The Coolest ‘Nerd’ You’ll Ever Meet (P. 5)
ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Remembering the Love and Laughter of Colleen McCarthy (P. 24)
PLUS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
A Special Look At Some Alumni Doing Really Cool Things
A DREAM REALIZED
REFLECTING ON WHAT THE NEW LEIPOLD JOHNSON EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER MEANS TO PRAIRIE (P. 14)
SPRING 2021
Contents —
P. 03 From the Head of School P. 04 Faculty Notes
Campus Happenings P. 05 The Coolest ‘Nerd’ You’ll Ever Meet P. 06 Making It Work P. 08 Do What Comes Naturally P. 12 Everyone Loves a Parade P. 14 From Out of The Earthwork P. 18 Hawks Take Flight P. 24 A Joy to Be Around: Remembering Collen McCarthy P. 26 Stating The Facts
Alumni P. 11 Where Are They Now? Ryan Grossheim ’05 P. 13 Where Are They Now? Sophie Karegeannes ’19 P. 17 Where Are They Now? Andrea Bukacek ’03 P. 20 Where Are They Now? Zane Navratil ’14 P. 22 Alumni Notes
The Last Word P. 29 Beyond the Margins
Contributors Editor:
Assistant Editor:
Brendan J. O’Brien
Rachel Shuster
Designer:
Photographer:
Jeff Wilson/
Varitay Studios
Austin Gundlach
Authors:
Callie Atanasoff
Brendan J. O’Brien
2 Kathy | prairieschool.com Boero
Rachel Shuster
Dr. Nat Coffman
While this year’s team fell just short of winning Prairie’s first boys’ basketball State Championship since 1982 – the Hawks finished as the State Runner-Up in Division 4 – the group galvanized our community in countless impactful ways while finishing with a school-record twenty-three victories and their fifth straight Regional title.
From the Head of School —
Dear Prairie Families, A core tenet of our mission is to prepare young people for leadership — to help them become citizens who make a difference through independent critical analysis, creativity, communication, and collaboration. The proof is in all of you, our alumni who have already carved every imaginable path from Prairie out into the world as leaders in every aspect of society. As we all know and will read in this issue, TPS alumni continually make a difference in their respective communities. Here in Racine and surrounding neighborhoods, all over the country, and across the globe, our Prairie family is making a positive impact: through service within the Miss America organization, working to get to the top of their game (literally), or giving back to Prairie as part of a brand-new construction project — just to give a few examples. I hope that all of you will share your stories with us in the months ahead so that we can celebrate your impact.
“Success does not come without risks, failures, growth, and collaboration. Our job is to give our students the tools to know when and how to ask for help, take healthy risks, and iterate.”
Here on campus, our faculty continues making a difference in the lives of our current students amidst the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. Campus remains fully open, as it has been since July of 2020, with all of our students in person every day. Learning and growth is happening across the school and Prairie traditions have been temporarily adjusted but safely continue. Our faculty’s commitment to excellence helps our students find what it is that they can and will do to make their communities, workplaces, and families stronger. We strive for every student to develop a robust work ethic as a scholar, artist, athlete, and leader; a well-rounded education that emphasizes showing up and giving your best as the key foundation of a fruitful life. I have no doubt that we will be reading about many of them in future editions of this magazine, well after they have left our campus. Success does not come without risks, failures, growth, and collaboration. Our job is to give our students the tools to know when and how to ask for help, take healthy risks, and iterate. Failing forward, learning from our struggles — building grit, resilience, and determination in the face of uncertainty — happens through competitive athletics, performing arts, and active, studentcentered classrooms. These are the core of a Prairie education and they can’t happen over Zoom. As we approach the end of one of the most challenging years in Prairie’s history, we are grateful for the families, alumni, and friends who have been there as we’ve tried, iterated, and succeeded in maintaining all that makes Prairie, Prairie through the pandemic. I have never felt more fortunate to be a part of this school community and I am glad that all of us — alumni, parents, students, and faculty — are in this together. Thank you for being a part of Team Prairie. #BetterTogether. Sincerely,
Nathaniel W. Coffman, Ed.D. Head of School & President
Faculty Notes
TEACHERS CONTINUE TO CREATE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
— Grade 5/6 Science Teacher JOY ARAGONES is in the midst of three fellowships with the University of Wisconsin Field Day Labs. Along with data scientists, researchers, and a cohort of other educators, Joy is creating three new online games to teach science concepts. Aqualab allows students to use experimentation, modeling, and evidence-based argumentation to keep a marine research station running; Lakeland teaches how farming practices and the use of phosphorus can be harmful to our waterways; and a third game about maritime archaeology and Great Lakes shipwrecks is still in development. Joy’s current TPS students even get to join in the fun! They have already tested the dashboard for Lakeland and will do a similar test run with Aqualab later this spring. [A]
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In November, Video Production Teacher JOEY BINA won an Emmy for his documentary entitled, “Dairyland.” The ShortForm category-winning piece chronicled the loss of dairy farms in Wisconsin. Bina, who was a graduate student at Loyola University of Chicago when he produced the film, was also nominated for a second mini-documentary, “Perennial Pilot.” His award is called a Crystal Pillar, the student version of the Emmys, which is presented by the regional chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; entries from regional universities are judged by TV professionals.
