Celebrating the 2017–2022
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“Excellence
Completion of loop road around campus to ensure a secure perimeter Renovation of old Grades 3-5 wing to provide new Grade 2 classrooms, dedicated classrooms for World Languages, a new Lower School science lab, and expanded AfterCare space Creation of turf field and a new Lower School playground Renovation of quad to provide gathering area for all K-8 students and space for community events
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spaces that promote growth & learning spaces that encourage collaboration & exploration spaces that spark creativity & innovation spaces that kindle conversation & community spaces that inspire excellence Celebrating...
The Begins with E Campaign” provided the following enhancements to the Red Gables Campus: Renovation and expansion of the Robinson Hall servery and dining hall for Grades K-8 Construction of new academic building for Grades 3-5 with larger classrooms and collaborative spaces Renovation of current K-1 classrooms and addition of new modular furniture
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COUNTLESS STUDENTS & FACULTY BENEFITING $25,052,554 TOTAL SUPPORT 322 DONORS 168 FIRST-TIME CampaignDonors 47,233 Square feet ADDED 33,951 Square feet RENOVATED 51% INCREASE in SchoolLowerspace 30% ofAffectedCampus 34 NEW or renovated CLASSROOMS 450 NEW DESKS 475 NEW CHAIRS 11 Robinson Hall - 1st & 2nd Floor New Grades 3–5 Building Old Grades 3–5 Wing MS Classrooms under Robinson Hall K–1 Classrooms & Atrium New Collaborative/Meeting Spaces Increase in AfterCare Space Dining Hall seating increased by 3x 43%
“The Red Gables Campus is the foundation of the Ensworth experience, and through this campaign, we have been able to strengthen this foundation in truly meaningful ways. New and expanded academic spaces allow for the type of interactive, engaged learning that students will build upon throughout their Ensworth career. With new common areas and play spaces, as well as a completely renovated Robinson Hall dining facility, opportunities to build community among students, faculty, and families have been dramatically improved. As a result of this commitment to the Red Gables Campus, we will see an even stronger group of students moving up to the High School, positively impacting all aspects of school life on the Frist Campus and making this a project that benefits Ensworth as a whole.”
Will Morrow President, Board of Trustees
FROM THE leadership team:
David Braemer Head of School
“It may be tempting to view the pandemic period as one of loss and missed opportunities, but I am actually amazed by Ensworth’s successes in the last two years, driven by the resiliency, resourcefulness, and resolution of our community. The school saw significant gains in enrollment, record financial support from our community, and the exciting opening of the new Lower School Building on time. The successful completion of the “Excellence Begins with E” Campaign and related building projects in the midst of a global pandemic is particularly noteworthy.
I am grateful for the commitment and investment of time from co-chairs Amy Christiansen and TJ Wilt, as well as the leadership of David Braemer and the Board of Trustees during this campaign. I am also thankful to all who contributed their support to this project. The opening of the incredible new Lower School facilities, combined with our community’s adept management of the challenges of the past two years, place Ensworth in an incredible position of strength for the future.”
“As an Ensworth alumnus, and now as a parent of a graduate and two current students, I have had the opportunity to observe the school’s growth and development over the years. I love that Ensworth is not a school that sits back on its heels, but is always evaluating and improving, yet holding true to the core values that define the Ensworth experience. This campaign and the resulting campus enhancements exemplify that commitment to excellence and will help ensure Ensworth’s position as a leader in education and co-education for generations to come.”
“The ‘Excellence Begins with E’ Campaign was an intentional and demonstrated initiative that reflects the continued growth of The Ensworth School. My heart is full of gratitude to our community for its outpouring of support and unwavering resolve in wrapping its arms around our youngest Tigers. Parents, faculty & staff, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, current students, and friends all contributed to ensure the success of this project, further enhance our school’s learning environments, and provide the exceptional, energetic, and enduring foundation for our children to thrive. This is the Ensworth family’s commitment and impact in action. I’m excited about the excellence that will flourish from and in these new spaces.”
