43 minute read
Last Day 2022: First ceremony to be held in 590 Performance Space
REMARKS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Last Day 2022
Welcome, all, to Brearley Last Day 2022.
As I look out at your faces before me, I cannot tell you how grateful I am for one thing . . . to be able to welcome all of you—students, families, faculty and staff and friends—here today.
Following the understandably muted Last Day observances these past two years, we’re back to how we’ve conducted this hallowed celebration for nearly 140 years. We’re back to being surrounded by those who have been so instrumental in our growth and have helped us navigate the twists and turns and setbacks and triumphs along this truly uncharted journey that has led us to where we find ourselves this morning: celebrating the graduating Class of 2022 in this intimate ceremony together for the first time in this beautiful performance space.
Seniors, this is your day. Your day to celebrate, smile, laugh and even cry. And if anyone deserves to let their emotions run free today it is the graduating Class of 2022.
For the past two-plus years we have had to ask so much of you. You have had to think differently about virtually every element that school comprises—from learning and studying to socializing and sports—in ways you never could have imagined.
You were first upended as sophomores, when you went from walking the halls of Brearley to perhaps climbing the walls at home while remote. You then dealt with pods, canceled activities and different practice and class schedules from those of your friends in different grades. You were asked to sacrifice without knowing to what end, to pivot again and again without knowing which direction would be best, and to persevere without knowing when or where or even if the finish line would appear. But from this frayed environment, I can unequivocally say that this assemblage of 60 seniors took these uncertain times and made one thing certain: They were determined to knit our community back together, to make Brearley better and, while doing so, their other communities better, too.
From shock and uncertainty came introspection. I truly believe creativity flourished, relationships deepened and your views on what was happening around you—and around the world—came into much sharper focus for you.
Time seemed to be measured more quickly. A greater urgency was at hand. You had to make up for lost time. And you certainly did.
As we gradually moved from completely distant to six feet apart, then to three, and then to where we sit today, it is obvious that this initial distance ignited a determination to make changes.
Your impassioned calls to initiate new student structures, conversations and programs that took action to confront racism and bias, help fight hunger and food insecurity, stand up to wrongs and make them right, and keep fighting the good fight were inspiring. Rooted in community and kindness, your ideas and actions have helped fuel the evolution of Brearley. You didn’t just “make do” when beset with turmoil, it made doers out of all of you.
You helped us move on. You bid adieu to pods—and gave us affinity spaces to reflect. You deemed online slumber parties as “so last year”—and gave us Turn & Talk. You said the status quo needed a refresh—and you gave us an inclusive Student Diversity Leadership Council that will continue to shape and reaffirm our shared values and mission. You gave new purpose to old ideals and found new uses from discarded ideas. You used intellect and common sense to combat issues, and you employed your STEM skills to solve problems. You are the MacGyver generation (yes—you’ll have to ask your parents about that reference).
I look back at two traditional events at Brearley that symbolized our return to normalcy and our
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passion: both Mountain Day and our Evening of Dance certainly sound innocuous, but both were so powerful to witness.
Mountain Day was a gift. Back outside together—hiking, playing games, enjoying lunch with one another. It was almost as if this tumultuous trip we were all on was now over. We were like we were before, but different: safer but stronger; at peace but deeply determined; together again but proudly independent.
And if anything captured the refreshing spirit of Brearley, it was the performance of this array of talented dancers at our first openadmission arts performance since the beginning of the pandemic. What an excellent display of artistry and inclusiveness. Dance styles that were choreographed by students, teachers and guest artists all captured so many different cultures, and paid tribute to groundbreaking and pioneering women of color. This was a night unlike any other I had witnessed at our dance shows, as the spirit and message were as intoxicating as they were educating.
And let me say that I was particularly moved by the heart of this class in the wake of the terribly sad death of our beloved Mr. Cronin in November. The thoughtfulness and generosity you displayed was admirable, but not surprising. Once again, you joined together to provide a little light to those facing darkness.
In looking back at the past several months, it brings to mind a prescient story from the 1950s that ironically takes place more than 130 years from now.
“The Fun They Had” was written by the famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov at a time when America had finished one war and was engaging in another. Although “futuristic” technology was in its infancy in 1951, it provided fertile material for science fiction writers, who created a plethora of cautionary, and often dystopian, tales of a world controlled by, or at the least heavily reliant on, computers and technology.
It is the year 2155 and there are no schools or human teachers. Every young person is taught by a robot with a big black screen where the lessons are shown and the questions asked. A slot on the screen is where a student would insert homework and tests—written in punch code, of course. The classroom was usually the room next to the bedroom. The “mechanical teacher” would be there waiting, coming on every day at the same time, except for the weekends, of course.
The 13-year-old Tommy finds a “real book” and shares it with 11-year-old Margie. They have never seen a book. They find it funny to read words that stand still “instead of moving the way they were supposed to.” The pages are yellowed and brittle. Margie’s grandfather had told her how his grandfather told him there was a time when stories were written on paper.
This particular book is about “school.” Margie, who hates school, can’t believe anyone would write about this dreadful routine she has to endure daily from home. But when she learns that the people in this book didn’t have teachers living in their house and that they had a special building where all the kids went to at once to learn, she is amazed. She begins envisioning the days so very long ago when kids would meet every day, learn together, laugh and shout, go home together and even help one another with their homework. She thinks how these kids must have loved it back in the old days, and she thinks about how much fun they must have had.