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Across The Endless Ocean, the latest novel by Upper School Humanities Teacher SCOTT HUGGINS , will be published by New Mythologies Press in May 2021. The story, intended to be the first in a series, is a fantasy novel that follows Responsibility, the only “halfdragon” she knows of, living on the giant Century Ship she calls home. Parts of Huggins’ upcoming book have already been published as short stories. B
Births •
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VALERIE (Grade 1 Teacher) and Andrew Sprunger announce the birth of Nora Sloane Sprunger on 2/1/21. [B]
The Coolest ‘Nerd’ You’ll Ever Meet MEET A SCIENCE TEACHER WHO HAS MADE HER SUBJECT THE TALK OF PRAIRIE’S UPPER SCHOOL
— By Rachel Shuster “Everyone is a nerd about something.” So says Jean Weaver, quite possibly the coolest “nerd” you will ever meet. Not only is Dr. Weaver a studied expert in the field of Chemistry, she is unwaveringly passionate about getting her students excited about the subject, too. In addition to chairing the Science Department and teaching the highest-level courses offered at Prairie, Dr. Weaver heads what is unquestionably the most popular co-curricular activity in the Upper School: Science Olympiad. She started the club fifteen years ago, after hearing about the national program from fellow faculty members, and quickly grew to love the way it morphed even her quietest students into fierce competitors. “I have wondered, why do I like this so much? I’m not a competitor, I’m just organizing!” Weaver chuckles. “I really like seeing kids get excited about learning about science; doing it from their own ambition, not because there’s a grade riding on it. I like seeing another avenue for kids to thrive in — if you’re not an athlete, a musician, or a stage person, this is something for you.” Science Olympiad is based around competition, providing a chance for participants to put their newfound knowledge to the test. In a “normal” year, Prairie’s teams travel all over the state — and sometimes even to Illinois — for in-person tournaments, which operate similar to a track and field meet. Teams select pairs of members to participate in up to thirty events, each of which uses a preset challenge to test a different subset of scientific knowledge and skills: Ornithology, Circuit Lab, Forensics, and Boomilever are just a few. Events happen concurrently throughout the campus of the school hosting the tournament, which closes with an official awards ceremony. When the pandemic hit last spring, it put an end to the 201920 season and threatened future contests. In a true spirit of collaboration, Dr. Weaver joined her fellow Wisconsin-area coaches to figure out how to adapt to their new circumstances.
They presented their ideas to the National Science Olympiad Committee, and voilá: a new kind of Olympiad was born. This fall, students are participating in “Satellite” Olympiads, wherein they show up to their own school sites, link into a “command central” Zoom meeting along with their competitors, and compete live in their events via that link. In November, Prairie competed in its first satellite meet along with twenty-eight other teams from across the country — including rivals from Marquette High School – from schools as far away as Pennsylvania, California, and North Dakota. Between its JV and Varsity squads, Prairie competed in twenty-two of the twenty-eight events — finishing in 8th place overall, and 3rd in the Small School category. Hawks won four events outright, in addition to nabbing ten 2nd place and four 3rd place finishes. “We don’t usually compete against schools from that far away, but now you can go anywhere!” Weaver explains. These new meets simulate much of the same experience for students. For Dr. Weaver, it means a lot more work on the front end: finding and preparing specific materials for different events, organizing logistics (will students need calculators? If so, what kind? Do they need goggles? How many?), and taking photos and videos during certain challenges to submit for virtual judging. But Dr. Weaver is nothing short of devoted to her students’ academic pursuits. The way her face lights up when she talks about watching her team’s first meet, you’d think she had participated and won a medal herself. “This allowed them to be back together, doing something fun,” she says. “A lot of people don’t think taking a test would be fun, but these kids are intellectuals. It’s this kind of hard work that brings them all together in the first place. They know they’re going to fail, but it’s safe to fail because they’re failing with their friends. And, the winner is the team that fails the least.” Failing with your friends. Testing hypotheses, and retesting them if they don’t work. Learning and growing together. Spoken like a true scientist.
MAKING EVERYONE PITCHES IN DURING A YEAR NO ONE WILL EVER FORGET.
