Board of Trustees Honors Headmaster Dennis Manning

LOWER SCHOOL NAMED IN HIS HONOR

Board of Trustees President Alfred M. Randolph Jr. ’80 opened the April 26 reception to honor Headmaster Dennis Manning with the promise of a “Red Letter” evening — Norfolk Academy shorthand for a truly historic occasion.

A surprise awaited: The Lower School, which underwent a major expansion and reimagining as a result of The Defining Leadership Campaign, will be known henceforth as the Dennis G. Manning Lower School.

The announcement was made by two individuals who have served the school with great distinction, and who made the honor possible: Past Trustee Helen Dragas ’79 and Trustee Conrad M. Hall. They also unveiled a portrait and a plaque that summarizes Headmaster Manning’s contributions to the school; both will be displayed in the Lower School building.

In his remarks, Hall noted that Manning made the Lower School a top priority, strengthening reading and math, introducing an engineering program and expanding science instruction, and keeping the focus on character-shaping lessons in honor, civility, and community service. “By every measure, he created the Lower School as we know it today, a unique strength to NA’s offering and a source of pride by the NA community,” Hall said. “It is arguably one of the strongest grades 1 through 6 programs among private schools in the country. The Lower School enhances the learning experience in the grades that follow by the incredibly strong foundation it builds, and thus it is the bedrock of this Academy.”

Dragas drew on personal memories, as one of her three children entered first grade alongside Manning’s daughter, so she got to know him as a parent on a shared journey, as well as headmaster of the school. She expressed profound appreciation for Manning’s wisdom over the decades. “This is not a job for the faint of heart or a person of soft backbone. Rather, it is a role suited only for someone with Dennis Manning’s rare constitution for effective, steadfast leadership — always from the heart, always guided by unshakable values, always selfless, and in an age of seemingly rampant narcissism, always humble.”

Their announcement was preceded by a video tribute to Headmaster Manning with reflections from trustees, administrators, faculty, and students. It focused on the myriad ways his leadership has transformed the school. The video also touched on the extraordinary partnership between Manning and his wife, Beth, who has also served the school with great dedication. This year, as he stepped into retirement, she served as co-chair of Field Day.

The naming decision had been a closely held secret by the donors and Board leadership, and Manning appeared both surprised and floored by the moment. In his remarks, he reflected on the friendships that have brought him profound joy in serving the school. “This is the greatest personal honor I have ever received in my life,” he said. “There is no way to sufficiently express my appreciation and gratitude.” ◆

Esther Diskin is Director of Communications.