Spark hears from Collegiate School educators about values they cherish

TEACHERS' TAKE

All of our faculty and staff at Collegiate School are educators, and our School’s timeless values are present in each of their roles as they work to inspire care and focus in our students. They bring a daily abundance of excellence, honor and respect to their tasks, fostering a powerful love of learning within our entire community, a recipe that nourishes the hearts and minds of all Cougars. These values serve as guiding flames for our educators, all of whom bring a unique spark to the School’s learning experience. We spoke with a number of our educators and asked them to articulate what values and aspects of Responsible Citizenship they cherish and embody most in their work.

• LOUIS FIERRO •

Director of Information Technology

Love of learning. IT ensures that students and teachers have the technology tools they need to learn in their classroom, and I am an inquisitive thinker because I’m always trying to think about how to do things better and make things easier.

• JOHN DAU •

Global Scholar in Residence

We are all citizens of the world, and we matter to each other. I value community. I am a compassionate leader because I care deeply about people and their health and well-being.

• ZACK SCHROEDER •

Assistant Athletic Director

I act with respect for others. I respect all opinions, athletic opponents, teachers and adults. I’m a compassionate leader because I never ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t do too.

• DEBBIE MILLER •

Head of Lower School

I love community. We are all at Collegiate learning together and supporting each other. I am a compassionate leader because I work hard to support and care for people to the best of my ability.

• LANESSA WEST •

Director of Lower School Admission

Honor. I have to be honest and clear in all communication with families and students. I am a compassionate leader because I am thoughtful about how I share information about Collegiate.

• KATHRYN HEIDT •

Co-Lead Nurse

I have respect for children, parents, our community and everyone’s health and wellness. I am a compassionate leader because I adapt to the changing needs of children.

• CARROLL CAMPBELL •

Maintenance Supervisor

Excellence. I do my best to keep buildings working well at all times. I am a responsible citizen because I work hard to do my job well.

• LILLIAN HAZELTON •

Accountant and 1st Grade Assistant

I embody honor as an accountant with access to financial information and a love of learning as a teacher who supports students. I am a responsible citizen because I take care of Collegiate’s money carefully and support student learning.

• FRANK BECKER •

Lower School STEAM Coordinator and LS Engineering Teacher

I hold a love of learning in my approach to teaching. There is always more to learn — even teachers have a lot to learn from each other, our students and our wider community. I’m an inquisitive thinker because I’m always trying to better understand the world by asking questions.

• JILL MOUNTCASTLE •

Director of Parent/Family Relations

I respect each parent’s perspective, their dignity and their worth as fellow members of the Collegiate community. To be a compassionate leader, I reflect on what I learn from our dedicated parents and remain mindful of our common goals.

To learn more about charitable giving at Collegiate or how to create a charitable gift annunity of your own, contact Jason Chestnutt in the Development Office at 804.741.3945.

ESTABLISHING A LEGACY

THE WILEY FAMILY COLLABORATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE TO HONOR BOTH BETTY AND SUSAN WILEY.

In December of 2020, when Susan Wiley retired after 20 years as Assistant to the Head of School, she left behind a Cougar-sized legacy that will flourish within the Collegiate School community.

It’s the same legacy that Susan’s mother-in-law, Betty Wiley, left behind following her service in the same position, first as Assistant to the Head of School under Mac Pitt, then Rob Hershey ’66, from 1973 until 1995. Collectively, that’s 44 years of unwavering grace, kindness and professionalism given by the Wiley family. In addition, Susan and her husband Andy Wiley ’77 are proud parents of two Collegiate lifers, Colscon ’11 and Nash ’15. Despite all the time, energy and spirit the Wileys gave during their combined years here on 103 North Mooreland Road, they’re still discovering ways to encourage growth in our Cougar students.

In anticipation of Susan’s departure from her position, Andy discussed with Collegiate’s Development Team ways to honor the legacy of both his mother and his wife.

Andy collaborated with Jason Chestnutt, Leadership Giving Officer and Director of Gift Planning, to create a charitable gift vehicle that fulfilled that goal. They landed on the idea of creating a gift annuity, which, in exchange for assets transferred to Collegiate, allows donors to receive an income stream for life, including a tax-free portion.

“My role often involves assisting people who are seeking the right way to honor a loved one, extol an experience or praise an influential figure in their life,” Mr. Chestnutt says. “Many people don’t know that by giving a gift now, you can avoid paying capital gains tax, receive a charitable tax deduction and receive an income stream, provided by Collegiate, that will be there for you for the rest of your life. Gifts like these to Collegiate make a huge difference.”

Andy says the charitable gift annuity provides a customized solution and is a great way to give back to a community that has meant so much to his entire family for nearly 50 years. “The gift,” he says, “is for both the gratitude the family has for the transformational change Collegiate has had in our lives and to honor the careers of Betty Wiley and Susan Wiley.”

GIFT ANNUITY RATES AGE 1-LIFE 2-LIVES 55 3.7% 3.1% 60 3.9% 3.6% 65 4.2% 3.8% 70 4.7% 4.2% 75 5.4% 4.6% 80 6.5% 5.4% 85 7.6% 6.5% 90+ 8.6% 8.2%

Collegiate’s charitable gift annuity rates are recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities and only offered to residents in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The chart provided is based on an annuity for one or two lives. Ages for both lives in the chart are the same. Rates will vary based on the ages of the donor(s).

HONORING EDUCATORS’ INFLUENCE

TWO NEW ENDOWMENTS HAVE BEEN CREATED WITH MATCHING GIFT OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT FACULTY.

Endowments at Collegiate are invested for the long term and distribute a percentage of their value to finance a specific purpose. The Karen A. Pickett Endowment will provide money to help support faculty in the Lower School, and the John P. Coates Endowment will provide money to help support faculty in the Middle School. Through additional contributions made by others and good investment management, the families hope that the funds will one day grow to support full faculty positions.

Karen A. Pickett John P. Coates

In order to incentivize additional investment to support faculty, the anonymous donors have agreed to match every dollar donated by others up to $25,000 for each fund.

The two funds will help continue Collegiate’s commitment to creating a challenging and supportive educational experience that fosters the intellectual, moral, emotional and physical development of each student.

At Collegiate School, we inspire and lift each other up to be our best. Giving to the Annual Fund is an important way to support each student and teacher every year.

WHEN DOES THE ANNUAL FUND BEGIN AND END?

Collegiate’s Annual Fund (our fiscal year) begins July 1 each year and ends June 30.

WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE ANNUAL FUND?

The entire Collegiate community — parents, alumni, current and former faculty and staff, grandparents, parents of alumni and other friends.

WHAT DOES THE ANNUAL FUND SUPPORT?

All aspects of School life. From books and subscriptions in each of our three libraries to petri dishes in the science lab, your investment allows Collegiate to prepare our students to become responsible citizens, inquisitive thinkers and compassionate leaders.

HOW CAN I MAKE A GIFT TO THE ANNUAL FUND?

Credit Card

Collegiate’s website has a Giving Page (collegiate-va.org/giving/make-a-gift) that is a secure site where you can make a credit card donation or call our Development Office at 804.741.9706 and we’d be happy to help you.

Stock

We accept gifts of appreciated securities. Please call the Development Office: 804.741.9706.

Mail

Make checks payable to: “Collegiate School”

Collegiate School Development Office 103 N. Mooreland Road Richmond, VA 23229

Phone

Call our Main Development Office line: 804.741.9706.

Giving Form: Venmo:

103 North Mooreland Road Richmond, Virginia 23229

As a prelude to Convocation’s festivities, Seniors met with their Kindergarten buddies to read them some of their favorite books.