— By Brendan J. O’Brien Senior Roger Lofquist glances at his notes before crossing the courtyard and approaching his next date. It’s September, sunny, and Sarah Turek’s AP Biology students are outside for class. The activity: Cell Organelle Speed Dating. The goal is to help students in one of Prairie’s most popular AP classes understand the structure and function of eukaryotic organelles – the subcellular structures responsible for performing tasks in our cells – by having each person role-play a different organelle while seeking out their perfect match. As if dating wasn’t confusing enough already. Roger is a mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, a fact hinted at by the Duracell batteries taped to his chest. Junior Maddie Dreifurst, the vacuole, a membrane containing fluid, wears an Ice Mountain bottle around her neck. Senior Finn Peterson, the cell wall, walks around in a cardboard box. The main lesson here: organelles operate better when working together. Consider it an unorthodox lesson rooted in ingenuity and necessity, with just the right amount of humor. In a year where teachers and students are pushed to their limits, these are the forces that keep Prairie learning in-person. 6 | prairieschool.com
“The first semester of AP Bio actually offered itself nicely for the adjustments we made to teach safely during the pandemic,” said Turek. “We tweaked labs so they could be completed individually. We even did microscope work using cell phone adapters fitted to the ocular lens of the scope, keeping faces off the microscopes by viewing our specimen on phone cameras.” Already known for thinking outside the box, this year Turek and her fellow teachers have found themselves needing to be even more inventive...and patient. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the Johnson Athletic Center, Prairie’s sports hub which this year doubles as a Middle School wing. In August, like the Wind Point geese in fall, Prairie’s 5th and 6th grades migrated, loading up desks and posters, projectors and books, to help create more space and observe strict grade-level silos. Kelly Christensen now teaches Math in a dance studio. Dr. Gardner Seawright conducts Social Studies in the foyer where fans once purchased nachos. It has been trying and emotional and weird and inspiring.
IT WORK “I will say, I was worried about the noise level,” says Ali Gasser, Middle School English Teacher. “Some days are more challenging than others, but we’re making it work. With the seasonal change, we notice the sun shines on us at different times of day, so kids have to adjust where they are sitting, but that’s working okay, too!” Making it work. Without question, this is Prairie’s biggest accomplishment. And everyone is pitching in. Unable to invite university admission officers to campus, Prairie’s College Counseling Department – like the rest of the world – has turned to Zoom, scheduling some fifty different virtual visits so seniors can still learn about schools all across the country. Fall Fest, a beloved tradition held over Homecoming weekend, was turned into a socially-distanced Pumpkin Walk thanks to the work of the Admission Department and Parents of Prairie (POP). Morning Meeting, a sacrosanct fifteen minutes where Middle and Upper School students fill the Student Research Center and Upper School Commons for daily announcements, now happens online.
Early School students work hard to keep masks up. Lunch, all across campus, is eaten in classrooms, everyone facing forward in socially-distanced desks. Students miss the normalcy of co-curricular activities. Parents miss the community of coming together. Teachers miss seeing the smiles under their students’ masks. But, classes are in session. Relationships are growing. Memories are being made. Has the 2020-21 year been perfect? Hardly. But the school has continued creating a space where students feel safe and supported. And on virtually every level – even a cellular one – there is nothing more important than that. A version of this story originally appeared in The Racine Journal Times.
Do What Comes Naturally
Helene Holland ’21 is creating — more specifically, drawing — her own path to success. — By Rachel Shuster HELENE HOLLAND REMEMBERS THE EXACT MOMENT SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH DRAWING. “I was about three years old, and I was at daycare,” she recalls. “One of my friends’ brothers walked downstairs from the ‘big kid room’ with a picture that one of the teachers had drawn of aliens and spaceships. The lines were so neat!” It would take Helene a few more years and a move to Prairie before she was able to harness that love into a real knack for art. She’s learned that she prefers drawing with graphite and charcoal, sometimes watercolor and ink, but not acrylic paint. Her art tends to either black and white or super bright colors — not much in between. And she has become a doodler during class. 8 | prairieschool.com
Now in her senior year, she has quite a lot to show for those doodles, along with many hours spent in Prairie’s Art Studio. Her work has garnered significant attention inside school as well as around the community. In the last year alone, Helene has received recognition from the Scholastic Art Awards: an Honorable Mention in 2020, followed by three Honorable Mentions and two Silver Key prizes in 2021. Her work has also been on display at UW-Parkside’s Art=Heart Exhibition. A few friends — and even faculty members — have begun commissioning Helene for her art. She isn’t sure what to make of it all.
“Honestly, I don’t really make anything with the intention of people seeing it. I like to do what I like to do, what comes to me naturally,” she confesses. “When I dig deep down, I just like making pretty designs. I’m really into architecture. I like realism — seeing something in real life and making a picture of it. When I do what’s fun for me, that always turns out the best.”
“I used to get overwhelmed by the Dining Room, and I always wanted to work on my art projects, so I would go eat in the Art Room,” she explains. “Nobody was really there with me; I was just doing my thing. Maybe having something I individually liked — despite the initial weirdness of being alone — maybe that’s what has made me more comfortable.”
That sounds very much like Helene: not really concerned about what other people are going to say or think. She just does Helene.
She also credits the ethos at Prairie, a place that celebrates individuality and has made her feel comfortable to express herself.
Helene is certainly a presence. As an underclassmen, she would walk boldly into the Dining Room and grab lunch each day by herself. But she says looks can be deceiving — she hasn’t always felt the self-assurance she displays. She credits art with helping her confidence grow.
“All of the encouragement from my teachers and classmates [in my art] makes me excited to do more,” she smiles. ““l feel like you’re at home as a student here, there’s a lot of support. I never feel isolated. Even when I’m walking alone, I’m not alone.”