Phil Krebs Past President, Board of Trustees TJ Wilt ’91 Capital Campaign Co-Chair
Amy Christiansen Capital Campaign Co-Chair
“Since the School’s founding in 1958, what has made the Ensworth community so special is its collective commitment to excellence. Central to this commitment has always been the unified goal to surround each of our students and faculty with the finest educational facilities in order to provide the best environment for learning. The successful completion of the Campaign, and the opening of the beautiful Lower School Building, fulfills this commitment to the Red Gables Campus and once again highlights that excellence truly does begin with E.”
Leadership Team TJ Wilt ’91 – Co-Chair Amy Christiansen – Co-Chair David AmyLauraKathrynDavidWillPhilBraemerKrebsMorrowBraemerBrownChadwickChristiansenTrishaElcan’79ChadGreerRandySmithReedTrickett Mary Leyden & Torry Johnson Barby & Govan White Jamee TrishaLauraKathrynChristiThompsonTurnerBrownChadwick(Frist)Elcan’79 Elizabeth & Clark Akers ’71 Lexie & James Armstrong Courtney & Christian Bahr Stephanie & David Bailey Christen & Cole Barfield ’95 Anne & Josh Buckley Kemp & Jeffrey Buntin ’87 Daphne & Rawls Butler Liza (Caldwell ’88) & Greg Coleman Amy Colton Stephanie & Forrest Conner Kathy & Mike Dorr Lucy & Greg Duvall Shervin Eftekhari Phyllis & Steve Fridrich Ashley Frist Kitty Ganier ’97 Phil Krebs Hill McAlister ’73 Bruce Moore JameeChristiThompsonTurnerTJWilt’91 Honorary Chairs The late Edith McBride Bass The late Patricia C. Frist The late Alice Ingram Hooker The late Margaret Ann Robinson Campaign Steering Committee Campaign Volunteers Past Trustee Chairs Parents of Alumni Chairs Red Gables Parent Chairs Parents of Alumni Chairs Frist Campus CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP TEAM Kailey Hand Clay Hart Laurie & Steven Hooper ’83 Christy Ivey Coco & Chris Kyriopoulos Farrell & David Mason ’87 Deb McDermott Shannon & Mike McGuffin Karen Moore Danna & Mike Ryan Laurie & Jim Seabury Dorothy (Barfield ’86) & Clay Sifford Barbara & Brett Smith Anne MissyNormStringhamThomas&JohnVoigt
An interview with HEATHER CAPONI, Head of Lower School and WHITNEY EARHART, Grade 4 Teacher breaks in the middle of class. Their chairs move, too; they all love the wobble stools. They can also get on the floor or choose the soft seating. And the way the desks move, there are lots of opportunities for them to move around and choose both where and how they want to work, which we didn’t have before.
How has the new building already helped to enhance the teaching and learning experience?
Whitney Earhart: Whenever I talk about the benefits of the new building, I have to mention the space and the quiet. In the old building, for example, our classrooms were so close together, we could hear each other through the walls. And there were tile floors and metal lockers, which were both noisy. Now, we have such distance between our rooms, and the carpet and quieter lockers–it just makes everything seem so calm. Plus, we are looking out at the treetops on the second floor, so it feels inspiring and peaceful. Also, we know that kids perform better and behave better when they have a chance to move. Now, we have the room to do that. We’ll get up and do brain
Heather Caponi: Honestly, our teachers are so magnificent they could teach in a shed, but the new Lower School building has provided really exciting and creative ways to deliver content. Teachers are using the spaces so purposefully and thoughtfully, whether it be grouping students in a lesson or having students engaged in a particular way in a space. I think it has enhanced what was already very strong teaching.
What are some creative ways you’ve seen teachers/students using the new spaces?
HC: I can speak mainly about the fifth grade hallway, since it is right outside my office. I love how the fifth grade uses the hallway as a gathering place. During snack time, I can go out and engage with the students because they collect in different areas and connect with each other outside the classroom. When I walk around the building, I see the ways the teachers are using the breakout rooms that we have for our students to engage in small group
Looking ahead, what are other initiatives or projects that are on the horizon that the new building and renovations to old spaces have made possible?
