony” as he is called at Belton.

The identity conflict for Ant is a subject of concern for Walker, who has spent 17 years working in independent schools, including three at Gould, and has seen African-American and Latino boys struggle with their identities amidst the prep school experience.

Walker came back to Bethel and visited Gould earlier this year to talk with students about writing, about his experience at Gould, and why it was important for him to write Black Boy White School.

The GAzette caught up with him for a brief interview between classes.

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It is not difficult to see the parallels between Gould Academy alumnus Brian F. Walker ’83 and Anthony “Ant” Jones, the protagonist in Walker’s new book Black Boy White School .

k Boy W hite Scho ol

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

From the time that I was very little I always wrote stories.

Like, when I would get grounded or something at home, I would write these long letters to my parents why perhaps I should be lifted from being grounded a week early.

So, writing has always been something I’ve done.

I’m not just saying this because I’m here, but I never thought about being a published writer until I came to

of that, to have a couple teachers who said, you could actually do this; you could actually be a writer, that made me feel great. So, I was not afraid anymore.

So, why this book? Where did the idea come from?

One of the things I’ve noticed at different prep schools is that particularly African-American and Latino boys, for whatever reasons, are not doing so well.

Gould. Bonnie Pooley was the first teacher who told me, “hey, you can write.”

I’d always wanted to write, but she was the first teacher to say you’ve got something there. I didn’t really believe her. But then, when Debbie Dohrmann came along and picked up on what Bonnie Pooley told me, I was like, wow, these are two teachers in a row who have said this.

Maybe I’ll put some more time and energy into it

I was a student at Gould, then I

Even though these are preparatory schools, a number of these kids who have gone to these schools, not only did they not get their college degrees, but some of them even wound up in prison. So, what are we missing?

and try to make it happen.

That must have been a great feeling.

It was great, because I got to tell you, (Pauses.) I remember sitting at my dining room table crying, bawling, because I was afraid that I was going to have to be put into special education classes, because of the stereotype that I was bringing with me. I’m going to a private school? I’m going away to a school that was predominantly white? They’re all going to be smarter than me. I am going to be behind. This was all the stuff that I was thinking about coming into Gould. So,

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then I came here and saw that there were white kids who were pretty damn smart, but then there were some who had to struggle in the same ways that I had to struggle, and that made me feel good. And then on top

taught at Gould, and now I’m in Massachusetts where you can’t go a block without tripping over a prep school. I’ve coached basketball and made a lot of friends at different prep schools and have visited a lot of campuses. Even though these are preparatory schools, a number of these kids who have gone to these schools, not only did they not get their college degrees, but some of them even wound up in prison. So, what are we missing?

I think about this book Best Intentions: The Education and Killing

of Edmund Perry. It’s about this kid who graduated from Phillips Exeter. He was an African-American from Harlem. When he was at the prep school, he became “Eddie from the city.” He became this stereotype, this caricature. They expected him to be a good basketball player. Because he was from the city, they expected him to know how to get drugs or this that or the other thing. So he tried to learn how to do it, but it really wasn’t who he was. He wound up being this really, very angry dude. So, after graduation he got a full ride to Stanford, and then in the summer he’s out in New York with his brother and they’ve got a lot of anger in them. Here comes along this white dude, and they attack him. It turns out the white dude is an undercover cop who shoots and kills Eddie.

Brian Walker ’83 talks to senior English students.

So, I’m thinking about that; I’m thinking about dudes

fictionalizing it. But by the time I was just about done

who I know who went to prep school that wound up

with that, my agent called me up and said, “Hey, re-

in prison. For economic reasons many of us had been

member that thing that you did? The market is right for

given financial aid, so I’m thinking there’s still this price

it now.” By this time five to six years had gone by, so I

that folks have to pay with their identity, their cultural

had to revise it and make it more contemporary.

still a price that has to be paid. All of those things came into my thinking in trying to write this book.

Wow, I’m sorry hear that about your grandmother. That must be a tough memory while you are on campus.

What was the process of getting this book published?

