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Winter 2017 Volume 22, Issue 1 St. Mark’s School of Texas Alumni Magazine
A Marksman at the
White House Gopal Raman ’17 honored as a National Student Poet
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(opposite) Middle School students gather on the Perot Quadrangle
A Vision of the Future: Goals for St. Mark’s IV Update
St. Mark’s never stands still. A community-
President Jon Mosle ’79. “I’m confident that the final document will be one we refer to frequently—
wide endeavor is underway to define the School’s future.
one that helps motivate and shape the School’s
Excitement is building as plans for the Science Center
actions over the coming years.”
Project approach reality. The Upper and Lower Schools The Planning Committee, alongside the Board of
have appointed new Division Heads and, soon, so will
Trustees and administration, has worked closely
Middle School.Department Chairs are collaborating in new
with members across the St. Mark’s community to
ways to ensure students receive the best education possible.
identify six strategic areas of focus:
As the next few months and years prove to be instrumental •
Students and Learning
•
Faculty and Teaching
•
Enrollment, Access, and Affordability
•
Campus Resources
“The strength of community that we enjoy today indeed did not happen
•
Civic Responsibility
by accident. It happened because people who cared deeply about your
•
Institutional Stewardship
in shaping St. Mark’s future, this is the perfect time to form a new strategic plan, Goals for St. Mark’s IV.
experiences devoted themselves to cultivating an environment where boys could develop into good men,” Eugene McDermott Headmaster David W. Dini
Together, these six areas reflect the priorities
told Upper Schoolers during a recent chapel talk.
St. Mark’s will continue to address as it moves forward: building upon its strong leadership
Goals IV will be the guiding document of the School for the next five to
while attracting and retaining world-class faculty;
10 years and will ensure St. Mark’s maintains its long-standing tradition
providing those faculty with exceptional facilities
of excellence.
and resources; teaching each student how to become a man of character; and sending students out to make a positive impact on their community.
“In the course of defining and drafting Goals IV, we have had great discussions involving parents, alumni, faculty and students about what makes St. Mark’s special and where we should focus our resources,” said Board of Trustees
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Investing in Faculty If a Marksman’s journey is The Path to Manhood, then
rewarded professionally as well as financially. Both
St. Mark’s teachers are their guides. In the classroom, on
in and out of the classroom, the School offers a
the playing field, and in the art studio, the faculty and staff are key components to the success of St. Mark’s. Ask any
level of faculty support and resources that even led one Upper School teacher to refer to St. Mark’s as “edu-topia.”
alumnus what shaped his St. Mark’s journey and the answer will almost always include a beloved teacher or mentor. “This School is and always will be about the people,” Senior Class President Philip Montgomery ’16 said during his Commencement address last May. “If I mentioned every teacher who sacrificed their time because they love their students and this School, we’d be here all night. It is a commitment we will never forget.” As part of Goals IV, every effort is being made to ensure the School attracts and retains top-rate faculty. While St. Mark’s is proud to remain a national leader in faculty and staff salaries among independent day schools, teaching is more of a passion than a job. To this end, the School seeks to ensure its educators are
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Through collaboration among teachers, divisions, and departments, and providing resources for faculty and staff to grow in their fields, Goals IV aims to ensure that St. Mark’s attracts and retains the most qualified, talented, and effective faculty and professional staff.
Collaboration At St. Mark’s, teaching is a team sport. Regardless of their role, every St. Mark’s employee is an educator. From the classroom to the lunchroom, Marksmen interact with dozens of professionals across campus, so it is crucial that everyone at
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St. Mark’s is consistent when it comes to the Marksman experience. With some of the best teachers in the nation gathered on a single campus, the administration has been working to foster collaboration within this diverse pool of talent. Just before the start of the 2016–2017 school year, the entire faculty and staff returned to campus for their regular pre-sessional meetings. This year, faculty had several unique opportunities to gather and collaborate with colleagues from all grades and divisions. A handful of faculty presented on a range of topics, including “Differentiated Instruction,” “The Flipped Classroom,” and “How to Develop Empathy in Adolescents.” At a seminar highlighting the Character and Leadership Education Program,
presenting at conferences, and exploring the world.
teachers learned the framework and vocabulary to
From Vancouver to Rome, they furthered their own
create a consistent message and experience for
education and brought valuable experiences back
the boys.
to campus.