I think you know where I’m going with this short story. We missed school. We missed one another, and we once and for all disproved the notion that remote learning and online learning are just as good as in-person learning. We learned much from the pandemic, and one of the strongest lessons was that there is no replacement for expert and passionate teachers and the learning that takes place in the classroom, the hallways, stage and field, supported by dedicated staff. We owe a debt of gratitude to all of these adults who have been there for you throughout this odyssey.
One thing we learned about the Class of 2022 long ago is that your courage, commitment and compassion are the underpinnings of your Brearley experience. The Three Rs have their importance, of course, but it is these three Cs that give us the most hope for a better world. You strengthened each of these abstract ideas during your days at Brearley, and made each one a personal attribute. They are what will guide you for the rest of your life.
You will walk out of these halls into a world that seems to be teetering on so many precipices. We watch in horror at a war in Europe, we witness political discourse that is vitriolic and downright dangerous, and we are confronting a future where women’s rights are being erased with a stroke of the pen. There are inequality and inequity that need to be addressed, fought and beaten. The path to justice is not linear, and it’s been said that the arc of the moral universe is long but bends toward justice. Every one of you here today has the intellect, work ethic and courage, commitment and compassion to bend that arc more forcefully—and inclusively—than anyone can ever imagine. I have hope in you and in your generation.
So as I look upon the faces in this magnificent space, I want to recognize and honor these 60 diverse, talented, focused and powerful Brearley graduates who will walk out of here ready to make an even greater impact in their next journey.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to give a shout-out to each of our celebrated seniors here today, but in poetry, not prose. I truly doubt the English Department will think much of my rhyme scheme or meter, and I have no idea if they’ll be able to find any consonance, dissonance or assonance, but here goes:
LAST DAY 2022 STUDENT TRIBUTE
They sing, they dance, they create and play, If for just one more year, we could get them to stay. They think, they act, they are agents of change, Their talents are so far reaching, there’s no limit to their range.
We applaud our DEI activist leaders who make Brearley better, Founders of B-S-D-L-C, F-R-E-S-H and B-S-D-C are caring, strong women of letters. Our Iris editor has an eye for uncovering the truth while tackling racism and such, And we hand it to one fighting voter suppression with a fencer’s deft touch.
“The time is always right to do the right thing” is more than a quotation, A student of juvenile criminal justice heeds these words—and can easily turn them into a Latin translation. The dedicated tutor for Girls Are Great @ Math, and the bridge builder working for the ERA, Are just two examples of Brearley girls advancing women—tomorrow and today.
You addressed food insecurity and hunger with an eye to eradicate, Selfless work for Rethink Food NYC and Brearley Farm Share are admirable missions I can’t overstate. One’s analysis of our nation’s access to healthy food was very compelling, And creating a grocery delivery service for Covid-bound neighbors is an effort worth telling. Speaking of the disease that can’t be mentioned, you went on the attack. Supplies for Success was started to show frontline workers we had their back. “What can we do to help?” so many did ask, Well, one talented seamstress here knitted together a company that made a face mask.
Many of you founded clubs to help make others’ education complete, A “catalyst” starts our first science mag, and the new Tech Club is courtesy of a star mathlete. Music for You was a tour de force in breadth and scope, (And how she found time to work at Princeton’s Plasma Physics Lab is totally dope.)
I often wonder how they do it—I’m amazed how they won’t be stopped, An Alvin Ailey prodigy who works with children of imprisoned parents? That’s my jaw that just dropped. Photo editor, rocker, carpenter and Tech Head? She must have a clone. How about an orchestra head, Asian art enthusiast and steward of nature—that’s my mind that was just blown.
All our students have such strong voices, that’s the word. A congressional intern in the NYC Children’s Chorus now has two different ways to be heard. We could hear countless arias from this member of the Met Opera Youth Chorus—even an endless loop would never bore us. And finding the next prodigy is not Music Mentorship’s goal, it’s all about marrying music to a young girl’s soul.