HC: First and foremost, it will be a safer space. A good bit of the equipment was dated and not necessarily the safest. We’ve chosen equipment and areas that are age-appropriate for K-5 and will allow what we know is important, which is the activation of the vestibular system. Younger children need to have climbing and jumping and swinging and sliding, because it helps them focus and do better in school. All of our equipment choices
work. I think our teachers do a lovely job of utilizing that space.
HC: The next most exciting thing is opening up our World Language classrooms and Andrew Bond’s science room and the new AfterCare space. The new rooms will provide so many opportunities for more engagement in World Language. Mr. Bond will be able to do more in-depth, hands-on lab experiments that he can carry over days and weeks since he’ll have the space to leave them set up. The new AfterCare area will allow students to collect in age-appropriate groups. Our Middle School students can be in one area and Lower School in another, which is more developmentally appropriate.
WE: I love that we now have bigger tables and more elbow room, but we still have the oval so everyone is facing each other. The traffic flow through the lunchroom is so much better, and having the separate dish room prevents collisions and spills. My students have also loved the experience of eating on the patio; it’s such a pleasant extension of that space. It has been nice to have the new screens in the lunchroom; they’ve been using them for riddles and pictures and conversation starters, which helps connect everyone and gives them something to talk about. The Robinson Hall conference room has also been very useful as a meeting room for teachers, because you can gather for a meeting during lunch, but you are still close by to keep an eye on your class. What benefits will the new playground provide?
How have the renovations to Robinson Hall enhanced the lunch experience?
WE: I appreciate that the collaborative spaces are in such close proximity to my classroom. There’s plenty of space within our own classroom to spread out and work in groups, but it’s interesting when a student self-selects to go work in a conference room, because they know they might do better with fewer distractions. Or, when a group wants to work together and knows they will need to talk, they can go do that work away from others who may need quiet study time. Because of the glass walls to the classroom and collaborative spaces, I have the ability to easily check on them to see if they are on task.
WE: We’ve also received an upgrade to the technology in all of the classrooms. We had projectors and Apple TVs, but now we also have Smart notebook software, which allows us to create more interactive lessons and games with kids. We’ve been receiving training on the software this semester, and it will make lessons even more engaging and fun. My colleagues in science can transform what they were doing with labs, now with the access to outlets and sinks and with the concrete floors. They are rethinking what they can do with experiments and also with robotics now that they have the space.
were very purposeful in that they would provide gross motor movement for the different age levels. I’m also excited that we have chosen natural pieces that fit the Red Gables environment.
WE: Our fourth graders were really excited about the turf field this year; that has been a game-changer. The water drains through it quickly, so they can still play on it the same day it has rained, whereas our old field would have been a mud pit. The basketball courts were great, but this improved playground offers more to those kids who don’t necessarily want to play soccer, football, or basketball during recess.
HC: I also want to point out that we were very purposeful about maintaining the trees, so the playground is designed around saving those trees that are so much a part of Ensworth’s history.
Stacey, Victor, Brayden ’26, Cooper ’28, and Delaney ’30 Donor Profile
Ensworth is unique because of its community. Community is a focus for everyone at Ensworth. The faculty and staff along with the parents and students are dedicated to building relationships and supporting each other in meaningful ways. We are so grateful for the community at Ensworth that allows our kids to thrive. What inspired you to give to the Excellence Begins with E Capital Campaign? When I heard about the “Excellence Begins with E” Capital Campaign, I knew that we would give because I wanted future students to have every opportunity possible at Ensworth, including the most efficient and productive learning environment. What could be more important? How does a strong culture of philanthropy enrich the Ensworth experience? Philanthropy enriches the Ensworth experience by contributing to the feeling that we are invested in what happens at Ensworth. We are truly dedicated to helping all students have a wonderful experience now and in the future.
VALLEJO
What do you think makes Ensworth unique?