With the school year underway, department and
Last June, 16 St. Mark’s faculty and administrators
division heads meet regularly to share success
traveled north to attend and present sessions at
stories and best practices. At one recent meeting,
the annual International Boys Schools’ Coalition
division heads shared tips and suggestions for
summer conference at St. George’s School in
conducting classroom visits. This type of group
Vancouver, British Columbia. They worked with
collaboration ensures that the St. Mark’s experience
more than 600 other educators from around the
is consistent for teachers as well as students.
world to discuss how best to teach and nurture the
(opposite top) Like many faculty members, Coach Dwight Phillips is both a teacher and a mentor to his boys (above) Department Chairs sit down to share advice and discuss best practices
development of boys.
Professional Development One lesson that is constantly reinforced to all
“We were all focused on the common goal of
Marksmen is that education should be a lifelong
providing the best educational experiences to boys,”
endeavor. Learning does not end after graduation.
said Amy Stanbury, Middle School math teacher
As boys mature into men, they should be constantly
and Assistant Director of the Leadership and Ethics
challenging their minds. There is no better example
Program, who presented at the conference.
of lifelong learners than with the St. Mark’s faculty and staff. To this end, the School approves
“It’s good for the boys to see teachers from different disciplines working so closely together.”
nearly a quarter-million dollars in professional development grants each year, all supported by the
At the conference, St. Mark’s faculty and
philanthropy of the St. Mark’s community.
administrators shared their work with other educators during four presentations discussing
Over the summer of 2016, more than 70 faculty and
character education, global citizenship, student
staff members traveled to every corner of the globe,
research projects, and the St. Mark’s Visiting
attending workshops, pursuing advanced degrees,
Scholars Program.
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“Having the generous resources to send 16
the rich historic landscape of Italy. While touring
teachers and administrators to this conference
the ancient ruins of the Roman Empire, their Lower
provides us with uninterrupted time, formally and
School lessons on government and infrastructure
socially, to talk about our work and to broaden
came to life and enriched their classrooms.
our relationships,” said Associate Headmaster John Ashton, who attended and presented at the conference.
“By experiencing a variety of cultures and people, I will be better able to convey to my students the need to understand and respect all people in our
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, three
world,” said Kay Carrio, Ackerman Family Master
Lower School teachers spent the summer exploring
Teaching Chair in Lower School.
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Professional development grants also afford teachers the opportunity to further their educations and add to the already impressive number of faculty with advanced degrees. In addition to teaching Middle School science and codirecting the Wilderness Program, Lukas Rahlson earned his Master’s of Education from Vanderbilt University. Lukas’s dedication to his graduate work and St. Mark’s was evident during last
“Having the generous resources to send 16 teachers and
summer’s Pecos Wilderness Trip. Each night, after
administrators to this conference provides us with
coordinating efforts at base camp, Lukas stayed up
uninterrupted time, formally and socially, to talk about our
in his tent typing out his final 20-page assignment.
work and to broaden our relationships.” —Associate Headmaster John Ashton
“For a young teacher just getting started in my career, St. Mark’s professional development has been an amazing opportunity,” Lukas said. “The
preparing healthy meals, 11 members of the
administration has been incredibly supportive
cafeteria staff attended the National School
of my research, whether it was assisting me in
Nutrition Association Conference this summer.
implementing a faculty-wide survey or helping me
During the three-day conference, they met with
understand the complexities of the School’s budget
new vendors and sources for local and organic food,
and financial aid. David Dini and John Ashton
learned new recipes, and attended sessions on how
always made time to talk through how the research
to incorporate more vegetarian menu options.
was beneficial not only to my own growth but also the School’s.”
At St. Mark’s, the School’s mission can succeed only if every faculty and staff member is performing at
To ensure that St. Mark’s is at its best, every
their very best. As the School continues to plan for
member of the team is encouraged to seek
the future, attracting and retaining quality faculty
professional development. Anyone who has
and staff will remain a priority.
