Farewell to Our Dear Colleagues

Lilani

Balasuriya

33 Years

Lilani’s approach to education holds equal measures of respect and care for every student. In short, hers has been a classroom of high standards in which students could learn and grow.

It was a daily practice in her classroom that her students always had opportunities to address their feelings and find solutions to be a caring community. It was also a tradition in her classroom that kids had opportunities to share cherished personal items every week and answer questions fielded by their peers. This afforded them the opportunity to be confident in front of an audience; to have their voice heard while being respectful to other voices.

For more than 30 years, she ignited curiosity in hundreds of young students, introducing them to poetry, classical music and a broad range of global perspectives early in their lives. There are generations of NCCS alumni who undoubtedly carry a deep-rooted love of learning with them to this day because of the seeds Lilani planted.

Additionally, she was involved in many facets of the community including teaching in the Horizons program for many summers, and she is the proud parent of Liani ’04 and Pria ’09

Lilani has brought integrity, professionalism and intellect to her practice with children, parents and colleagues. Her passion for the ideals of Country School shine through and foster community and connectedness.

Lilani has relocated to Florida with her husband, Roy. We wish her the very best as she begins this new chapter.

Fraser Randolph 33 years

Fraser started out his career teaching eighth grade in the Danbury public school system. A family friend whose children attended NCCS “harangued” him (his words) to apply for a job at Country School. When he finally took the advice and wrote to then-Head of School Nick Thacher, it turned out there was an opening in fifth grade. Fraser told Nick he would “try it” for a year. Thirty-three years later, hundreds of NCCS students, families and colleagues are certainly grateful he decided to make the switch.

Fraser epitomizes the experiential, hands-on approach that is such a quintessential element of a Country School education. Whether he is up on top of the Middle School roof for an egg drop or out in the field launching rockets, one can hear Fraser shouting with excitement right alongside his students. He always travels with a pack of trivia cards that can be pulled out for a quick quiz at a moment’s notice and a camera to capture the ways he sees his students shine. These are just a few of the skillful ways Fraser helps students feel included, welcomed and celebrated. As a sixth grade teacher, a Horizons teacher for more than 20 years, and basketball and baseball coach, Fraser is beloved by students and colleagues: In 1993–1994, he served as a faculty representative to the Board of Trustees; in 2002, his students nominated him for USA Today’s “Top 20” teachers; in 2010, he was chosen by his colleagues as a Faculty Chair.

An avid photographer with an eye for capturing authentic student joy, this year he focused his teaching on photography in our Arts Department and assisted in various classes and athletics, including coaching baseball and running his famous boat project for the entire sixth grade. As Fraser retires, we are certainly hoping he will remain near NCCS to take some photos, teach some math, ask some trivia questions, and generally bring his enthusiasm for the students to campus.

Michal Speck 36 years

Michal Speck nearly evenly divided her time at NCCS between teaching physical education (her first 16 years) and third grade (the most recent 20 years). One only needs to spend a few moments in her classroom to understand the ways that her background in physical education impacts the learning environment. Her students are active and engaged; each one knows their assignment and has the support they need to pursue their goal. Her students practice and practice and then they practice some more.

One of the first people on campus each morning (along with Fraser Randolph), Michal has always been an active and engaged member of the faculty. A natural leader, Michal is quick with a well-timed joke to lighten the mood or a thoughtful question to ignite a dialogue. She has served as a representative to the Board of Trustees and on various committees in support of faculty compensation and benefits.

The intentional care that Michal brings to her class, spending hours redesigning the classroom layout and planning lessons for her students, extends to the third grade curriculum, much of which she has had a hand in developing. No matter the nature of the planning, she keeps the students at the heart of all her preparation, even displaying photos of herself in third grade to remind her adult self what it is like to be the age of those in her care.

Michal and her beloved dog, Molly, have relocated to Delaware to be closer to family.

Dave Stoller 40 years

In many ways, Dave Stoller is the ultimate renaissance man. In his 40 years at NCCS, Dave has taught science, math, woodshop, technology, maple sugaring and even word processing classes here. He has coached basketball, football and lacrosse and chaperoned trips on the Appalachian Trail and to Nantucket.

He was also the school’s first technology coordinator and is currently the Director of Technology. Beyond that, he has been the health office and emergency services backup, was a faculty representative to the Board of Trustees, and is our resident meteorologist, often kind enough to answer 4 a.m. texts in the winter!

Patient, kind, funny and enthusiastic, Dave is always willing to lend a hand, whether it is something that is just not working or a new project in most any area, particularly those involving building, design, environmentalism, or technology. Many have a story of how Dave came to their rescue when they lost a file, when their email crashed or when their computer just stopped “working,” and many know that his willingness to help out does not recognize the normal bounds of our campus or of the work week or even the school year.

Though he came to NCCS before there were any computers on campus, it is the commitment and talent of people like Dave who have helped the school evolve and transition, responding to changes in the world and reinventing itself in ways that deepen its impact on our students.

Dave has joined wife Sue (who retired last year from Long Ridge School) in the Syracuse area to be closer to their children, Katie ’99 and Mike ’03, two grandsons and their beloved Adirondack camp, dock, boat and fly-fishing gear.