THE FAMILY
What benefits do you think that the new building/renovations provide for the Lower School (and/or the entire Ensworth experience)? The new building/renovations have provided an amazing opportunity for the Lower School students to learn in ways they could not before. They are able to do multiple projects at a time and work comfortably in large groups. The natural light has made such a difference in the mood in the classroom. The kids have so much fun learning! I feel confident that giving the Lower School kids this amazing classroom experience will foster their love of learning for years to come. What excites you the most about the future of Ensworth? This question takes me back to my first answer. The future of Ensworth is so exciting because of its community. The commitment to community that is so prevalent at Ensworth will continue to enrich the experience of students. I’m excited to see all that the Ensworth community will do in the future!
From as early as kindergarten, we’ve watched how the teachers instill and shape a sense of community among their classrooms. Ensworth has a “wider angle lens” on the holistic development of the child, including creating a communal space for each child to be inspired to find his/her best self: socially, academically, artistically, and athletically. We believe this allows the children to truly thrive. What inspired you to give to the Excellence Begins with E Capital Campaign? Our children had an amazing Lower School experience, with memorable years and beloved teachers. Yet, there’s always room for improvement! Though Olly, our youngest, did get to move into the new building as a fifth grader, we wanted to “pay it forward” for Ensworth children in the years to come to have more hall space, classrooms, labs, and resources to enhance the science, language, and art curriculums, to name a few. How does a strong culture of philanthropy enrich the Ensworth experience? What unites us all as a community as Ensworth is that we all want the best for our children to flourish, and we are all willing to sacrifice and give to that end. Whether it be through volunteering our time, talents, expertise, or money, the community is ready to lend a hand to support a vision of excellence for the future of our children and the Ensworth community. What benefits do you think that the new building/renovations provide for the Lower School (and/or the entire Ensworth experience)?
From what I’ve seen of the new building, the classrooms have opened up new opportunities for the teachers to pivot desks in different configurations –even throughout the day! – for different styles of teaching. There is simply more space to spread out, read a book, and conduct different activities during a lesson. There is more space and peace in a quieter hallway for the kids to transition between classrooms and go to their lockers. And there is an upgraded science lab for the kids to have more experiential lab opportunities, now and in the years to come. In short, it will offer a better, stronger learning and teaching environment for students and teachers alike. What excites you the most about the future of Ensworth? This fall, we attended the preview night for eighth graders and parents to learn more about the High School. There, Nowell Hesse described Ensworth as “a place where we want every single student to be the best himself/ herself they can be.” Isn’t that what every parent wants for their kids and for their future? With the advent of a new headmaster next year, I hope that the ethos of Ensworth stays close to the mission and values it nurtures within the students: “moral integrity, intellectual vitality, discipline, compassion, humor and joy.” We’re excited for our family to continue to contribute to this community toward the same end that Hesse describes for the students: to being the best “community” we can be.
Jenny, John, Rhys ’26, and Olly ’29 FAMILY
What do you think makes Ensworth unique?
Donor Profile THE DYER
Jamee and De Thompson
Betsy and Dave Taylor
Mr. and Mrs. John R. Ingram
$1 Million+ Ann & Monroe Carell Foundation
Lynnda Speer
Katherine Hawkins Letterman
Kathryn and David Brown
$500,000+
Julie Carell Stadler
$2 Million+
This report includes all commitments made to the Excellence Begins with E Campaign. Please accept our apologies for any errors or omissions. Contact the Office of Institutional Advancement with any corrections or questions at jamesb@ensworth.com.
Karen and Bruce Moore
Dr. and Mrs. L. Cole Barfield
Leah and Jim Sohr
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wallace
Julie and Tommy Frist Craig and Trista Goguen
Gwen and Frank Gordon
Mr. and Mrs. Orrin H. Ingram II
Laura and John Chadwick
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Nesbitt Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawson C. Allen
Kathryn and David Brown Ensworth Parent Association
Christi and Jay Turner
Christi and Richard Speer
Jennifer and Billy Frist
Cynthia and Dave Arnholt and the Haslam Family
Mr. and Mrs. Clay Sifford
Thank you to our donors!
