Beth Donnell-Kilmer, Kimberly Formisano & Connie Yepez

FACULTY FAREWELLS

Please join us in celebrating the careers of three remarkable individuals who are leaving Park at the end of this school year. Each of these educators has been an integral part of the Park community and will be greatly missed by students, families, and colleagues.

BETH DONNELL-KILMER

Academic Support Learning Specialist 1988–2021

When Beth joined the Park faculty as a Grade 1 teacher in 1988, she delighted in opening young minds to the joys of learning—especially the magic of reading. Ten years later, Beth became a core member of the Academic Support Department, where she was able to apply her extensive training in literacy. In her 23 years as a Learning Specialist, Beth has worked one-on-one with hundreds of students, helping them to understand their unique learning styles and attending to the smallest details to make sure that their work together has the greatest impact possible. During her long tenure, she has also served as a steady support for her students’ teachers and families, as well. Acting as a bridge between each student and their individual network of adults, Beth’s collaborative skills, dedication, and expertise truly enhanced the Park academic experience for her students. “Parents comment on Beth’s exceptional ability to meet students where they are academically and emotionally and draw them into learning,” remarks Debbie Henry, Director of Academic Support, “And I would agree with that!”

Beth is looking forward to enjoying her retirement with her husband, Larry, connecting more with her adult children (both Park alums), Noah ’06 and Gracie ’11, and to spending more time at their family’s home in Little Compton, Rhode Island. Beth will be developing her gardening skills, reading, and pursuing adventures near and far, including on her paddle board!

KIMBERLY FORMISANO

Lower Division Head 1995–2021

After 25 transformative years at Park—during which she raised her own two children, Ellie ’14 and Thacher ’16— Kimberly will look beyond Goddard Avenue for the next chapter in her career as an educator, where she hopes to focus on educational equity.

Kimberly, who first joined the Park community in 1995 as a first-grade teacher, was focused singularly on the craft of teaching at the first- and second-grade levels until 2013. Then, as the Director of Apprentices, Kimberly guided young teachers as they embarked on their careers in education, while simultaneously co-leading the School’s self study for the 10-year re-accreditation process and coordinating work inspired by the Park 21 Strategic Plan. In addition, during her first two years outside the classroom, Kimberly co-founded The Park School Institute for Transformative Education (PSite) which brought a greater focus to interdisciplinary learning at our school. In 2015, Kimberly moved into the role of Lower Division Head overseeing PreK through Grade 2. In 2017, she became Lower & Middle Division Head, and then led the charge to make Park a two-division school, with PreK–Grade 4 making up the Lower Division and Grades 5–8 as the Upper Division.

“Kimberly has been a thoughtful, determined, and compassionate leader, and a dedicated and cherished partner,” explains Head of School Scott Young. “Like everyone else with whom she has worked, I will miss her, and I know that she will make a profound impact upon her next community.”

CONNIE YEPEZ

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 2016–2021

Connie Yepez’s work at Park around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has been in the classrooms with students, in the hallways with colleagues, and in the processes that have and will continue to lead to important change for our School.

Connie began her career at Park in the fall of 2016 as a member of the Secondary School Counseling Office. In the fall of 2018, she became the Interim Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator, facilitating and leading the School’s completion of The Assessment of the Climate for Diversity and Inclusion, which laid the groundwork for important, longer-term DEI work for Park. Connie has also overseen the delivery of substantial DEI-focused professional development, partnering with VISIONS, Inc. to build a common multicultural vocabulary and skill set amongst faculty, staff, and administrators, leading the School’s work with the National SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) Project for faculty, staff, and parents, and organizing community reads that have driven change through shared experience and purposeful reflection and conversation. During the 2020-21 academic year, Connie led the process of creating a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Implementation Plan (see page 22), which will serve as a living, breathing blueprint for Park’s equity, inclusion, and antiracism work going forward.

The Park community is grateful to Connie for her thoughtful, compassionate, and strategic leadership and wishes her well in her next chapter of educational leadership; in July, Connie will become the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Thayer Academy.