LAST DAY Class 22OF ’
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWEST ALUMNAE
(left to right)
FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Eileen Ye, Taryn Chung, Annabelle Sole, Ellora Devulapally, Aanika Veedon
SECOND ROW: Isabel (Grace) Davis, Tyler Abernethy, Abby Kwok, Alexis Ramirez-Hardy, Rachel Smith, Phoebe Weinstein
THIRD ROW: Hilary Malamud, Kilian Scott, Erica Chen, Maya Narang, Miranda Kimm, Noor Riaz, Amanda Noh, Alicia Alvarado, Emilie Su, Sydney Leon
FOURTH ROW: Julia Stern, Miranda Selin, Tsion Carnielli, Victoria Kashef, Sydney Gordon, Phoebe Cohen, Allegra Im, Isabel Zhu, Genevieve Barbee, Emily Wheeler FIFTH ROW: Liana Rodriguez, Josephine Lemann, Leoni Wright, Nina Piesanen, Allison Platt, Olivia Osborne, Lulu Peters, Erica Lee, Natalie Weiner, Bettina Yan, Sloane Getz, Caroline White, Sophia Noh
SIXTH ROW: Shayna Podhoretz, Clara Schloendorff, Anika Hatzius, Victoria Hutchinson, Sarah Regner, Ainsley Scheiner, Hana Shimizu-Bowers, Campbell Arnone, Lucia Foglino, Nastassia Patnaik
BACK ROW: Joséphine Helm, Jossette Sullivan, Fiona Brainerd, Margot Megalli, Juliet Viera
NOT PICTURED: Kiara White
UPPER SCHOOL AWARDS
Upper School Discursive Essay Writing Prize
Sydney Gordon, XII
Upper School Analytical Essay Writing Prize
Eleanor Moses, XI
Upper School Poetry Writing Prize
Anna Steel, XI
Upper School Fiction Writing Prize
Erica Lee, XII
Juliet Whiton English Prize
Hilary Malamud, XII
Catherine Fairfax MacRae ’96 Prize
For Excellence in Both English and Mathematics Tyler Abernethy, XII
Upper School History Essay Writing Prize
Phoebe Pallesen, XI
Dorothy Mills History Prize
Maya Narang, XII
Ann Chalmers Greek Prize
Lucia Foglino, XII
Ann Chalmers Latin Prize
Noor Riaz, XII
French Prize
Rachel Smith, XII Spanish Prize
Sydney Leon, XII
Mandarin Prize
Maya Narang, XII
Judith N. Conant Mathematics Prize
Miranda Selin, XII
Frances Arnold 1893 Mathematics Prize
Eileen Ye, XII
Science Prize for Life Sciences
Ainsley Scheiner, XII
Science Prize for Physical Sciences
Nastassia Patnaik, XII
Ursula Loengard Berens ’47 Art Prize
Genevieve Barbee, XII
Fanny H. Phillips Dramatics Prize
Margot Megalli, XII
Berta Elsmith Music Prize
Amanda Noh, XII
The Brearley Alumnae Cup
Natalie Weiner, XII
Richard B. Stearns, Jr., Memorial Award
Emily Wheeler, XII
Head’s Award
Alicia Alvarado and Taryn Chung, XII FACULTY AWARDS
The Class of 2018 Fund for Building, Kitchen and Administrative Staff Support
Jennifer Guzman Valerie Samuels
Class of 1992 Award
Sarah Lannom Teacher of Classics
Serena Marshall Weld 1901 Award
Matt Aiken Teacher of Music
Sandra Lea Marshall ’73 Award
Ariel Sanabria Lower School Room Teacher
Margaret Riker Harding Lower School Fellowship
Arielle Muller Lower School Room Teacher
Chairs for Excellence in Teaching
Luigi Cicala Teacher of Art
Susannah Terrell Middle School Room Teacher
Sherri Wolf Head of the English Department
KUNZ ART COLLECTION
Class IX
Mayisha Alam Allegra Alfaro Olivia Anikst Katherine Arnall Sofia Basilio Chanelle Batraville Giselle Chan Kely Cuffe Ariana Djunic Judith-Margot “Atlas”
Dubrovsky Linden Frelinghuysen Beatrice Glasman Walker Georgia Green Kacey Guthrie Hayes Annabelle Hoh Audrey Jaiteh Bintou Karim Ameera Lee Alice Chloe Lucich Hadley Meyer Nora Moor Leena Mudawi Yossra Nizam Lila Pallesen Edith Paterson Margaret Ratzan Danna Rios-Sosa Mira Schubert Sophia Seckler Amaani Sehgal Alexandra Shepard Jaya Shri Charlize Solares Isabella Stegman Noelani Taylor-White Annabel Thomas Anaya Tsai Fletcher Willis Lena Yan Alyssa Zhou Class X
Lara Altan Ines Alto Sophia Andrews Kazandra Angioletti Ava Baird Penelope Berger Nicole Chang Adriana Cordero Miranda Ewing Daniella Florencio Stephanie Garrett Caroline Gottlieb Martha Higgins Cade Keys Ellery Kourepenos Camiah Kuno Ruqayah Mahmud Ladina Moor India Nacos Eleanor Nangle Isabella “Bella” Paraschac Emma Resetarits Amelia Roman Natacha Ross Jahaana Shamdasani Silvia Siegel-Yousef Delilah Skaistis Sophie Tanenbaum Maria Ulke Sophia Wang Katherine Wepsic Kaia Yamaguchi Class XI
Mahbuba Afreen Eleanor Apps Asha Chawla Lila Desai Lillian Dick Olivia Goldfinger Vivienne Jones Eleanor Keohane Susan Leibovitz Phoebe Pallesen Grace Schuur Harriet Shapard Estella Shklyar Anna Steel Sarah Wagman
Class XII
Genevieve Barbee Erica Chen Taryn Chung Ellora Devulapally Sloane Getz Anika Hatzius Allegra Im Miranda Kimm Alexis Ramirez-Hardy Leoni Wright Bettina Yan Isabel Zhu
Class of 2022
COLLEGE DESTINATIONS
Amherst College (2) Boston College (1) Bucknell University (1) Colgate University (1) Columbia University (3) Cornell University (4) Davidson College (1) Denison University (1) Duke University (2) Emory University (1) George Washington University (1) Georgetown University (1) Hamilton College (1) Harvard University (5) Haverford College (1) Lafayette College (1) Macalester College (1) New York University (2) Northwestern University (4) Pomona College (1) Princeton University (3) Stanford University (1) Swarthmore College (1) Tufts University (1) University of California, Berkeley (1) United States Military Academy: West Point (1) University of Chicago (2) University of Oxford (1) University of Pennsylvania (3) Washington University in St. Louis (1) Williams College (4) Yale University (6)
*as of 9/15/2022
Co-heads of Self-Government
by Joséphine Helm and Emily Wheeler
Thank you to the teachers and staff. Steadfast, reliable and always kind, you guided us through this turbulent year: We were remote; then in person; then remote; we had a five-day schedule, then a six; we had one curriculum then a completely new remote one. And all within months. Y’all never missed a beat. You were there for the last-minute floats, the impromptu crying sessions, to track us down for our saliva, to explain integrals just one last time, and a personal favorite: instructions on how to start a coup. You filled our athletic stadiums with fans again, even if they were paper cutouts of our pets. You lit up the stage and helped us get back to performing, even during the remarkable production of Two Gentlemen of Corona. You helped us lead our clubs, CIOs and affinity groups and even helped us start a few new ones too.