Kailey and J.R. Hand Amber and Phil Hertik
Mr. and Mrs. H. Lee Barfield II
Samuel M. Fleming Foundation
Joanne Fleming Hayes
Dallas and Fleming Wilt T.J. Wilt
$250,000+ Bottorff Family Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Toby S. Wilt Sr.
Mr. and Mrs. Brock Kidd
Jodi and Mark Banks
Trisha and Chuck Elcan James Stephen Turner Family Foundation
Joanne Fleming Hayes
Mr. and Mrs. Seamus P. Ross
Elena and David Graves
Edie and David Johnson
Louise Bullard Wallace Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. H. Rodes Hart Speer Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Riven
Anne Potter Wilson Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Ansel L. Davis
Ravi Chari and Sharon Albers
Mr. and Mrs. William Rich
Blair Wilson
Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Smallwood
Jean M. Ewing
Ms. Jeanie Bass
Kristen and Chad Greer
Eliza and Stuart Brunson
Phyllis and Steve Fridrich
Lucy and Greg Duvall
Rebecca and John Howard
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Atwood
Jack and Barbara Bovender
Nancy and Jeff Bunting Bratschi Campbell
Amanda and Bob Farnsworth
Jenny and John Dyer
Ashley and Harrison Frist Senator and Mrs. William H. Frist
The Freeland Family
Crain Family Foundation
$100,000+ Anonymous Donors (4)
$25,000+ Elizabeth and Clark Akers
Amy and Doug Christiansen
Sallie and John Bailey
The late Edith McBride Bass
Laurie and Jim Seabury
Sara and Richard Bovender
The late Frances C. Jackson
Mr. and Mrs. James Armstrong
Rene Houghland
Lise and Will Morrow
Lisa and John Campbell
David and Stephanie Bailey
Richard Braemer and Amy Finkel
Rob and Jody Hull
Chloe Ward
Mrs. Lisa B. Foote
The Rich Foundation
The late Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee O. Currey, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip D. Krebs
Jacqueline and McClain Towery
Donna and Keith Crowe
Mr. and Mrs. Tate Rich
Susan and Jonathan Dyke
Sandy and Don Cochran
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey W. Buntin Jr.
David and Timiny Braemer
Emily and Hill McAlister
Rebecca and John Howard
Daphne and Rawls Butler
Alex and Polly Ryerson
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick W. Smith
The late Margaret Ann Robinson
Becky Webb and the late James A. Webb III
Ms. Amy Rich and Mr. Eddie Schmidt
Mrs. Martha R. Ingram
Mr. and Mrs. Crews Johnston III
Glenna and Sam Hazen
Anne and Joe Russell
$50,000+
Leslie McKinney Bass
Stephanie and Forrest Conner
Kari and Chadd Tierney
Amy and Overton Colton
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nelson III
Beth and Richard Courtney Drew Crawford
Mr. and Mrs. James Armstrong
Mr. and Mrs. William M. Wilson
Brad and Kim Blevins
Georgette and Shervin Eftekhari
The late Alice Ingram Hooker
Mr. Jack M. Bass III
Mr. and Mrs. Alec T. Estes
Torry and Mary Leyden
Mr. and Mrs. Allen Oakley
Elizabeth and Gregg Gerken
Sarah and Bob Buchanan
Carolyn and Hartley Hall
Mr. and Mrs. Steven C. Hooper
Mr. and Mrs. Govan D. White
Joshua and Anne Buckley
Danna and Mike Ryan Casey and Chris Seay
Chris and Coco Kyriopoulos
Dallas and Fleming Wilt Wyatt Johnson Automotive Group
Terre and Doug Cahill
Candy and Jim Bass
Denise and Jim Boosalis
Louise and John Bryan
Amanda Church and Cesar Gueikian
Deb and Kevin McDermott Shannon and Mike McGuffin
Katherine and Mike Cannata
Jim and Laura Bowen
Kimberly Patikas Mimi and Johnson Phillips
Linda and Lester Turner Stewart and Clay Taylor
Mr. and Mrs. Reed Trickett
The T & T Family Foundation
Katherine and Mike Cannata Wiff and Wendell Harmer