(opposite) Associate Headmaster John Ashton speaks with students (above left) Middle School teacher Lukas Rahlson completes his final graduate school assignment at base camp (above right) St. Mark’s faculty at the International Boys Schools’ Coalition summer conference
been in the Great Hall around noon knows the importance of a hearty lunch to the success of every Marksman. To further their mission of
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Computer Science As Goals IV examines the St. Mark’s curriculum, one area of focus is computer science education. The world is becoming more connected, mobile, and technologically advanced, propelling computer science into a required skill. In the professional world, Marksmen are pioneers and innovators, with alumni taking on important roles at groundbreaking companies like Microsoft, SpaceX, Google, and many others. As technology becomes a necessity in every field and industry, even the youngest Lower Schoolers are learning the basics. With this in mind, St. Mark’s computer science instructors Kurt Tholking and Kendall Murphy have begun introducing fundamentals like coding and problem solving to their Lower and Middle School classes. “We want the boys to be able to envision how they can change the world with a new digital idea and then to feel like they are capable of implementing
Investing in Students
such a task,” Kendall Murphy said.
Within the School’s Statement of Purpose is a principle that
Computer science is a vital skill for any student,
resonates with the overall mission of Goals for St. Mark’s IV:
regardless of his future career. Similar to math and
“St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership
English, learning to code requires problem-solving skills and the ability to communicate one’s needs
and responsibility in a competitive and changing world.”
and ideas.
The core values of St. Mark’s have stayed true since 1906, and St. Mark’s motto,
With a strong Lower School foundation, students
“Courage and Honor,” builds upon the proud legacy of the Terrill School’s
are ready to move on to more advanced subjects
motto, Literrae et Mores (“Content and Character”). At its core, St. Mark’s will
in Middle and Upper School, including the new
always be focused on transforming boys into good men and leaders who have
AP Computer Science Principles class. Advanced
the capacity to influence the world in positive ways.
students are required to code and publish smartphone apps and create programs that range
Goals IV acknowledges that a world-class education requires first-rate
from card games to graphics editors.
programs and gifted educators both in and out of the classroom. A Marksman
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is more than just a scholar — he is also a man of strong character who can
“Computer science allows us to be creative, think
handle complex and challenging circumstances. The St. Mark’s academic
critically, have the opportunity to address real-
and co-curricular programs must constantly be assessed and enhanced when
world problems, and build relevant solutions,” Kurt
necessary to ensure that the boys are well-rounded and ready for lives
Tholking said. “Students are designing their own
of leadership.
websites, publishing smartphone apps and games,
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and building programs to enhance their other
students later in life, whether or not they go into
studies. These skills will help them succeed in jobs
the tech industry.
that don’t exist yet.” “Programming skills are necessary to become In computer science, as in all subjects at St. Mark’s,
creators, and not just consumers, of new
character education is an ever-present lesson
technologies in this century,” said Doug Rummel,
woven into the curriculum. Boys are taught to be
Founders’ Master Teaching Chair and the Robotics
aware of their digital footprint and to make ethical
Team Coach.
(opposite) An eighth grade student works on a coding assignment (above) Kendall Murphy introduces Lower Schoolers to Chromebooks
decisions when interacting on social media and engaging with online content.
While the Robotics Team is a co-curricular club, Doug’s Information Engineering class is a
Like many subjects at St. Mark’s, the lessons
college-level course where students combine their
taught in computer science find application in
knowledge of computer programming with hands-
other classes and activities. In the middle of the
on electrical engineering experience. Class projects
McDermott-Green Science Building, an obstacle
result in robots and devices that do everything from
course of PVC pipe and wooden boards serves
performing complex analysis of large data sets to
as the testing ground for the Robotics Club.
tracking real-world objects to creating motion-
Students on this nationally ranked team spend
controlled video games.
