Faculty and Staff Farewells

KENNETH WATTS

KARL WEBER

English Literature at the United States Air Force Academy and, prior to that, he served as an instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for three years. He also served as an Officer in the active duty Army for just under 14 years and lived, among many other places, in Baghdad, Iraq, and Daegu, South Korea. Dr. Ward received a B.A. in History from Texas Christian University and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in English Literature from The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. J. Kenneth Watts, Lower School Music Teacher, K-3, began his career as a music teacher before deciding to become a school administrator. He has held several administrative positions in New Jersey and was the vice principal at Montclair High School. Dr. Watts received a B.S. in Education from Western Illinois University, an M.A. in Educational Administration from Kean University, and a Doctor of Arts in Educational Administration from Nova Southeastern University.

Karl Weber, Grade 5 Social Studies Teacher, arrives at Pingry following a year at The Packer Collegiate Institute, where he worked as a Grade 3 associate teacher. He also has additional teaching experience from his work at Bank Street School for Children. Mr. Weber received a B.S. in Business Administration from Colorado State University and an M.S. in Education from the Bank Street Graduate School of Education.

Returned to Pingry

William Lagarde, Upper School Math Teacher, has returned after receiving a Master’s degree from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Read more about the new faculty and staff, as well as faculty and staff in new roles, at pingry.org/extras.

Farewell to Faculty and Staff

Colleen Collins, Lower School Systems Administrator and a valued member of the Technology Department, has retired. Among her many behind-the-scenes efforts with technology, she played a major role in the technology installations and wiring when the Lower School was modernized. “The past 19 years working at Pingry have been some of the best and most rewarding years of my life,” she says. “From the kids, who keep us young and always wanting to learn, to my colleagues, who have become my best friends, to an amazing team that I have had the honor of working with, I do feel so blessed.”

Patty Finn, Lower School Music Teacher and a member of the Magistri, has retired after a 36-year Pingry career. “I have loved my tenure at Short Hills, working with some amazing educators and being able to share my love of music with so many wonderful children and families,” she says. Mrs. Finn also directed the Lower School Handbell Choir, composed music for school concerts and classroom lessons, arranged music to help students learn their instruments, and originated the morning announcements that focused on strengthening the Code of Conduct/Honor Code. In addition, she received The E. Murray Todd Faculty Chair (1998) and The Albert W. Booth Master Chair (2017) and two summer fellowships. Read more about her approach to teaching and composing—including 30 published children’s songs—in the Fall 2016 issue of The Pingry Review.

Eileen Hymas, C.B. Newton Library Director for the past 19 years, has retired. During her years at Pingry, the library’s digital and online resources grew exponentially, including more than 100,000 academic ebooks that students may come across in college. Along with those resources, Mrs. Hymas oversaw the ordering and cataloging of paper books to meet the needs of the curriculum and to represent the student body’s interests and perspectives. She also played a role in designing the Reading Room when the Basking Ridge Campus clock tower was reconstructed 10 years ago. A recipient of the Woodruff J. English Award (2009) and two summer fellowships, Mrs. Hymas is grateful for her time at Pingry, valued friendships with her colleagues, and the chance to be part of “this vast world of human knowledge and research that is immediately accessible to our students, faculty, and staff.”

Dale Seabury, Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing since 2015, has left Pingry after 13 years. She joined the School as Assistant Director of Athletics, transitioned to the Admission Office as Assistant Director of Admission and Coordinator of Financial Aid (later becoming Director of Financial Aid), and then led Communications, including collaboration on redesigns of pingry.org and The Pingry Review, oversight of marketing videos, and a key role on the crisis management team. “It was a privilege to learn from talented and dedicated colleagues and grow as a professional in three distinct roles and departments during my 13-year tenure,” she says. “I will dearly miss many Pingrians I call friends, and advisees and families with whom I had the pleasure to work.”