Johnson
Anne and Bedell James
Matt and Ashley Lane Farrell and David Mason
Rebecca and Scott Bowers
$10,000+
Beth and Brian Bachmann
Emily and Will Kurtz
Greg and Liza Coleman
Shawn and Elizabeth Bailes
Currey and Wade Thornton
Mr. and Mrs. Abhishek Mathur
Bonney and Jim Todd
Janet and Michael Dagley
R. Rick Hart
Courtney and Christian Bahr
Dr. and Mrs. MacRae F. Linton
Lauren and David Carlson
The late Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Robinson
Katie and Forrest Porterfield
Sally and Jon Nesbitt
Drs. Victor and Stacey Vallejo
Julie and Adam Dretler
Amy Liz and John Riddick
Excellence Campaign Supporters Anonymous Donor
Andrew and Elizabeth Bond
Ivey
Tom and Ashleigh Kendrot
Elizabeth and Charles Barrett
Jamie and Ben Rechter
Kathleen Armour-Spitzer and Ned Spitzer
Kathy and Mike Dorr
Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Dr. and Mrs. Trent Wallace
Shelly and Rob Bearden
Joe Brady
Bruce and Kirsten Crosby
Elena and Robert Rollins
Dr. and Mrs. William F. Buckley
Barbara and Brett Smith
Drs. David and Neesha Choma
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Bass
Jonna and Doug Whitman
John and Carol Bachmann
Jason Bates and G. L. Black
Christy Wilkins
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Buttarazzi
The Ahrend Family
Yvonne and Michael Ralsky
Mr. and Mrs. David Rollins, David and Mary Rollins Advised
Drs. Amanda and Duc Nguyen
Abby Curtis Delia and David Darst
Katie and Mike Haney
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Groomes
Charles Nelson IV
Glenn KashishFamilyGoel and Nidhi Gupta
Lisa and Dave Coviello
Bzur and Page Haun Catherine and Michael Hayes
Jenny Hannon
Jeff and Rosella Minikus
Heather and Stephen Johnson
Ling and Andy Kelley
Linda and Kerry Graham
The Gainous Family
They’re realizing that being able to look around the room and see all of the boards allows them to collaborate even by observing each other’s work and ruminating in it. And so the walls have become their own canvases.”
Mrs. Jeanne Hubert and Mr. Peter C. Sales
Allan B. Hunt
Kelly Goorevich, Grade 5 Teacher
Ann Phillips Harmer Karly and Clay Hart Clark and Tom Harwell
Mr. and Mrs. James V. Hunt Jr.
Aeron and Catherine Lucas
Todd and Carlie Cruse
Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. James Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Liapunov
Virgil AshleyHerringandJoe Howell
Ruby Cortner and Bill Fletcher
Patti and Will David Coleman
Mr. and Mrs. Granbery Jackson III
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan J. Cole
Stacey and Stu Clark
Grace Hall
The Hunt Family Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. James V. Hunt Sr.
The Henry Laird Smith Foundation
Sukey and Kenneth Johnson
The Larson Family
Jennifer and Phillip Lawson
Laura and Land Deleot Megan and David Eskind
Kim and Bryce Hubner
Cannon and Catherine King Tracy and Kristie Langston
Karmyn and Chris Conk
Mrs. Jane N. Lupton
Kevin and Amanda Graff
Mamie Cayce McAlister
The Mixon Family
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nelson III
Mr. and Mrs. Royce E. Fentress Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson L. Jarman
Maddin Nelson
Mrs. Alfene S. Page
Johnson Johnson Crabtree Architects, P.C.
Ms. Jeannette Sloan Warner
Ms. Whitney L. Johnson
Jodie and Hal Lawton
“The technology in the rooms is phenomenal. The sound, the silence, the sharpness of the boards, and the fact that the kids can work on whiteboards in three different areas around the room is really inspiring.