Self-Government has been one of the most influential parts of our high school experience: It has taught us how to think ahead and on our feet, how to lead and work together in a greater community, and how to bake brownies at 5:00 am before an 8:00 am meeting. It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside you as class presidents this year, and we cannot wait to see what you do with Brearley next year with an incredible team of advisors by your side.
The past two and a half years have been an acute reminder that loss is an inevitable part of life. But we have learned that it is what you do with that loss that matters. As a community, we have been pushed to find new pockets of togetherness and joy. Each and every one of the grades has taken this year as an opportunity to squeeze their friends a little closer and get incredibly creative.
Upper School: Your strength, compassion and fierce love for one another have taken you far and will continue to serve you throughout your lives. So continue to be kind, center love in all that you do.
Thank you.
Above: Emily Wheeler (left) and Joséphine Helm.
Class XII Speakers
by Alicia Alvarado and Fiona Brainerd
The Class of 2022 is like a lentil chip. We’re tougher than a potato chip. We’re crunchy and we’re a little salty from the tears we cried this fall and now this spring as we face graduation. We’re fried in plenty of elbow grease, left over from our work on papers and tests and all too intense games of spoons. Alongside all the work we did, and all our excessive competition with the juniors, we’ve made some wonderful memories, immortalized forever on various disposable cameras.
We will never forget venturing on the long drive to DC in our freshman year or going to the freezing arctic that was Frost Valley, placed into various groups compiled of other students within the interschool.
And it was truly the most comforting moment, right after it was announced that exams had been canceled our sophomore year, to hear everyone admit how dreadfully unprepared they were for our chemistry exams. We never expected our junior year to be complete with online school where teachers consistently called the tech office because “we can hear them but we can’t see them” and many, many assignments were turned in at 11:59. (Thank God for Google Classroom.) We’ve tried our best to follow the sage wisdom of our teachers— like when Mr. Squire opens your homework doc the day it’s due and comments that you might want to get on that. Despite the surprises along the way, and the many treks up all the floors of 590, we’ve made the best of our time here. And throughout senior year, the senior homeroom was a safe haven of astroturf, “borrowed” B-Deck furniture and the donuts left over from club meetings, even if they were always the unwanted jelly donuts.
We couldn’t have made it this far without each other. Without our families’ love, teachers’ guidance, friends’ support. We thank you all immensely. It has been an honor to get to know you all, to learn and grow beside you. To have known you is to have loved you.
Above: Fiona Brainerd (left) and Alicia Alvarado.
LAST DAY continued from page 5
To offer a helping hand and a guiding light, a student often roams, That’s why one senior traveled to Puerto Rico to rebuild hurricaneravaged homes. Another reached across the globe to strengthen girls’ muscles and business skills in Pakistan, Closer to home, homebound adults being read to and looked after is one senior’s thoughtful plan. We’ve long celebrated the written and spoken word because, well, we’re mortal, It’s such a breeze for the editor of the Typhoon to make us laugh, guffaw or chortle. Did you hear the one about the Beaver’s co-editor writing, acting and telling a joke? Or the Mighty Blazer helping Covid book sales by having authors speak to ordinary folk.
Beavers are drawn to the water, whether diving deep or dipping their toes in, Doesn’t matter if it’s chlorinated, salted or frozen. We marvel at a champion swimmer who can really cook, a ballerina who can sail, And a synchronized skater whose double lutzes never fail.
Inclusive and eclectic, our dance shows were fire; I certainly hope you caught ‘em, What more can be said of our co-head’s performance in The Wolves this past autumn. Our other co-head is an artist molding young minds at play and works of art with clay. And one’s Arangetram transcended, the second she took the stage and ascended.
Our B-Nats feature a girl who teaches students to code, A hoops and soccer captain who’s traveled many a Mountain School road; One gets homebound seniors rocking in motion, While another is thankfully inventing a sunscreen and ‘skeeter repellant lotion
On the fields of competition Brearley athletes excel, Our athletic association co-heads spike, raise our spirits and are Field Day organizers, nonpareil. A cross-country and track star knows all about running her own races— and a prospective DA’s, Then there’s a star on the diamond and the courts who can shed light on Paradise Lost’s rays.
