Retiring

DENISE ELLIOTT

Denise Elliott joined the Morristown Beard community in 2001 on a parttime basis in the Development Office before becoming a full-time employee as Assistant to the Head of Upper School.

Her office has always been a friendly and welcoming place where students and faculty alike feel at home.

At MBS, she helped coordinate the faculty and staff early bird swimming group in Rooke Pool for many years. Outside of work, Denise is an avid skier, and she has worked in ski security on the slopes at Shawnee Mountain. She is the proud mother of two MBS graduates: Charles, Class of 2003, and Spencer, Class of 2006.

“There were so many people who helped me transition to MBS when I arrived, but I can’t think of anyone who was more instrumental in helping me join the community than Denise. She was always there to remind me of the important details I needed to know, and her flexibility as we navigated the various challenges associated with the pandemic helped our office continue to run smoothly. It will be hard not to see her each morning, but I'm so happy for her to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.”

— Ryan Liese, Head of Upper School

“Denise has been an absolute gem to work with in the Upper School office. Her kindness, empathy, and nurturing nature have made a difference in the lives of hundreds of students, as well as her fellow colleagues.”

— Rocio Romero, Director of Academic Scheduling & Analytics

“Ever since I came in eighth grade, I remember the excitement of going through the Upper School. The transition seemed scary at first, but one of the first faces I saw was Ms. Elliott. Her vibrant spirit and energy quickly calmed my nerves while touring the Upper School. Since that day she has been a happy face on campus, and even when my day started off slow when I came in late, she still put a smile on my face. I wish her nothing but the best.” — Annie Sherman ’22

“Ms. Elliot is one of the kindest people on campus. No matter how long you’ve known her, or how many times you have been in to see her, she will always greet you with a kind smile. Throughout my seven years at MBS, she has been a consistently calming presence and I will be sad to see her go, but I wish her the best in the future.”

— Anjalika Shah ’22

“I’m not the type of person who is always punctual, so my encounters with Ms. Elliott have been frequent. Her kind demeanor and friendliness were the perfect start to mornings that started with unexpected traffic or accidentally missing my alarm. I’m grateful for the small actions that Ms. Elliott has done over the past four years and wish her the best as she enters the next steps in her life.” — Tyler Zakhary ’22

DR. LINDA SISCO

Dr. Linda Sisco joined the faculty of the MBS Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) in 2010 after working in the public-school setting for 25 years as both a Special Education Teacher and Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant.

As a CTL faculty member, Linda has supported both Middle and Upper School students with a focus on identifying strategies to maximize student success. She taught a 6th grade quarter class called Focus on Learning and Tech for eight years and has supported Middle School students during the afterschool Guided Homework program. Linda has also worked with the MBS Mentor/ Mentee program designed to support new MBS faculty. In addition, she was instrumental with initiating and implementing the Summer Start Program and has taught in this program for nearly 10 years. Linda has made numerous presentations to parents and faculty over the years on topics such as Executive Functioning in Middle School, Organization and the Adolescent Brain, Accommodating Learning Differences in the Classroom, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Dyslexia.

Outside of school, Linda enjoys spending time with her family and pets, which have included dogs, cats, and parakeets.

“What’s so notable about Linda is her guidance, gentle understanding, and connections with students and faculty alike. As a life-long learner it is not surprising that when asked, “What are your plans for retirement?”, Linda smiles and replies, “Explore, I’m going to explore........everything,” once again showing us how to tackle the next phase. While she will no longer be found in South Wing, her spirit and impact will remain with the CTL as well as throughout campus continually shaping how we support one another.”

— Katie Pepper, Learning Specialist

“Linda exemplifies the perfect balance that a teacher needs when supporting students; when to assist, when to encourage, and when to ask hard questions. She is simultaneously positive in her outlook and honest with her concerns. Linda believes that all students have the potential for greatness if they receive the right amount, frequency, and type of support. Her impact on the welcoming culture of the CTL cannot be overstated.”

— Kim Pottratz, Director of Center for Teaching & Learning

“Linda Sisco was a consummate professional, and it was my honor to be able to call her a co-worker and mentor these last two years. Linda’s professionalism was only usurped by her sheer grace of character and care for her students and the Morristown Beard community. Thank you, Linda, for all that you have done, and I wish her the best in retirement.” — Brandon Jefferson ’09, Learning Specialist

CHRIS FINN

Chris Finn began his career at MBS in 1985 as an English instructor. During his first 15 years (in addition to his teaching responsibilities), Chris coached golf and volleyball, advised the School yearbook and newspaper, established and advised Contemporary Music Workshop (CMW), and ran the first Computer Writing Center in the “old” Grant Hall basement.