Tim Petrikin
Fran
Dr. Ellen C. Reynolds
Maury and Mark Woolwine
Kristin and Carter Paine
Thomas III
Alexia and Charley Poe
Maureen and Donald Seitz
Drs. Joseph and Stephaine Walker
Chris Wong and Jeanette Bauchat
Lorien and John Sites Allison and Arthur Smith
Lindsey and Dominick Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan A. Shayne
Pam and John Picklesimer
Ms. Mary Elizabeth Sales and Mr. Ed Frank Strauss
Libby and Jason Sheer
Missy and John Voigt
Mr.MargaretAnneMatthewSpurrierT.SugalskiandJimTateHuttonTaylorandMrs.NormanA.
Tiffany Townsend and Todd Matthews
Rebecca and Grant Rutledge
Missy and Paul Wallace
Rachel Robinson
Mr. and Mrs. Craig W. Perry
Jenifer and Wesley Weeks
Betty and Randy Smith
Ellie and Trent Rosenbloom
Ann and Axson West
Emily and Crom Tidwell III
Mr. and Mrs. Brian W. Tolbert
Donor Profile
What do you think makes Ensworth unique?
We had twin girls finish nine years at Red Gables, and many things throughout their K-8 years stand out as unique. From the wonderful and storied Orange and Black tradition, to the intentionally mixed lunchroom tables, to the wide diversity of extracurricular activities, our daughters’ elementary and middle school years were truly extraordinary. They tried almost everything imaginable— from dance team, math competitions, knitting baby hats in the morning before school, summer theater, after school STEM, and just about every sport that Middle School had to offer. They took advantage of the opportunities they had to try many different things and found their own unique passions, with incredible support from faculty and coaches. What inspired you to give to the Excellence Begins with E Capital Campaign?
We love Ensworth and, in particular, the Red Gables experience. Jim attended Red Gables, and his mother and brother both attended Red Gables. They all share fond memories of their experience at Ensworth and take pride in seeing our daughters get to share in those experiences, too. At the same time, our daughters were literally sitting in the same classrooms, with basically the same classroom furniture and fixtures, that Jim and his brother sat in 30+ years ago. We hoped that, through the Campaign, future generations of students could continue to share in the unique and wonderful Red Gables experience–but in an enhanced and modern setting, taking advantage of all the improvements and advances that a new building could facilitate. Basically, we were inspired to make the Red Gables experience even better.
THE BOWEN FAMILY
Laura, Jim, Mimi ’25, Lily, and Rosemary ’29
What benefits do you think that the new building/ renovations provide for the Lower School (and/or the entire Ensworth experience)? We are lucky enough to have a daughter who was able to finish her Lower School experience in the new building. The joy she feels about the new classrooms and space is contagious among her friends and classmates. We couldn’t wait to get inside it ourselves after hearing her describe all the furniture and open spaces. Our first opportunity came at February parent teacher conferences, and we were as impressed as she is! I think giving children and teachers more space to spread out and move is a breath of fresh air for all of them. The classrooms are so spacious and full of light, and I think this will only contribute to the excitement children feel to come to school everyday and learn. The best part is seeing the excitement the teachers also have, and the new ideas they are brainstorming to maximize how they can take advantage of programming in their new rooms. What excites you the most about the future of Ensworth? In the immediate future, we are excited to see everything with fresh eyes after almost two years of Covid. It feels like a new beginning, and we are eager to see how the School integrates some of the lessons and innovations of the past-18 months to make Ensworth even better going forward. I think the new building is timed so well in this way. It has the space, technological resources and modern flexibility and design that can help facilitate some of the innovations and inspiring new things that our teachers and staff no doubt have in mind coming out of the long pandemic. So, it’s exciting to resume everything we had loved from years past, as well as see the school continue to grow and start new things with the new building.
“Everything is brand new, and it’s fresh, and we planned it. All of the teachers and all of the various committees were able to share their opinions and their thoughts on what would promote a successful classroom environment. So really, you can look at different areas of each room and know that a teacher thought that through, and it was all with purpose.”
ENSWORTH SCHOOL 211 Ensworth Place Nashville, TN 37205 Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Nashville, TN Permit No. 2630
Virginia Voigt, Grade 4 Teacher