their nights and weekends coding the machines for competition. These skills prove invaluable to
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Health and Wellness St. Mark’s is renowned for challenging its students intellectually and producing young men who thrive at the most competitive universities and job markets in the world. Going into this environment, St. Mark’s seeks to instill a sense of balance and discipline in the lives of its Marksmen. Developing a more comprehensive health education program has emerged as a key component of the plan’s broader focus on students and learning. But health is about more than exercise and eating right. St. Mark’s aims to produce men who are healthy and balanced in every facet of their being:
“Computer science allows us to be creative, think critically,
recent years, several programs have already added
have the opportunity to address real-world problems, and
to the students’ health education and serve as
build relevant solutions,”
perfect examples for how the School can continue
—Kurt Tholking, Computer Science Instructor (above) Kurt Tholking teaches his eighth grade class about coding (opposite) Lower Schoolers learn the basics of computer science
In a few years, the Winn Science Center will open with dedicated computer science spaces that will further enhance the incredible work being done by Marksmen. Doug and other science faculty members have worked closely with the Board of Trustees’ Architectural and Construction Committee to ensure the new building will meet programmatic needs. “Without a doubt, the new Science Center will bolster computer science education,” Doug said. “More advanced robots and artificial intelligence are on the horizon. Machine learning implemented by neural networks and cloud-based systems will process large amounts of data and learn to become more efficient at their tasks. I fully expect us to have courses dedicated to these topics in the 2020s in the new building.” Just as the new Science Center will provide the facilities for the next generation of science education, Goals IV will create a framework for defining the next generation’s curriculum.
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physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. In
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pushing the St. Mark’s experience forward. One of the most stressful times in the life of a Marksman is the transition between grades. Boys are given more independence as well as more responsibilities. To help them find balance in their school work and personal lives, Dr. Gabby Reed, Lower Grades Counselor, has been teaching a Life Skills class to fifth- and sixth- graders. “The Life Skills curriculum aims to give our boys the tools they will need to be successful as adults in the 21st century,” Dr. Reed said. “The class is about setting solid goals, problem-solving, making strong decisions, recognizing and managing emotions, and having empathy for those around us. We believe that these skills are paramount to success in the classroom and beyond.” The curriculum in Life Skills dovetails with the School’s wider Character and Leadership Education Program and introduces students to a range of topics and skills that maturing boys need to address. Beyond the universal lessons of time management and decision-making, boys learn about issues that are relatively new to this
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In Upper School, where many Marksmen compete in two or three sports, the need for healthy balance becomes increasingly important. Athletes are constantly pushing themselves to become faster and stronger, and coaches are always looking for smarter ways to train their athletes. To help with this, the Athletic Department recently brought on Kevin Dilworth as the School’s full-time Strength and Conditioning coach. Coach Dilworth is now a staple in the weight room and on the sidelines, teaching boys the best and healthiest way to get fit and stay strong. “Coach Dilworth constantly challenged me to lift more and become faster every single time I trained,” (above) Coach Kevin Dilworth works with a Marksman athlete
Nehemiah McGowan ’17 told The ReMarker last fall. Nehemiah, who has already committed to play lacrosse at Amherst College, said, “His guidance and words of wisdom have made me and will
(right) Dr. Gabby Reed teaching Life Skills
continue to make me be the best student-athlete that I can be.” The Strength and Conditioning program goes beyond weights and push-ups. Coach Dilworth’s main focus is on building up the team and ensuring that every link in the chain is as strong as possible. As he puts it, “Training and changing your body builds character.” An athletic mindset of constant improvement is generation: balancing a healthy level of “screen time,” addressing the use of alcohol and
reflected in Goals IV. The strategic plan is, in effect, a strength and conditioning plan for the School; a
drugs, and understanding the messaging
way for St. Mark’s to identify its defining traits and
within advertisements.
make them even better.
“In Dr. Reed’s class, I learned how to balance out
As St. Mark’s enters its second century, Goals for St.
all of my academic and extracurricular activities,
Mark’s IV will provide a guiding document for the
how to engage and interact with others, and how
School’s future. Never content with maintaining
to make the right decisions,” said Collin Katz ’21.
the status quo, Goals IV identifies the School’s
“She also taught me how to not get as worried over things like tests, speeches, and performances. All of
priorities for the years ahead and sets the pace for the next generation of Marksmen.
these lessons helped me to manage my time, have fun, and accomplish great things.”
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Thanks to the vision of its founders, the generosity of its community, and the guidance of its leadership, St. Mark’s is poised for a bright future.
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