The big question these days is where Helene will walk next. Unsurprisingly, she has a confident answer: she plans to incorporate art in college, but doesn’t want to study it on its own. She has a multitude of interests, and hopes to study them at one of a number of highly selective liberal arts colleges to which she has applied, all on the East Coast.
The Southeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Art & Writing Awards honored six Prairie creators this year: •
Helene Holland ‘21: Three Honorable Mentions, two Silver Keys (Art) [A]
•
Kate Ignasiak ‘22: Honorable Mention (Art) [A]
“Art is what I’m passionate about, but I’m also passionate about other things. I couldn’t even name my favorite subject; I like them all!” she chuckles. “And something about art school scares me a little bit. I’ve always had a mind of my own when it comes to art; it has always been a joy in my life, an escape. If I have somebody telling me what to do and how to do it, suddenly it’s a job and not a fun pastime.”
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Tyler Stahl ‘22: Two Honorable Mentions (Art) [A]
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Tori Walker ‘21: Honorable Mention (Art) [A]
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Grigor Chobanian ‘24: Silver Key (Science Fiction & Fantasy story, “Treasure Your Life”) [B]
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Autumn Liu ‘23: Gold Key (Short Story, “Golden Feathers”) [B]
No matter what major she chooses, she says she can picture herself sitting in any number of parks out east, sketching in her free time.
Two Prairie musicians swept top honors in the Racine Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition. Nolan Boerner ‘23 placed 1st [C], and Sydney Peterson ‘21 took 2nd place.
“Art is always something I’m going to be doing as a hobby,” she smiles. “That’s what I do with it, I guess — whatever I want!”
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Congratulations to all of these TPS artists for the well-deserved recognition!
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C
Making It Look Easy
Ryan Grossheim ’05 tackles the tough tasks while bringing big time productions to life.
— Brendan J. O’Brien
Grossheim on the set of Grease: Live in 2016.
When discussing artistic expression, beginning with the GOAT is a good place to start. William Shakespeare reveled in the unspoken beauty and importance that lives beneath a story’s surface. Juliet, one of his most enduring characters, knew when assessing something BIG – true love, for instance – the casual observer will miss a great deal if focusing only on what’s right in front of them.
don’t understand how much prep goes into even the smallest thing. I make a plan and a notes list so that everyone in the department knows what we need to get done. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. A lot of my job is creative problem solving.”
Turns out the same is true when watching a movie. Or television show. Or studying a credit line. Scroll down on the IMDB page for Amazon’s Utopia, past the cast and producers, past Series Music and Cinematography, past Film Editing and Casting and Series Production, and there it is.
Since 2010 he has worked on productions such as The Voice, Grease: Live, Billboard Music Awards, Hairspray Live!, Castle Rock, and Veep. And while his efforts on Grease:Live (Fox) and Hairspray Live! (NBC) helped both productions win an Emmy, Utopia stands out as Grossheim’s proudest accomplishment to date.
Series Art Direction by Ryan Grossheim (8 episodes, 2020) Stop there and you’ll miss everything fueling this man’s success, all the passion and hard work percolating under the surface, the creativity and commitment responsible for his continued ascent up the art direction ranks. “My particular facet of the creative process isn’t always as highlighted as others,” says Grossheim. “Prairie had a thriving Technical Theater program under Bob Sagadin and I know many of us have gone on to do this work. It tends to be we only see the performers. I think it’s good to see who is working backstage as well.” And work it is. His typical day is one rooted in uncertainty as he oversees everyone responsible for making a set – and ultimately, a show – come to life. Assistant art directors, graphic designers, set designers, illustrators, storyboard artists, production assistants: it’s Grossheim’s job to keep them all on track. Despite endless preparation, it can turn into a seat-ofyour-pants process, one he describes using the example of a theater set. “What an art director does in a stage build is make sure the drawings from the set designers are understood by the construction team, while simultaneously having a really acute eye so you can make sure little details are not missed,” he says. “It’s a highly collaborative process, and most people
‘YOU WORK YOUR WAY UP’
“I came into the union as an Assistant Art Director and I worked in that position for several years. Eventually you work your way up to Art Director,” he says. “Utopia was the first show where I was full director for an entire season. When you level up in your job you have to prove to yourself you can do it. Utopia was special for me in that way.” And when it comes to the next level? “I would like to work as a designer, but that’s a path you work towards,” says Grossheim. “For now, I want to grow as an Art Director and take on new, unique, and complex projects.” No matter what path he chooses, Grossheim is adamant about one thing: many of the talents and traits that have helped him succeed were honed at TPS. “I had so many good teachers,” he says. “Pat Badger was incredibly influential. Barry Nyquist, Kevin Pearson, Cathy Marbach: they were all so nurturing. That preparation, the rigorous academic environment, helped get me where I am today. The rigor of Prairie and learning how to be successful there, it’s just really good training for how to manage a successful career later in your life.”
Everyone Loves A Parade
PARADES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN POPULAR AT PRAIRIE. DURING THE PANDEMIC, HOWEVER, THEY BECAME A DOWNRIGHT NECESSITY.