Yeah, it is. But at the same time that calendar year my

I wrote it and got an agent because of it, but my agent

shot and killed in front of us, and another three friends

told me that the market at the time was not good

of mine were shot and killed by their father while they

for young adult, so she wanted to know if there was

were sleeping. Then, that summer – ironically as a “this

something else that I could work on. So, my mater-

has been a tough year for everybody, let’s all go out and

nal grandmother was a teacher in Cleveland. She was

have a celebration” – we all went out to an area called

murdered when I was in ninth grade. I was in Davidson

Metro Parks in Cleveland, where we played football.

Hall when I got the phone call. I’ll never forget that. We

Two of my friends wound up drowning. I was the only

never found out who did it. Somebody shot her in the

one there who knew how to swim, and I tried to save

back. (Pauses.) I forgot where I was going with that; that

them, and I got cramps and almost drowned myself. It

memory was kind of messing with me.

was crazy. So, when I think about my grandmother all of

You were talking about the process of getting the book published.

So, I started writing about my grandmother but

grandmother got murdered, another friend of mine got

these other things come up too.

That’s where a lot of this stuff…(Pauses.) I know it’s harsh - the guy Mookie smacking the girl in the begin-

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identity. Even though fiscally you’re taken care of, there’s

ning (of the book), a lot of the language like dropping

I wanted to call the book Look Both Ways. I thought it

the n-word everywhere - but it’s a reality. You know

was a loaded kind of title. Look both ways, because the

what I mean? It’s like, how do I depict this? How can I

kid has to dress differently at the school so he has to

be realistic but not overly graphic? And, I don’t know if I

look differently. Look both ways as a cautionary tale, so

was able to pull that off or not, but I just wanted folks to

if you’re thinking about prep school you better look both

understand where this kid was coming from.

ways, because even though you might get financial aid

A lot of the folks who work in these independent schools, a lot of us – because I am one of them - don’t really know where some of these kids come from. We make the mistake sometimes of assuming that ’oh here’s

there’s a sacrifice you make. Look both ways; look at it from both sides of the issue. Anthony faced some stereotyping, but he brought in some of his own prejudices and stuff too.

a kid of color, they come from the inner city and their

(The publishers) were like, “Black Boy, White School.”

mom smoke’s crack.’ No. No. It’s not a monolithic

I thought, No! That’s awful! They said, “Trust us we’re

group. It’s like not every white guy you see is rich. It

going to market this to young adults.” I said, “I teach

doesn’t work that way. So, the same is true for both

kids right now. I asked them what they thought of the

sides. So, for this particular story I wanted to make sure

title, and they liked Look Both Ways better than Black

I was as close to reality or the truth as possible.

Boy, White School.” They said, “That’s great input. No.”

A lot of people ask me about the scene where Mookie

So, it was the same thing with the cover. I didn’t like

gets killed. Is that real? No, but I’ve seen so many people

the cover, although I like the cover now. It’s grown on

who have been shot. I have family members who have

me. The way they explained it to me is that you get four

shot people. I’ve got friends who have killed people. I

to eight seconds. That’s all you get to grab somebody

have friends who have been killed. Two of my cousins,

at the bookstore. Unless they’re looking for your book,

one 16 the other six, this was maybe 10 years ago, they

something about the title, something about the cover

were murdered. I had to clean my six year-old cousin’s

has got to grab them even if it disturbs them. And Look

brains up off the floor at my Aunt’s house.

Both Ways, the way they explained it me, people would

I hate to say this, but this is Cleveland. It’s not a glamour city. If you say stuff like this is happening in Boston, Chicago, New York, or L.A., people are like, “oh, yeah, yeah.” But when you say Cleveland, they say, “What?”

They don’t even think about it. I don’t want to give too much away, but the kid has a real identity issue at Belton

have looked past it. So, I just got to trust them on that.

I can’t stand the fact that I had to pare the book down as much as I did. There were lots of things that I had in there that I think were important and should have stayed, but admittedly, things that might not have made prep schools very happy with me.

Academy because everyone thinks he’s from New York.

If I’m fortunate enough to ever get on the Oprah Book

They won’t even say he’s from Cleveland.