We have so many stars they could fill many constellations, One took to a cycle for her cross-country peregrinations. Who else has a tech theater whiz who can knit a unicorn and a gnome? And when it comes to shaping political discourse through Students in Politics, we know someone right at home. If it’s still not clear how much talent we have walking our halls, then something’s odd. You must not have seen our Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or Toby in Sweeney Todd. And please don’t tell me you’d ever take a second look At someone on her temple’s Philanthropic Council and co-editor of our yearbook.
There’s a Francophile explaining to younger students the plays of the Bard, Being a three-sport star who starts affinity groups is, well, pretty hard. And we have a judicial purist who learned much as an intern for a New York Civil Court jurist.
We’re getting near the end of this tribute in rhyme, But there are a few more mentions worthy of our time. We praise our co-head of MECCA, who totally knows SONAR up to date, And what a great idea it is to welcome those new to Brearley through Fashionably Late.
Can you believe someone researched how to increase national happiness, it was so thorough, And if you want a smile, see what one school leader did with Parts of the Solution in the Bronx borough. In DC, Congresswoman Maloney was smart in stocking her cabinet with a Brearley scholar, And if one painter’s artwork gracing 610’s walls were at Sotheby’s, it’d be attracting top dollar.
There’s an artist whose interests are other-worldly, as are her two hundred sketches drawn at the Met, But with one student to go, I have just one regret. Alas, I cannot think of a final rhyme For someone who writes bios for homeless pets and interns at the Guggenheim.
So let me catch my breath and end it here. This is the class of 2022, and every one deserves a cheer.
I wish you all the best and I leave you with one final thought, It’s something you should have learned, though it’s never really been taught. You’ll be forever buoyed by your experiences and friends made here, that much is so true. So even after you’ve moved on, don’t fear, Brearley never leaves you.
Congratulations, Class of 2022. By the power vested in me by the Brearley Board of Trustees, I promote you to the Alumnae Body. Brava!
SINCERE THANKS to Our Retiring Trustees
Clockwise from top left: Elizabeth Chandler (far right), Joseph DiMenna, Paula Campbell Roberts ’94, David Raso, Pam Selin, Jocelyn Strauber ‘91.
As Brearley embarks on highly anticipated, innovative projects and continues to develop bold and exciting initiatives, we gratefully acknowledge the members of the Board of Trustees who retired in June 2022 after providing many years of remarkable leadership.
During their years of service, these board members faced numerous opportunities and challenges. This pivotal period of time was marked by the construction and opening of the 590 schoolhouse, the approval of a leading-edge renovation of our historic 610 building, the implementation of a curricular Computational Thinking program, the launching of sexuality health education for K–XII, an enhanced institutional commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism, and the management of the School’s fiscal and physical health through a global pandemic.
We are deeply beholden to the following trustees for their guidance, expertise and unwavering dedication to Brearley.
Elizabeth Chandler
Trustee, 2016–2022 Building Committee Budget and Finance Committee
Joseph DiMenna
Trustee, 2017–2022 Audit Committee Investment Committee
David Raso
Trustee, 2016–2022 Investment Committee Budget and Finance Committee
Paula Campbell Roberts ’94
Trustee, 2011–2014 President of the Alumnae Association, 2011–2014 Development, Investment, Student Life and Strategic Planning Committees Trustee, 2015–2022 Executive Committee, Vice President, 2021–2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Co-chair, 2020–2022 Budget and Finance Committee
Pamela Selin
President of the Parents’ Association, 2021–2022 Trustee, 2021–2022 Building Committee Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Jocelyn Strauber ’91
Trustee, 2016–2022 Audit Committee Trusteeship Committee, Chair, 2018–2022 Covid-19 Task Force Compensation Committee Executive Committee, Secretary, 2017–2018
BREARLEY’S STATEMENT OF BELIEFS
MISSION
The Brearley School challenges girls of adventurous intellect and diverse backgrounds to think critically and creatively and prepares them for principled engagement in the world.
Guided by a dedicated community of adults, students develop a command of many disciplines, a love of learning and a resilient and generous spirit. The bond among students and with their teachers is rooted in a passionate exchange of ideas and an appreciation for the unique and lively contributions of each individual.
A Brearley education unfolds over a lifetime. The School instills in its alumnae the confidence to pursue their ambitions and the wisdom to live balanced and purposeful lives.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
The Brearley School believes that diversity of thought, practice and identity are essential elements in preparing students for principled engagement in the world. We believe in the importance of establishing and strengthening the structures and practices necessary to achieve equitable representation and participation in our School. We are committed to putting these beliefs into action and are therefore engaged in continuous study, self-reflection and dialogue in order to improve and adapt as we learn.
We embrace the opportunities and challenges of learning and working in a diverse environment characterized by respect and consideration for the needs of others. In partnership with faculty, staff, students, families and alumnae, we are endeavoring to instill and sustain shared values that promote a welcoming, inclusive and affirming community.
ANTIRACISM
The Brearley School condemns racism in the strongest possible terms and is committed to building an antiracist community. This work requires active introspection, self-awareness and the determination to make conscious and consistently equitable choices on a daily basis. We expect our faculty, staff, students, parents and trustees to pursue meaningful change through deliberate and measurable actions. These actions include participating in antiracist training and identifying and eliminating policies, practices and beliefs that uphold racial inequality in our community.
WELCOME to Our Incoming Trustees
Clockwise from top left: Daphné Crespo Helm (far left), John McGinn (left), Cory Nangle (far right), Margo Nederlander, Nekesa Straker.