— By Brendan J. O’Brien No one in the world loves hugs more than a Primary School teacher. This is a scientific fact. So when Prairie was forced to conclude the 2019-20 school year while still learning from home, this presented quite a dilemma. How in the world were Prairie’s Primary School teachers going to show their love and affection to all those children? Enter a time-honored Prairie tradition: the parade. Combine the creative thinking of the Primary School Division Office, along with logistical help from the Facilities Department, Johnson Bank, and the Wind Point Police Department – thanks to campus escort Officer Bob! – and what you get is an unforgettable and socially-distanced sendoff into summer. After a June thunderstorm literally rained on our parade, the clouds broke, the humidity arrived, and Primary School students and parents rolled down their windows to wave and holler at their teachers who were lined all along the campus sidewalk. Like 2020 in general, it was a winding and emotional affair. From Senior Sendoff to the cross-campus walk of varsity athletic teams headed to the State Tournament to the Primary School hallway Trick or Treat (a longtime favorite of Mrs. Imogene Johnson), Prairie has had a long love affair with the parade. This year was no different; in fact, given the way we were required to live in 2020 – six feet apart – this year afforded an opportunity to double and triple down on the Prairie parade. Similar to the Primary School, the Class of 2020 collected their caps, gowns and yearbooks in a sendoff-style parade, their Upper School teachers lining the sidewalk with congratulatory signs as music blared. This fall, a family Pumpkin Walk took the place of our annual Fall Fest activities. Even in late December, in place of
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the traditional 12 Days festivities that typically mark the close of the first semester, Santa visited the Primary School parade-style to spread a little cheer before campus closed for the break. While we’re hopeful 2021 will resemble the years of Prairie past when it comes to gathering together, one thing is certain: even when we’re finally able to return to normal, the Prairie parade will remain a staple of school celebrations.
And The Crown Goes To... SOPHIA KAREGEANNES ‘19 IMPACTS HER COMMUNITY AS MISS RACINE
— By Rachel Shuster Parades are a regular occurrence — and duty — on the calendar for one VIP local: Miss Racine. Or, they would be regular, during a more “regular” year. But that hasn’t been the case for the reigning titleholder: Prairie alumna Sophia Karegeannes ’19. After graduating from TPS and beginning her nursing studies at UW-Madison, Karegeannes reconnected with a childhood babysitter, who had recently become the Associate Director for the Miss Racine program. With her friend’s encouragement, Karegeannes decided to sign up for the pageant in 2020 — and she won. Most winners hold their title for one full year of service after being crowned; due to COVID-19, Karegeannes’ year was extended. Despite missing out on many hallmark moments, she says the extra time has proven more beneficial than originally expected. “The woman who competed in January 2020 is not the same as the woman I am today,” she explains. “I think of the confidence I’ve gained through being part of this organization. I’ve tried to relish in that and channel it in every opportunity I have in this position.” Although many events have been cancelled or postponed, Karegeannes has been able to dedicate the past year to serving her community in other ways. Her social impact initiative — the platform on which she campaigned for her title — is education, specifically reading. She tutors at Racine’s Cops ‘N’ Kids Reading Center, a position she feels lucky to hold. She credits her experience as an Upper School student at Prairie with instilling in her that sense of duty to others.
“When you are a Miss America titleholder, you could meet someone for five minutes and that could be the only moment in their whole life that they have with the Miss America organization, and I really try to keep that in mind,” she explains. “That is Prairie’s teaching philosophy. Whether it’s your advisor or Dr. Boticki who sees that you’re upset and spends five minutes checking in with you, or whether it’s the Dining Room staff — I only had five minutes with them total, Monday through Friday, but I still remember them and how they made me feel!” “That’s something that Prairie really instills in you: the importance of your personal interactions and relationships. I always plan to incorporate that into my life, whether or not I’m wearing a crown and sash.” Karegeannes will compete for the title of Miss Wisconsin in June 2021.
From Out of The Earthwork What was it like to watch the Leipold Johnson Early
Childhood Center go up during a year no one will ever forget? — By Brendan J. O’Brien Corey Brandt, Director of Facilities, knocks on my door and delivers the disc with a calculated level of exaggerated pomp. He’s being theatrical because I’ve been pestering him lately about the pictures. Thanks to the miracle of technology, this small piece of plastic holds hundreds of images snapped by Bukacek Construction over the last ten months. Much like their jobsite, the contents are organized, fanatically so, with each component given its own individual folder. Carpentry. Masonry. Mechanical. Plumbing. Everything is here. And while there are eleven folders in all, my eye is instantly drawn to one. Earthwork. Any lover of words will tell you there’s this little burst of literary glee that takes place when coming across a word you’ve never noticed before. Nerdy? Absolutely. But hey, we are who we are. Earthwork. It’s not hard to pronounce. Nor is it hard to guess what it means even without the assistance of Google. Before opening the folder I know I will see the construction process in its infancy. Before beams are welded and windows put in place, things are measured. Holes are dug. Soil is pushed. A foundation is started. Knowing how far the Leipold Johnson Early Childhood Center has come in just ten months – as I write this the building is nearly complete – it feels like the right time to reflect on watching its creation up close. Maybe it’s my overly sentimental and symbolic writer’s brain at work, but it’s impossible not to reflect on where the world was when construction began on June 23, 2020. Think back to America last June. A scary, rioutous time. A new and relentless pandemic. Politicians spitting vile, absurd rhetoric in the way only politicians can spit such things. America was experiencing upheaval. Our nation was in need of some long overdue earthwork. This isn’t to suggest what has happened between now and then has poured a new foundation in this country. America, as beautiful and brilliant as it is, can also be notoriously poor at learning from its past mistakes. However, during times of turmoil we also know there will be people and places to count on, institutions committed to lifting people up. To making people think. To challenging the status quo. Prairie is such a place. Over the past year this school has done good, impactful work. During one of the scarier times we’ll ever face, this community rallied together, crafted a plan, and opened its doors for our students and families. Those doors have stayed open since August. During that time, a beautiful new building grew up out of the ground. Out of the earthwork. A building where Prairie’s youngest learners will come to understand the importance of playing nice with one another. The importance of devising peaceful solutions. The importance of being a kind, caring friend. A building where strong, lifelong foundations will begin. The Leipold Johnson Early Childhood Center is scheduled to open in August of 2021.