List it would give me an opportunity talk about this one

What was the publishing process like?

issue that I have with prep schools in general. It’s not that I have a problem with them, it’s just that I’d like to

The process was just awful. I went to a conference in

make sure that folks are made aware of the cultural price

Philadelphia and there was a dude named Wes Moore

that some kids have to pay when they go to any of these

who wrote a book called The Other Wes Moore. What he

schools. But, at the same time in doing so I could talk

was saying at the conference was that he had no say in

about this place. (Smiles.) This place was great - Gould

the cover, in the title – none of that stuff. That’s exactly

Academy in Bethel, Maine.

what my experience was.

Hearts of Gold at Gould Story and Photography by Deirdre Fleming

Reprinted with permission of The Maine Sunday Telegram

Liam Gillis ’13 helps instruct a visually impaired skier at Sunday River. Gillis helped Gould Academy set up the portion of its ski instructor program that works with Maine Adaptive Sport. Gould’s ski instructor program has taught local children for 25 years.

Enthusiastic, energetic student instructors at the academy have given lessons in the Rugrats program to many children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to try skiing.

And this year for the second winter, the Rugrats have helped athletes with disabilities at the Maine Adaptive

Sport program, formerly Maine Handicapped Skiing.

Of the 230 full-time students at Gould this year, 40 help the Rugrats program, teaching 230 elementary school students. It’s a situation where they get more than they give.

“Because we ski every day, we don’t appreciate what we have. We don’t realize how lucky we are to get to ski.

But each week when we teach the students, we see their excitement,” said Gould senior Mirina Sato of Tokyo.

“That makes me realize some kids don’t get to ski. This is the only way many of them can ski.”

Last year the folks at Maine Adaptive Sport looked at the high-energy high school skiers leading parades of youth around the mountain and considered the

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Gould Academy in the White Mountains has inspired young skiers since it was formed in 1836. Its ski instructor program, started a quarter of a century ago, is new by comparison. But it has taught thousands of elementary school children in surrounding communities to ski.

possibilities. Since they’re on the mountain every day anyway, why not recruit them to help instruct athletes with disabilities?

The Gould students were intrigued. Last year, five signed up. This year, nine are helping Maine Adaptive, including three who returned.

“It’s awesome. The work is physically demanding.

These young students are fit and better skiers.

And having the high schoolers lends an air of credibility. They’re a breath of fresh air, a burst of energy,” said Maine Adaptive Sport Outreach Director Eric Topper.

Liam Gillis of Boston tried helping in the more challenging program last year, and as a sophomore became a champion for the cause.

He started a Facebook page to invite other Max Thorman of Crescent Park Elementary School is held by Robyn Kanter as Margaret Adams ’12 provides instruction.

Gould students to the new program, and now plans to get certified as an adaptive instructor through the Professional Ski Instructors Association. “It’s fun coming up here every day, and the people show you how much you help them. I love spreading the word to the whole Gould community,” Gillis said.

Rugrats program means to local kids. She’s from Tampa, Florida, and only learned to ski when she came to

tried adaptive ski coaching last year. She plans to do her

Gould.

in Alaska. She believes the adaptive culture at Gould will grow. “I think this is intimidating to some kids. It requires a little more responsibility and some kids are nervous about that. But at Maine Adaptive, they’re all really happy we’re here,” Adams said.

It’s an extension of a program that has spread winter smiles for decades. For 25 years, the Rugrats program

“The kids always, always want to ski. It makes me more excited to ski, even in the cold days. If the kids are happy, then you’re happy,” Rowe said as she rode the chair lift with two fifth graders.

Carol Rodriguez also is new to skiing, having grown up in Madrid. In her second year skiing, she wanted to give back the same way Rowe did.

has taught third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at no charge,

“I like seeing the kids with that smile on their faces

while Sunday River also has provided rental equipment

while they learn something new. They love it, you can

and ski passes for free. Three years ago Sunday River

tell,” Rodriguez said.

expanded its role, offering free lessons and rentals to area

the GAzette

Gould senior Eliana Rowe knows how much the

Margaret Adams of Anchorage, Alaska, is another who senior project this spring on the same program offered

22

River ski instructor Meredith Harrop of Newport, R.I.

school kids from kindergarten through second grade.

