Honoring Retiring Faculty and Staff

Each spring, we recognize retiring faculty and staff members whose legacies at Packer will long endure. Last May, we recognized three beloved Packer stalwarts: History Teacher Erland Zygmuntowicz, Director of Preschool and Lower School Admissions Denise Schwed, and English Teacher Lisa Schwartzburg. Each dedicated many years of their careers to Packer and will be remembered fondly for years to come.

Denise Schwed started at Packer 47 years ago as a Lower School teacher before bringing her formidable expertise and years in the classroom to the Admissions Office. Denise quickly established a reputation as someone who got to know every applicant and their family, taking the time to understand their unique learning styles and aspirations. “We’re always looking for children who will be successful here, who will be happy here, and who can do the program. Of course, we are a different school than we were when I started in 1975, but at the core we’re still very much the same. We are still a community school that’s built around inclusion and kindness.”

As a Head of the History Department for over two decades, Erland Zygmuntowicz (“Mr. Zyg”) modeled deep thinking and a commitment to social justice, both with his colleagues and his students. He helped shape the program, shepherding innovative courses and hiring and guiding the majority of the current history faculty. His imprint is deeply embedded in the character and quality of the department. “I became a teacher because I love to learn. When you’re a teacher you’re a perpetual learner. It was a way to combine my enjoyment of young people with a commitment to social justice. The light of justice has always illuminated my path as a teacher.”

In her 12 years of teaching Middle School English and history at Packer, Lisa Schwartzburg brought her particular love of teaching writing to her students. English Department Head Elissa Krebs recalled, “Lisa believed in instilling pride in hard work, making it a regular practice to invite the school community to her classroom to both applaud and critique students’ presentations. She brought the rich history of ancient Egypt and the wonder of Greek myths alive for her students through creativity and research.” Though she has left her full time role at Packer, Lisa continues working with students one-on-one.

We thank Denise, Erland, and Lisa for their many years of service to Packer and wish them all the best in their next chapters.

Read our full tributes at packer.edu/news

Packer’s annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, co-organized by the Office of Equity and Inclusion and the Parent Association, culminated in a Peace March to the steps of Borough Hall, where a Lower School student carries a sign commemorating King’s words. With a theme of “(Re)Committing to Justice in the Spirit of MLK,” the day brought students, families, faculty, and staff together to sing, read, think deeply, and flow in a group yoga class in the Commons.