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Woven in the Fabric
ANDREA BUKACEK ‘03 RETURNS HOME IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
— By Brendan J. O’Brien Andrea Bukacek ’03 knows a thing or two about building. And success. And building success. As President of the Bukacek Construction Group, a proud Prairie alumna and current parent (her daughter Aubrey is a member of the Class of 2032), she’ll be the first to tell you about the importance of a strong foundation. Earlier this fall, Bukacek visited campus to meet with the Early School, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade classes. She shared details of the job and answered questions about how many bricks (over 40,000) and how much concrete (over 140,000 pounds poured at the time of her visit) it took to make the new building. “Prairie is woven into the fabric of my life,” says Bukacek. “It’s an honor, as both an alumna and current parent, to be a part of this next chapter of growth. I take a lot of pride in knowing the legacy of the Leipold Johnson Early Childhood Center will help further Prairie’s mission for generations to come.” In the spring of 2019, after a successful banking career, Bukacek bought the company her grandfather founded in 1963. The move received across-the-board consent from the Bukacek employees who had owned the company ever since Andrea’s father retired in the early 2000s. Last February, she was one of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award winners. As the first female CEO at one of the most well-known and respected construction firms in the area – and as an active volunteer and member of the TPS community – she not only remains involved with her alma mater, but checks all the role model boxes. “It was so awesome that Andrea visited campus to meet with the kids,” says Susan Holum, Head of Primary School. “The students have really loved watching the work happen outside the windows. And everyone felt really important that they walked away with their own replica hard hat.” Science tells us these young minds, and these formative years, are exactly that: really important. A time of learning to use your imagination. Learning to form relationships. Learning to discover new interests.
Now, all of it will happen inside a new building that has gone up under the watchful eye of an aluma who understands the role Prairie can play in a young person’s life.
HAWKS TAKE FLIGHT Even amidst changes due to the pandemic, Prairie’s Upper School athletic teams have seen much success in the 2020-21 school year — By Rachel Shuster
When fall rolled around, schools across the state were still figuring out how they would hold classes, let alone athletic practices and competitions. Many districts, including those neighboring Wind Point, chose to either defer or cancel athletic seasons. But not Prairie. Even amidst uncertainty, the Hawks took off — and they haven’t been grounded since. Both the fall and winter saw a packed slate of Upper School sports, and our athletes took full advantage of that opportunity. The Boys’ Soccer team clinched yet another Division 4 State Championship title. Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country each sent runners to the state meet. Girls’ Golf finished out a stellar season as the Division 2 state runner-up, followed by the Boys’ Basketball team’s historic run to their own runner-up finish in the Division 4 state tournament. Since the pandemic, the Athletic Department has shifted many policies to ensure conditions are safe for student-athletes to train and compete, including limitations on spectator attendance and scheduled Fitness Center access. But faculty still want to make 18 | prairieschool.com
sure that students who want to work out, get better, and stay healthy, get a chance to do just that. “When I think about my entire time in this department, I’m most proud of giving our students the opportunity to compete this year,” says TPS Athletic Director Jason Atanasoff. “We are far more fortunate than plenty of schools around the state who have not been able to compete at all. We got through fall and winter sports with little to no incidents, just a few hiccups along the way. We’re looking for more of the same in the spring.” “The opportunity for these kids to get to be around their peers and play — some little semblance of normalcy during this crazy year — I’m super proud that Prairie, our administration, and our Athletics team have been able to make that happen.”