In 2000, Chris traded his English “teaching cap” for a pocket protector and joined the Technology Department, where he supported the MBS technology infrastructure and helped with faculty and student training and IT support.

After five years in IT and audiovisual support at the School, Chris re-entered the classroom, this time to teach courses including Digital Graphic Design, Digital Video Storytelling, and Music Production. These classes contributed in part to the earliest iterations of what now is called the Art & Design program.

Though his years at MBS, Chris had appreciated the many opportunities to change, grow, and learn, and he is deeply grateful for the many friendships he has found here. Outside of school, he is an active professional musician, performing on guitar and vocals throughout local Morris County venues.

A Tribute to a Special

Teacher – Patrick Garrity ’96

When I reflect on my time at Morristown Beard (Class of 1996), I’m reminded how unique my circumstance was, compared to just about anyone else. While I was only one of a number of “faculty kids” in that class, it was the specific role my parent had that gave me a somewhat singular high school experience. My Dad, Brad Garrity, was the Dean of Students at MBS for the majority of the 1990s. So before ever saying a word to anyone, I was already known by every other student. This presented some interesting dynamics for me, and throughout my time at MBS my reputation always preceded me (often far more impressive than the genuine article). I was all at once the greatest mole the School had ever seen, obvious snitch, subtle spy, and in many other ways, the only teenager who apparently somehow didn’t act like one. In hindsight these myths never really bothered me, and have made for a better story in the subsequent years, but I share my experience to provide context for the true reason of my writing: to share the profound impact one teacher had on my life, even with those unusual variables in place for me at the time.

I first met Chris Finn as an 8th grader in 1991. I was nervous in my new surroundings and he immediately helped me feel at ease in his English class. As a freshman I became involved with The Monitor, and was excited he was the advisor for the newspaper I would be a part of throughout my MBS career. I also chose multiple electives he taught, primarily because he taught them (even poetry, which was decidedly not in my wheelhouse). But our genuine friendship began in late 1993, when I watched Chris perform at a CMW show, and was not only impressed with his talent, but enamored by the way everyone looked at him and that guitar….I was instantly smitten with the instrument and because he was playing it, sheepishly asked my parents if I could have one. Unbeknownst to me, Chris helped them navigate that request with advice on what kind of first guitar would be suitable for me. He then spent countless hours of his personal time outside of school giving me some very informal but crucial lessons. Once I got the basics down, he (ingeniously) used my own insecurities against me so I’d start singing, was right next to me on stage for my first terrifying CMW performance in 1994, and slowly built my confidence by trusting me with growing responsibilities as part of the Music Workshop program for the next three years.

As I moved on to college, Chris continued to be a mentor, supportive and encouraging, not only allowing me to record some of my first original songs at his home studio, but also inviting me to sit in during his weekend gigs at area restaurants, providing me legitimate performance experience (while also often sneaking some of his hard-earned tips into my guitar case without me noticing). By the time I graduated and started my own bands on the side for fun, Chris was always among the first to genuinely ask how it was going, and again provided regularly valuable advice, feedback, and support to not only my music and songwriting, but my life as well.

The gift that Chris (and by extension Morristown Beard) gave me, was a passion for something. Like all great teachers, he recognized my interest, blew on the sparks of it, and kept giving fuel to the fire in a way no one else really could, so that I could explore and navigate it to its fullest. While music is not my full-time career (nor did I ever plan it to be), it remains the most satisfying thing I do. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been lucky enough to record multiple albums of my own material, and just about the only thing in common among them is that Chris Finn’s name is in the “Thank Yous.”

Chris and I are still buddies of course; no surprise to anyone who knows him, because anyone who calls him a friend feels exactly the same way about him as I do. I’m grateful we still keep in touch and get to hang out every so often, talk about the old days, and in the now 30+(!) years we’ve known each other, even occasionally still play some songs together; songs I first learned because he taught them to me. I could share countless more stories exemplifying the ways Chris repeatedly gave his time, humor, support, and wisdom for my benefit.

Upon his well-deserved retirement, I’d hope that anyone reading who knows, has worked with, been taught by, or played music with Chris, tells him how much they appreciate all the things he may have done for them. I hope as well that the School community at large recognizes what a selfless and (above all else) consistent asset and ambassador Chris has been for MBS during his career, especially acknowledging the less conventional ways he served students like me. I’m proud to be one small example of his legacy as an educator through the person that I became because we crossed paths. Good luck coach, thank you, and as always, I look forward to the next time we get to hang out and jam.

– Patrick Garrity ’96