Daphné Crespo-Helm is delighted to
be of service to the Brearley community. Prior to shifting her focus to family, philanthropy and private practice, Daphné was a principal in the management consulting group of Price Waterhouse, specializing in the areas of technology, business process redesign and strategy. She also served in the chairman’s office during the merger of Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand. She earned an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. She has served on various committees and boards, including the Elisabeth Morrow School, Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation and Englewood Field Club, and is currently a member of the board of trustees of Dominican Academy, of which she is a graduate. At Brearley, Daphné has served on the Parent Antiracist Advisory Committee and the PA Nominations and Benefit Committees. She was a parent cochair of the Class of 2022 Gift Fund and will be a Middle School Alliance Rep for Class VIII this year. Bill Helm and Daphné are proud parents of Josie ’22, Caroline (VIII) and William (Trinity ’24).
John McGinn currently serves on the boards of NPR, the NPR Foundation (current chair), Radio Diaries, the First Presbyterian Church of NYC, and the American Friends of Covent Garden (Royal Opera House, UK; incoming chair). Previously John has been a board member of New York Public Radio, the Civilians (chair) and the Alumni Board of the University of Chicago (president). He holds a bachelor of arts and a master of business administration from the University of Chicago, where he was also awarded the Alumni Service Medal for his leadership to reimagine and strengthen alumni relations there. John was the director of consumer risk reporting at Citigroup and held other risk leadership roles over his 15 years there. Prior to his time at Citigroup, he worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. John and husband Cary Davis are the proud fathers of Lili Davis-McGinn (IV) and William Davis-McGinn (Trinity, I). Cory Nangle grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She received a BS in environmental education from the University of Delaware and a nonprofit certificate from the University of Pennsylvania before embarking on a career in business process consulting with SAP. She joined the Brearley community in 2011 when her first-born, Eleanor, started kindergarten with Ms. Kim. From the first moment Cory and her husband, Ed, stepped foot into 610 and observed hardworking yet joyous little girls industriously running around in their pocketed tunics, she says they knew Eleanor would thrive there; Brearley’s mission statement spoke to them. Always a volunteer, Cory has been careful to instill a penchant for principled engagement in the world in her own children. She and Ed also have two sons, Win (Class IX at Trinity) and Theo (Class IV at St. Bernard’s). The Nangles enjoy spending any spare time in the outdoors and with grandparents, primarily at the Jersey Shore and in the Adirondacks.
Margo M. Nederlander has a
professional background in the entertainment industry working with major talent. She also has experience in the international investment banking industry managing public relations and in the nonprofit sector, having served on the development team that organized and implemented the Special Olympics China Millennium March that launched a major expansion into the People’s Republic of China, ultimately becoming the largest Special Olympics program worldwide. Margo currently serves on the board of Citymeals on Wheels as vice president and on the board of the Silver Shield Foundation, which provides educational support to children and spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty in the tristate area. She is also a member of the Chairman’s Council of New York Restoration Project, the Charitable Fund of the Southampton Bath & Tennis Club and the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy. As her family continues to be her top priority, Margo is an active volunteer at her children’s two schools and has been a Brownie troop leader and an ADEO teacher. Nekesa Straker ‘97 is currently the
senior assistant dean of residential life and first-year students within the Dean of Students Office at Harvard College. In this role, she supervises residential staff, oversees initiatives to orient and support students transitioning into college and helps plan staff trainings. In addition, she works with the Office of Undergraduate Education when it comes to academic advising and serves as a voting member of the administrative board. Nekesa is currently finishing her doctorate in higher education leadership, focusing on the moral development of college student leaders, from Regis College. When not working, Nekesa enjoys international travel, attempting to take over the Peloton leaderboard, cooking and serving on the board of the Aloha Foundation. She graduated with a master’s in student development administration from Seattle University and a bachelor’s in political science from Vassar College. She is a proud Brearley School graduate and Prep for Prep Contingent XIII alumna.
Farewell and Thank you!
OUR RETIRING FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS OF 2021–2022 HAVE GIVEN MORE THAN 126 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO BREARLEY.
DALE EMMART When Dale started at Brearley she maintained her position at Parsons School of Design teaching drawing and painting in the Fine Arts Department. Eventually, Brearley claimed her all for itself. A member of the Art Department for 19 years, seven of which were served as department head, Dale is especially proud of her work on the Lower School art curriculum and notes teaching in the new Lower School art room as a particular highlight. She has both led and chaperoned the London exchange program with the Godolphin and Laytmer School, an experience she relished, and she founded the Art Salon, a biennial opportunity for artists in the School to showcase their talents that she hopes will continue in the years to come. While Dale has loved being part of a “stellar community of faculty, especially her department colleagues,” she is looking forward to devoting full time to her own art and running Plein Air Portugal, a summer program she created a decade ago. VALERIE MENDELSON ’75 Indeed for Valerie, Brearley connections run deep and wide. She joined as a 1st grader; her daughter, Jean Moylan, graduated in 2009; and after college she studied painting with Francis Cunningham, the husband of longtime head librarian Kitty Cunningham, with whom she helped found the New Brooklyn School of Life Drawing, Painting and Sculpture, today known as the New York Academy of Art. Valerie returned to Brearley in 2005 and joined the History Department, teaching art history and later introducing Modernism in Art to the curriculum. She gave these electives a global focus, putting equal weight on non-Western traditions, and added a studio component to art history that is now a part of the US Art Show. Valerie is also known for her beloved Art and Walking alumnae course during reunion. Though she will miss her “colleagues, the students, 610, the river,” Valerie, a published author, is eager to continue writing, concentrate on her painting and exhibit her art. FRANCISCO ROSA Before coming to Brearley, Francisco was an attendant at a parking garage on Riverside Drive. Tiring of the graveyard shift, he desired a job with daytime hours, and arrived here in 2003 by way of his cousin (Oscar Fernandez, a fellow member of Dining until 2019). Francisco has held multiple roles in the kitchen, and what has made Brearley so special for him are his co-workers, friends and all the people. Ahead for Francisco are a move to Lynn, Massachusetts, to be near his daughter, and travel to Santo Domingo.