THE EVOLUTION OF ATHLETICS At Prairie, athletics are more than just co-curricular activities. From Middle School through Upper School, competitors are students first and athletes second, focused on strengthening their minds and their bodies with the help of expert coaches in state-of-the-art facilities. Their teams are an extension of our school community, one in which expectations for leadership and sportsmanship extend beyond their huddles and long after the last buzzer. While this spirit and community atmosphere remain the same, in recent years, the Athletic Department has seen quite a few changes – specifically, additions to strengthen program offerings. Members of Prairie’s Athletic faculty took stock of this evolution during a recent “Spotlight” webinar, hosted by Prairie’s Admission Office for prospective families. “Prairie athletics are unique, but pretty amazing,” says Jason Atanasoff, TPS Athletic Director. “Our no-cut policy sometimes raises eyebrows, but we believe that if you’re dedicated enough to come out for a sport, we’ll find the appropriate team for you.” “We’ve worked to make it a welcoming environment,” he continues. “My office has become a common area where everyone from all sports comes to hang out or check in. They know I have an open door policy.” Including Atanasoff, the Athletic Department now boasts five faculty members specifically dedicated to working with student-athletes: an Athletic Administrative Assistant; a Game Manager; a full-time Athletic Trainer, who is employed by Ascension but works all practices and athletic events for both Prairie’s Middle and Upper School; and a Strength & Conditioning Coach. That’s Zach Perkins; prior to joining Prairie, Perkins spent his time in collegiate strength and conditioning, where his role’s purpose was similar. “The goal is to help athletes reach their physical potential for a sport,” Perkins explains. “I work to help our students produce as much force as they possibly can, in the shortest amount of time. It’s also very important that athletes are able to absorb that force, to land properly, decelerate, and stop to prevent injury.” In addition to the time he spends with student-athletes, Perkins also works with students who aren’t members of sports teams. Every Prairie freshman is required to take the Lifelong Fitness course, to develop confidence in getting in a good workout, and to build a foundation for health and wellness for the rest of their lives. Students can begin playing intramural and interscholastic sports in Middle School. Upper School student-athletes have seventeen sports to choose from throughout the year, including a few recent additions: Boys’ and Girls’ Swim co-op teams with Racine St. Catherine’s, and a Wrestling co-op team with Racine St. Catherine’s and Racine Lutheran High School.
All the Way Up
AFTER QUITTING HIS DAY JOB, ZANE NAVRATIL ‘14 BECOMES ONE OF THE BEST PICKLEBALL PLAYERS IN THE WORLD. — Rachel Shuster Zane Navratil ‘14 is one former Prairie athlete who has truly evolved his game. A Prairie lifer and standout tennis player, Navratil continued his playing career as an Academic All-American at UW-Whitewater. When his athletic eligibility expired four years into a five-year business program, he decided he’d try something new: pickleball. “I’d been introduced to pickleball in 8th grade gym class at Prairie,” he chuckles. What is pickleball, exactly? It’s a combination of tennis and pingpong, played with a paddle and a wiffleball, hitting the latter back and forth in an attempt to outmaneuver your opponent. Players (singles, or pairs of doubles) face off on a court that looks similar to tennis, only smaller — approximately twenty feet wide by forty-four feet long. The game is scored much like tennis, but governed by additional rules about where you can play on the court and when. Navratil says it’s no surprise that tennis skills translate well — but adds that extreme athleticism is not a prerequisite. “Nobody at the pro level in the sport right now has been training for pickleball specifically since they were kids!” he laughs. “The cool thing is that you can have people on the court who are 20 years old playing somebody who’s 70. That’s just not possible in basketball, tennis, football.” 20 | prairieschool.com
According to The Economist, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America. In fact, participation grew 21.3% in 2020 — an astronomical feat for a sport that already had 10 million people playing. Navratil quit his full-time job with Deloitte in July 2020 to become a professional pickleball player. He enters — and often wins — professional tournaments, along with hosting clinics around the country on a regular basis. At the time this article was published, Navratil was ranked #2 in the world for pro singles, and #8 in the world for men’s doubles. He recently signed a paddle sponsorship. Navratil credits his former Prairie tennis coach, Harold Swanson — whom he affectionately refers to as “Swa” — for not only building his athletic prowess, but teaching him how to be adaptable. “Just like Prairie, he taught me how to learn for myself,” Navratil explains. “He never would just give you an answer; he would lead you toward the conclusion, but it always had to be me figuring it out for myself. That’s helped me tremendously in pickleball, an evolving game — identifying different strategies and techniques.” “The cliché that Prairie teaches you how to learn: I found that to be true. Once I decided to apply myself, Prairie really did provide me with that base from which to build upon.”
MAY 8 5:30-10:30PM ATTEND ONLINE FROM ANYWHERE All online attendees may bid from home through our web-based system at no cost, but you must register in advance. Be sure to sign up soon to stay updated on available auction items!
ATTEND IN PERSON In a year unlike any other, Premiere will have a different format — all while being the same great celebration of community that makes this event Prairie’s signature fundraiser. We’re excited to (finally!) gather in-person once again, and will do it in a way that reflects all the hard work we’ve put into safely learning together on campus this year.
FOR MORE EVENT INFORMATION VISIT
PRAIRIESCHOOL.COM/PREMIERE
Alumni Notes —
1970s
Dominic Miller ’78, guitarist for Sting, appeared on Good Morning America on October 14th alongside Sting and Melody Gardot. They played their new single, Little Things.