The take-home message to the Gould students? They

“A lot of these kids, this is the only time they get to ski.

would not be able to ski. This is their only chance,” said

Some of them have never ever been here before and they

Gould senior Nick Schwarz.

live right at the doorstep of the mountain,” said Sunday

are lucky mountain people. “The majority of these kids

class notes Class Agent: Carol Robertson LeClair Spring came early here. Our desert in southern Arizona is beautiful with colorful wildflowers…courtier lupine, Mexican gold poppies, owl clover, desert globe mallow, Indian paintbrush, and many more.

Alice Pierce Keddy and I had a nice telephone visit recently. She is fine and busy with the family and volunteer work. I am saddened to report the death of Beatrice Forbes Lowell’s husband, Frank, who died in early February. Our sympathy to Bea and her family.

I recently chatted with Dave Hawkins and his wife, Nancy. They are well and looking forward to a visit soon from their son and family who live in Germany.

Let me hear from you! My email is gilcarlec@cox.net.

1946

Class Agent: Ruth Ault Barbro Freese Morrison is doing fine in South Florida and is looking foward to her 85th birthday in August. Plans are to have a family and friend reunion around August 9, 2012. All friends are welcome to attend. If you are willing and able to attend, please contact her son, Gordon, at gordonm110@att.net.

1948

Class Agent: Evelyn Vinton Beliveau Ed and Ruth ( Judkins) Bailey have lived in Florida for ten years. Ruth’s current project is visiting nursing homes to interview residents about their lives.

After writing up a life history, Ruth gives a copy to the resident to give to his/her descendants. Most of their travel is to Iowa to visit their son (retired military) and his family.

Martha (Hezzie) Crocker Dobrowolski is still in New Haven, CT. She has grandchildren living in Seattle, Texas, and Chicago.

Ed Swain and his wife, Eleanor, are still living at Lake Keowee in the northwest corner of South Carolina. Ed plays golf about twice a week and Eleanor plays tennis almost every day. They still enjoy summers at their camp on Mooselookmeguntic Lake near Rangeley. Ed kayaks and sails regularly and enjoys gardening, hiking, and picking berries. Ed is looking forward to his 65th class reunion and would love to see classmates at home or in Maine in the summer.

1952

Class Agent: Janice Lord Mott Warner “Skip” Chandler has settled into his new home with his daughter and son-in-law, who have provided an “in-law” unit. He writes: “ I am very sorry to see the losses of some students that we shared going to school with but I guess that’s life. I am fortunte to have 10 grandchildren and also three greatgrandies. They all are doing very well – job wise and educational. I am retired from the Foxboro Water Department since 1998, but see the men and vehicles every day as I live on the roadway corner to the main pumping station. I walked to work for 33 years on the same street only five minutes away from the house where I now live again. I hope and plan to see you all this fall.”

I want give you a general picture of events for our 60th reunion. Reunion weekend is September 28, 29 and 30.

Friday 6 p.m., Alumni Reception/Dinner - Saturday 11:45a.m., Parade of Classes/Alumni Luncheon/Class Photo ~ Saturday, a bus tour of the Bethel area - Saturday 5:30p.m., 1952 gathering at Rooster Roadhouse for drinks and socializing - Saturday 7:00p.m., party/catered dinner at Kathy and Don Bennett’s Sunday 9:30a.m. - 12:15p.m., Farewell Brunch at Gould.

Sandra Stowell Seaver is planning the dinner at Bennett’s, and it’s only a quarter mile from the Rooster Roadhouse. At our 55th we had a wonderful time there and had a chance to visit and catch up on all those years! There are many other things

to do on campus or in town while you are there. You won’t find an easier airport to fly into than Portland; and renting a car is a snap. I have done it several times and enjoyed the drive to Bethel. You will receive the reunion information and registration form from Gould later in the year, and you must register and sign up for the meals (which are $5 cheaper if you get your form returned by a certain date).

As far as the class dinner on Saturday night I will let you know that cost in my next card, as well as the names of places to rent a room. Let me know the number of people planning to attend the dinner when you respond to me about whether or not you plan to attend Reunion. The Reunion weekend is the 5th weekend in September so the foliage should be good.

There traditionally have been at least 22 of the class returning. Given we were a class of 59, and sadly lost 15, that leaves about 22 more to make the return for this very special reunion. So your job is to: 1.

