Fond Farewells

Good Wishes and Fond Farewells

Goodbyes are always hard, and this year Harpeth Hall must wish fond farewells to several beloved faculty members as they head on to retirement. They will be remembered for their sparkle, creativity, and commitment to making our students and school the very best they can be.

Alice Bryant If Ms. Frizzle and the magic school bus had a librarian counterpart, it would be Harpeth Hall librarian Alice Bryant. Always that person with a twinkle in her eye whenever a student walked into her space, Ms. Bryant represented everything special that reading and libraries promote. In her 16 years at Harpeth Hall, she intuitively knew when a student might need a little extra time to chat or might need a little guidance in finding a book of interest. She was a mind-reader — or as one student put it a “palm reader” — when it comes to finding the right book for a student. As Molly Rumsey, director of technology, said, “She is an incredibly gifted and knowledgeable librarian, an enthusiastic, patient, and engaging teacher, and a loyal and dedicated colleague. I see that as a triple crown and it is no wonder that she won our Owen Chair for Excellence in teaching in 2015.” Now, Ms. Bryant looks forward to spending more time with her husband, children, and granddaughter.

Peter Goodwin An art and photography teacher at Harpeth Hall for 41 years and a masterful artist himself, Peter Goodwin provided the foundation for numerous Harpeth Hall alumnae who have gone on to establish careers in the arts. He created the school’s photography program and helped establish the state-of-the-art darkroom. His natural ability to teach across genres helped expand our Upper School elective program, both within and beyond the visual arts. A wordsmith of the highest caliber, he played an instrumental role in writing our Faculty Core Purpose statement. Throughout his time in the Upper School, he raised essential questions about the future of education, school culture, and the student experience. As Upper School Director Armistead Lemon remarked, “Receiving an email from Peter Goodwin was an event. He didn’t write often, but when he did, it was important and I paid attention. His missives were characterized by perceptive questioning, razor-sharp insight, and wry humor, always getting to the heart of what we aspired to do best as teachers and leaders.”

Stephanie Hamilton Although her work involves a stage, Stephanie Hamilton has never been one for drama. As a dance teacher at Harpeth Hall for 42 years, her keys to success for herself and for her students have simply been hard work and resilience. Ms. Hamilton embodied loyalty and dedication in her time at Harpeth Hall, and she never expected more from her students than she did of herself. One part of her magic has always been the way she built a family of dancers of all age groups. She began each school year by greeting her newest students with enthusiasm and joy and performing cartwheels down the walkway to McMurry. She received Harpeth Hall’s Owen Chair for Excellence in Teaching in 2010 and touched the lives of so many Harpeth Hall dancers. Equally inspiring is the grace with which she led our faculty procession down Souby Lawn each spring at Graduation. Ms. Hamilton will begin a new chapter in Minneapolis with her family.

Helen Berry Holland ’82 Anyone who has ever been a math teacher knows that part of the instruction takes place in a group setting — and just as much of it happens in the form of one-on-one tutoring outside of the classroom. Helen Berry Holland ’82 joined the Harpeth Hall faculty more than 13 years ago as a 5th grade math teacher and golf coach. Throughout her teaching career, Mrs. Holland was always available during those “extra” hours to help each individual student get to the next level of understanding. Afternoons, mornings, and even weekend phone calls, she was there to help. In much the same way, she was there as a colleague. She offered to teach any level of math that the Middle School needed each year, and she did it with a happy attitude and bright spirit. Low drama and steadiness were her M.O. and behind that steadiness, she cared deeply about Harpeth Hall as an institution, as her alma mater, and her daughter’s alma mater. She will always want Harpeth Hall to be the very best — and she did her part to help the school get there. Although this will be her last year teaching math at Harpeth Hall, she will continue as a coach and substitute teacher.