Farewell and Thank you!
CLAYTON SQUIRE If you’re ever in doubt it’s a Friday, find Clay. That’s when he wears an aloha shirt—an homage to his first teaching job, in Honolulu. Clay alighted on Brearley in 1997, teaching biology and chemistry; he added physics to his repertoire 10 years later. He will miss “the excitement kids have every day as they learn from each other and themselves” and, having taught in Lower, Middle and Upper Schools, “watching the progression of students’ development and how, through maturation and effort, they come to realize their ability to figure things out.” Recent activities outside the Science Department include reading to Lower School students during lunch and advising the science magazine, Catalyst. Next up for Clay? The role of project manager of a house he and his wife are building in the Berkshires, broadening his extensive volunteer work and travel. RAMÓN VARGAS Ramón was no stranger to Brearley when he was officially employed in 2016. Through a staffing agency he had already held jobs in Dining for several years. Prior to Brearley Ramón spent 18 years in catering services in the Financial District, which came to a halt after 9/11. He is sorry to say goodbye to the people he has worked with for so long but is thankful to be leaving on a strong and healthy note. Ramón’s next chapter includes spending time in Santo Domingo and living life to the fullest. RENATE VON HUETZ ’72 In 1982, when Renate entered 610 as a faculty member, her first stop was Franny Thorndike’s classroom, where she spent a year as her assistant in a combined class of 2nd and 3rd graders. Franny’s world-class teaching and wise mentoring propelled Renate onward and upward; she became a homeroom teacher in Class V, and then started making inroads into the English Department by teaching English to Class VI. The rest is history, or rather, English. Renate, who describes her trajectory as “a wonderful apprenticeship,” is eternally grateful for her colleagues’ constant support and the department’s team-teaching approach. Responsible for bringing a popular Russian literature elective to the curriculum in Class XII, she has also taught every grade except XI and credits the students’ combination of ambition and genuine interest for making it so fun. PostBrearley—which she began in Class I—and in no particular order, Renate plans to read a lot, travel, adopt a rescue dog and simply enjoy unstructured life.
An Invitation From
COY DAILEY, DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
First, I’d like to express my gratitude to those who served on the Parent Equity Committee (PEC) last year. The committee helped to develop three engagement opportunities for the parent body, which resulted in a 99+ percent participation rate. One of the events, the Community Crowdsourced Poem, had such a profound impact on the community that it will now be a permanent event for new families at Brearley.
Secondly, while I am happy to welcome back our returning members this year, I also want to extend an invitation to the entire parent community to join the PEC. Comprising parent volunteers who help develop our series of sustainable parent programs that support their children’s experiences at Brearley and move the School forward in its work to become an inclusive, antiracist community, the PEC is a diverse team that provides feedback and serves as a conduit to the broader community of Brearley parents. Our goals are to: (1) engage every community member in discussing and understanding a broad set of social identifiers (ability, age, ethnicity, gender, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status/ class), (2) deepen our understanding of terminology connected to social justice, and (3) further the identity development of each participant to collectively make Brearley a community where every member feels a sense of belonging.
If you are interested in learning more about the PEC or being a member, please contact me at (212) 570-8544 or cdailey@ brearley.org. I look forward to hearing from you!
2022 Frances Riker Davis Award Winners
Marguerite “Maggy” Cullman ’54 and Martine Singer ’78 are the latest recipients of the Frances Riker Davis 1915 Award, which recognizes Brearley alumnae for achievements and service dedicated to the public good. For over 40 years, Maggy Cullman’s dedication to those in need of help—women prisoners, new immigrants, community Marguerite Cullman ’54 college students, the elderly, and people of many faith communities—has been steady, generous, passionate and unassuming. Maggy has been called “a priceless gift to the community.” Maggy received her BA from Manhattanville College and an MA in English from the University of Iowa. She is consistently engaged in multiple volunteer activities, using Martine Singer ’78 her expertise in education and administration to serve the needs of prisoners, immigrants, the elderly and interfaith communities. Maggy also devoted decades to the many social justice activities of the Episcopal Church and the Interfaith Alliance, and served as the bishop’s deputy for public policy in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, where she represented the interfaith community in reviewing the policies of the Maryland state legislature, and often spoke at the State House before assembly and senate committees. After a successful career at the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, Martine Singer left the business world to devote herself to improving the lives of children and families affected by violence and adversity. As president and CEO of Children’s Institute she oversees one of Los Angeles’s largest social impact organizations, with an annual budget of $100 million and more than one thousand employees; her most recent accomplishment is the opening of a new, Frank Gehry–designed headquarters in Watts. She has become a major influence in the city, helping to shape policy and bring about systemic change for communities affected by decades of racism and underinvestment. For many years both women have steadily, effectively and selflessly dedicated their professional expertise to helping underserved people in their local communities. Over 30 years apart in age, they offer outstanding models of the way humane, compassionate impulses, inspired by direct, face-to-face engagement with people in need, can lead to major and highly effective commitments of service.
RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOKS BY ALUMNAE Please send covers of your new books to classnotes@brearley.org.
Katharine Stanley-Brown Abbott ’45 Victoria Barr ’55 Mary Jane Herrmann Rossabi ‘56 Ann Goldschmidt Richardson ‘60 Jane Steinberg Hart ’61 Lee Roscoe ’64 Lydia Davis ‘65
hello!
NEW FACULTY AND STAFF
In August, new faculty and staff arrived at Brearley to start the 2022–2023 school year. Please visit our website, where we will be introducing them throughout the next months. Welcome to the community!
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WHAT’S ON YOUR DESK?
ANNIE SPADER BYERLY, KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
1. Framed sayings from Peggy Harding, a dear friend and mentor who worked at Brearley for many years. 2. My own fork and spoon, so I can avoid using plastic. 3. Leftovers from lunch. I love food and take too much, so I save it to eat after school. 4. Chopsticks, which I use as pointers and magic wands. 5. This box, which is currently being used for lost and found, was made for me by a former class. 6. The red stool comes from my last school, Buckley. They’re no longer on it, but my students painted and Mod Podged messages on it for me. 7. This photo of my dad was taken in my Buckley classroom when he came to visit me. 8. Lavender, which we use in the classroom for calming purposes. 9. Stick bugs (also called walking sticks), our 2021–2022 class pet. 10. Cards made by students last year. 11. Cartoon art that my husband made in 2001. 12. A picture of my daughters (Maisy ’11 and Lily ’08 Byerly). The frame was made by an associate teacher as an end-of-year gift.
Lois Kahn Wallace ’57 Writer’s Award
Established in 1999 by the late Lois Kahn Wallace ‘57, this award honors and encourages a Brearley alum at the beginning of her career as a published writer, or the beginning of writing in a new genre. Nominated books must be the first by the author, or the first by the author in its genre. Fiction and nonfiction works are eligible, as are books for young adults. This award is conferred approximately every two years and carries an honorarium. To apply, submit six copies of the work to Lizzy Youngling, Alum Relations Manager, at Brearley, 610 East 83rd Street, New York, NY 10028.
BULLETIN AWARD
This summer, Brearley received an Honorable Mention for Cover Design for the Spring/Summer 2021 Bulletin from the University & College Designers Association (UCDA) in its annual national design awards competition. Selected from more than 775 entries, the illustration, which was drawn by Randy Haldeman, is a depiction of our students’ strength amid the trials and tribulations of a pandemic. This is Brearley’s sixth nod from UCDA since 2015.
Cynthia Saltzman ’67 Lisa Coolier Cool ’70 Susan Amussen ’72 Rebecca Frost Cuevas ’72 Gaelin Rosenwaks ’97 Anna Della Subin ‘03 Alice Robb ’10
Jennifer Bartoli Katherine Bateman The Brearley Community Tim Brownell Kristen Chae Brian Chu
Luigi Cicala Carolyn Clark Jane Fried Andrea Gilroy Sheila Kramer Winifred Mabley
Gail Marcus Jim McDonald Peter McKay Jim Mulkin Lisa Pollack Colin Samuel
Rachel Spradley Jennifer Stewart Runako Taylor Andy Vernon-Jones Lizzy Youngling Maria Zimmermann
Truth and Toil Award
Cecile Miller Eistrup ’58 Makes Brearley History Again as Inaugural Winner
“I am happy that my presence here means something to you, because it means a lot to me.” So said Cecile Miller Eistrup ‘58 upon accepting Brearley’s first Truth and Toil Award at a ceremony and reception held in her honor on September 28 at the School. The new award annually recognizes a living alumna who has built a sense of connection across class years and has made a significant impact on the community. Cecile was announced as the winner during the 2022 Reunion and Alumnae Celebrations.
Entering Brearley in 1950 as a member of Class VI, Cecile was the first student of color to be admitted at the School. Years later, in honor of Cecile opening the doors for every Brearley alumna of color, Cherise Davis ’90, Lisa Downing ’85 and Andréa Matos ’88 created the Miller Society. The Miller Society has thrived and expanded ever since, becoming one of the most important alumnae groups at Brearley. Its purpose includes supporting current students and families of color and propelling diversity, equity and inclusion at the School.
At the celebration, which was attended by Cecile’s classmates and other alumnae, administration, trustees, faculty, staff and students, Cecile, who received a silk scarf on which Truth & Toil and other Brearley details were hand-painted by art teacher Rebecca Raney, was asked what advice she could give to current students. “Be yourself,” she responded. “Know who you are, what you stand for. Be willing to share and be as open and understanding and learn to respect each other.” To you, Cecile, for embodying the values of Brearley and continuing to inspire generations of students, we express our sincerest appreciation and gratitude.