Let me know if you A: plan to attend, B: are hoping to attend or C: definitely won’t attend. 2. Are you attending the class dinner & how many? 3. Bring high school artifacts/treasures/photos to show and share. 4. Be sure to fill out the reunion form when it arrives. My address is: 104 Hoy Ct., Cary, NC 27511. My email is jmaine4321@gmail.com. Phone: 919-467-2001. I look forward to getting your responses. Please respond!

1956

Class Agent: Ann Hastings Morton Alan Lamson’s love of skiing continues as he volunteers regularly with Maine Handicapped Skiing at Sunday River.

Martha Daland Bergen and I met for lunch last spring in NYC. Ann was preparing to walk with her team, the Dairy Heirs, in the Revlon Run/Walk. When she goes this year for the fifth time, she and Martha hope to meet again. They are catching up on 55 years of news!

Howard West is enjoying improved health this winter. He has volunteered to

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1944

host another ’56 gathering at his home this summer.

Peg and David Willard plan their July trip to Maine around Mollyockett Day and the Music Without Borders piano festival at Gould. A class of ’56 minireunion is always held during their visit.

Merle and Gloria Wilson White revel in their warm winters in Arizona, where they both enjoy golf. They return to Bethel for the summer months...the best of both worlds!

1958

Class Agent: Michael S. Stowell After 25 years of RVing during the summer months Kaye Blake Blossey and husband Otto have now taken up traveling by car since they have traveled to all 50 states - 49 of them in their motorhome. They also have visited Australia where Kaye made connections with her pen pal whom she had for over 62 years.

Bethel is where they now have spent the past 10 summers seeing and visiting with former classmates, friends, and family.

Kaye finds it hard to believe next year it will have been 55 years since her class graduated. Where have those years gone?

Stanley Fuller sends the following news.

“I’ve been in the hospital but am doing fine now. I’ve been really busy with church: Our Holiday Harvest Fair and Silent Auction brought in nearly $7,000, $3,000 of which was from the Silent Auction. I was also in charge of putting on a Sacred Music Concert with four other churches involved - a great success.

The holidays were wonderful with our two year old grandson, Greyson. He is such a joy! The year 2012 is shaping up to being a very busy year. We will have a huge Tag Sale at church; doing a church cook book, and another Sacred Music Concert in December. Twelve other churches have been invited to participate.

That’s all for now.”

the GAzette

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Brewster Jordan sent the following news: “Best news - everyone is back to work!!

We are enjoying computer-chair travel to England as our granddaughter and her family recently moved there. Between their Facebook photos, Skype, and Google Earth, we are right there with them.”

I had a stroke in november which casued temporary blindness and some minor personality changes. After extensive testing, i've been prounounced well with no physical impairment, no loss of memory or mental acuity. I am back to my old charming Mike personality. I spent a week over Christmas with my son, Michael, daughter, Suzanne and family in Weymouth, Massachusetts.

Andrea Jean and I left for Australia on February 12th where we visited Perth, Broome and Geraldton, Australia, Bali, Indonesia, Darwin, Cairns (where we snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef ), Brisbane and Sydney, Australia. From Sydney we cruised to the Society Islands, i.e., Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, and other French Polynesian Islands. We also spent a week on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu before returning to Florida on April 1.

My book of Frank Newton’s diaries has been published and finally available for distribution. I hope to see many Gouldies and friends when I visit Bethel for two months this summer mid-June to mid-August.

1983

Class Agent: Tom Cole Paul Fuller has been busy making music with his sons, rappers ’A-Lex’ and Tavyboy and a third son, Producer King H. Brian Walker has written a book called Black Boy White School published in 2012

by HarperTeen an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Brian’s book is inspiring. Brian is teaching, coaching basketball and is an admissions officer at The Cambridge School of Weston, MA. He visited Gould in February for a book signing. It was well attended by current students, Brian’s former classmates and his Gould teachers.

I recently merged my real estate office in Brunswick, Maine with the Maine Real Estate Network. My wife, Gina, and I now live in Topsham, Maine with our four children Alisha, Emily, Hannah, and Thomas."

