4 minute read
With Best Wishes
Ms. Byers is the type of person everyone needs in their lives. She is a friend, good counsel, an advisor, a friendly face in the hallway, and someone I know I can always count on.
— Neva Bass, ’21
Few are better at their job than Ms. Byers. If each of us were a little more like her the world would be a much more kind, prepared, prompt, and efficient place. Though Harpeth Hall will miss you dearly, we cannot wait to see all the lives you will enrich at MUS.
— Sophie Pilkinton, ’15
Jenny Byers leaves a legacy as a counselor, confidante, cheerleader, and advocate
To say that Jenny Byers raised the bar of Harpeth Hall’s college counseling program over the last 15 years is an understatement. A nationally recognized leader and one of the most knowledgeable and respected college counselors in the field, Ms. Byers has dedicated herself to helping students discover their best future and inspiring colleagues to be their best selves. Now, it is our turn to wish Ms. Byers the best. After an incredible tenure at Harpeth Hall, she moved to Memphis at the end of the 2020-2021 school year to be with her husband and pursue the next step in her continued career success.
Since 2006, Ms. Byers shepherded Harpeth Hall students and families through the college process with grace and aplomb. She brought students and families the very best expertise coupled with a genuine interest in each girl. She also served as a steadfast colleague and strategist alongside the last three Heads of School.
She contributed a wealth of knowledge about independent schools, colleges, and universities across the country, but, more importantly, she brought a quick mind and sharp problem-solving skills to all situations. A constant student of national trends in higher education, Ms. Byers put Harpeth Hall’s college counseling program in the top tier for independent schools locally and nationally. Her legacy will benefit students for years to come. Ms. Byers: You are way more than a college counselor, you are a mentor for how I want to be in the future.
— Kaili Wang, ’18
Harpeth Hall seeks to empower women, and when I think of this mission, I think of Ms. Byers.
— Millie Kirkland, ’19
After 17 years of service to Harpeth Hall, beloved faculty member Nancy Turner retired at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.
Some of my warmest and happiest Harpeth Hall memories originated in the theatre, gym, or lawn during a performance in which Ms. Turner had a hand,” Head of School Jess Hill said. “A beloved teacher, she set a high yet joyful bar for her students who rose to every public occasion under her leadership to share beautiful music with our community.
Ms. Turner joined Harpeth Hall in the fall of 2003, straight from working in England. Through the years, she took the choir and orchestra students on the road to experience renowned music programs at Southern universities. She executed expansive projects by hosting choirs from the southeast, and she directed performances celebrating female composers and benefiting Lwala.
If Ms. Turner is asked to do something, she does it well,” Ms. Hill said. “She filled our school with beautiful music and led our students to competitions in the state and region, almost always returning with a superior ranking.
When Ms. Turner took over the helm as department chair, she advocated for all areas of performing arts, always ensuring a solid place for music, theatre, and dance within our school program. Her commitment to the arts elevated Harpeth Hall’s program, and she is missed beyond measure.