Ola Melin ’94 and Bill Clough

1994

Class Agent Needed Bill and Ki Clough visited Ola Melin recently in Sweden. Ola is a master gardener and head of all parks in the city of Malmo.

1996

Class Agent Needed Jarrod S. Crockett was admitted to federal court in the District of Maine.

Crockett is one of several attorneys in the law firm of Hanley & Associates who is a member of the federal bar. Congratulations, Jarrod!

1997

Class Agent Needed Shelley MacQuinn Jacobs and her husband Brian welcomed Reid Alden into the family on January 22, 2012. Reid was a healthy 8 lb 3 oz and was 20 inches long. Everyone, including Reid’s big sister, Miah, are doing well.

2001

Class Agent Needed Meg Favreau just published her first book, Little Old Lady Recipes: Comfort Food and Kitchen Table Wisdom. It’s a collection of grandma comfort-food recipes and sassy old lady advice, published by Quirk Books. She is currently living in Los Angeles, where she writes and performs comedy and serves as the Senior Editor of the frugal living and personal finance website, wisebread.com.

While on a recent trip to Sweden, Bill and Ki Clough caught up with Daniel Bodenfors, who works at the Photographic Museum in Stockholm.

of the summer for Team IAS. He has been happy to see the Gould program develop as it is apparently a great day to be a husky.

(CC: Will Graham!)

2005 Bill Clough and Daniel Bodenfors ’01

2003

Class Agent Needed Kaitlyn T. McElroy is currently living, working and training at the Oklahoma City National High Performance Center.

She joined the Sprint Kayak World Cup circuit last year and paddled away with a bronze medal at the second world cup in the K2 1000m. Later in the season she got to compete at the Pan American Games in the K2 500m and came away with a Bronze medal. While she is competing on the National Team she is also going back to school at Oklahoma City University.

2004

Class Agent: Katie Reed Knapp Charlie Edwards is living the dream in western Massachusetts renovating his parents’ house and organizing lacrosse events year round. This spring he will once again coach the sport at Deerfield Academy and then directing U15 teams over the course

Class Agent Needed Kim Tremblay Randall and her husband, Jason, welcomed their daughter, Mia Grace, into the world on Tuesday, March 27. She was born at 2:55 a.m., weighed 7lb 10oz and was 19 inches long. Congratulations to Kim and Jason, and welcome Mia!

2011

Class Agent: Ashley Swan Jake Dorval-Hall performed with Matisyahu last November at the Boulder Theatre in Boulder, CO. The two performed a version of Matisyahu’s single Miracle that Jake was asked to remix by the artist for a new EP that was released before the tour.

SHOW YOUR

HUSKY

PRIDE! Mia Grace Randall ’30

2008

Class Agent: Kathleen Lanigan Congratulations to all the members of the class of 2008 who are graduating this spring. Let us know what your plans are, job, more school, travel or ???

store.newenglandapparel.com/gould

IN MEMORIAM Alumni/ae Margaret Bennett Baker ’39

11/8/2011

Frank A. Gibson ’48

1/25/2012

Mary Clough Keniston ’39

3/11/2012

Letitia-Joy Smith Gilbank ’51

4/18/2012

Albert W. Buck ’43

3/24/2012

Joan Conner Swallow ’54

Rachel Gordon Mayer ’43

4/18/2012

Peter T. Haines ’58

1/13/2012

Nora Chipman Schaible ’43

3/21/2012

Donald L. Rice ’61

5/21/2012

1/2/2012

Nelson O. Smith ’62

2/3/2012 3/2/2012

Phyllis Morrill Bancroft ’45

1/18/2012

Gordon R. Manuel ’65

Richard Kimball ’46

6/14/2012

Craig Davis ’71

Albert C. Smith ’46

4/6/2012

Stephen A. Maclin ’72

5/22/2012 5/1/2012

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Betty Burton Reid ’44

11/13/2011

GouldAcademy 39 Church St. P.O. Box 860 Bethel, ME 04217

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www.gouldacademy.org

HEADS UP Gould Heads of School: Bill Clough 1983-2001, Dan Kunkle 2001-2012, and Matt Ruby 2012

39 Church St. P.O. Box 860 Bethel, ME 04217

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