1990s
Eden (Bradshaw) Kaiser ’99 started her own copyediting business and finally feels like she may have found her dream job. “It all started with those Upper School grammar lessons, courtesy of the inimitable Diane Breach.”
2000s
In December, John Tate ’03, Chair of the State Parole Commission, was named one of Wisconsin’s 51 Most Influential Black Leaders by Madison365. Prior to his appointment by Governor Tony Evers, Tate served as Third District Alderman in Racine. Amanda (Sta Romana) Von Horn ’03 and Steven Von Horn ’03 live in Boston with their two daughters. Upon finishing her training in General Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine, she accepted a position at Tufts University Medical Center as an Addiction Psychiatrist and Associate Professor of Psychiatry. Amanda was recently featured in an Alumni Catch-Up segment on the Carthage College athletics website. At Carthage, Amanda was named first-team All-CCIW three straight years from 2005 to 2007. Paolo Pahm ’09 is currently pursuing his MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Pahm is also an Operations Officer with the U.S. Army National Guard. He served as a battle captain while deployed to the United States Capitol Building in the wake of the civil unrest following the riot at the Capitol in January. Pahm and his story were profiled in the story “After Defending US Capital, UVA Darden Student Balancing Classes, Recruiting, National Guard Duties,” which
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ran in the Feb. 22nd issue of The Darden Report. The story reads, “Pahm was able to draw on his military and professional experience in balancing obligations. A Wisconsin native, Pahm enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after graduating from Michigan State. After basic training and infantry school, he returned to Michigan State for a master’s degree and accepted a full scholarship with the school’s ROTC program. Pahm said he decided to pursue an MBA out of a desire to round out his skillset and learn the technical side of business following his experience training to be a human resources partner with Dow. The Darden MBA program seemed to promise what he sought.” At Michigan State, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology and his Master of Science in Human Resources and Labor Relations. Bobby Schuessler ’06 is the Senior Fashion Editor for Who What Wear, an international online fashion company. His content is regularly featured on Yahoo.com. In early February, Molly Lofquist Johnson, Prairie’s Senior Director of Admission, happened to come across his story on winter boot trends. It made her week!
2010s
Justina Stern ’10 earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Olaf College in 2014 and her Master Of Education Degree from Augsburg University in 2020. Taylor Goelz ’16 earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Information and Analytics and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of Denver. She is a Tax Technology Associate at KPMG in Denver. Courtney (Owsley) Ketterer ’12, a 1st Grade teacher at Anthony Elementary School in Anthony, Texas, was named Teacher of the Year – her first in the district – for 2020.
2020s
Rebecca Kann ’21 is pursuing Environmental Health in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. As a Student Ambassador in Rollins’ Earn and Learn (REAL) program, she is a research assistant for the domestic WASH epidemiology branch at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Her current work includes a COVID sewage surveillance study in the Center for Global Safe Wash. [A]
IN THEIR OWN WORDS ABBY LINLEY ’11 In September of 2020, I passed my final Architect Registration Exam (ARE) to become a licensed Architect! I graduated from the University of WisconsinMilwaukee in 2014 and started my profession as a Project Specialist I at Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP in March of 2015. I began studying for the exams and recording my Architectural Experience Program (AXP) shortly after. In July of 2019 I passed my first test, and after fourteen months of studying I finally passed all six exams. I am currently an Architect at PRA working on education projects in the Madison area.
STAY IN TOUCH AND SHARE YOUR NEWS You, our Prairie School alumni, are an inspiration to all of us. We would love to hear from you! Send-us your special news, whether it is a new job, a promotion, an award you’ve received or some other accomplishment –– we would love to share it with others. Please take a minute to fill us in on what is happening in your life so we can print it in the Class Notes section of our alumni publication. Items of interest include: •
A degree earned
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A move to a new city
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A marriage (please include exact wedding date and the full name of your spouse)
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A new family member (please include child’s full name and date of birth)
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An honor received
Being at Prairie for thirteen years, there are many memories I cherish. The one I often look back on is the 2010 Girls’ Soccer State playoffs. Our team was so young and we had three comeback wins that went into overtime or a shootout to reach the final. We lost in double overtime, which was heartbreaking, but the camaraderie, our love for the game, and keeping the season alive... it was an amazing experience. I still get chills thinking about riding the bus to away games and singing loudly in the team room. Coach Oakland and soccer will always be a favorite memory from my time at Prairie.
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Your volunteer work
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Other news about you or your life
TAYLOR STEPIEN ’05
anything else you would like to share.
The experience I had at Prairie from Kindergarten through 12th Grade completely made me the student and employee I am today. The care from the teachers, the work ethic they instilled, and the love for learning they kept strong is why I am who I am. I obtained the job I still currently hold less than two-and-a-half months from graduation, and I have received three promotions because of the drive I have to do better every day. The faculty at Prairie was a huge part of pushing me to be better and work as hard as I can.
In April I earned my Ph.D. from the Pathobiology Program in the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington. My dissertation, “Mechanisms of Salmonella Typhi Persistence,” was completed under the guidance of Dr. Ferric Fang, and looked at the immune response to typhoid fever. The personalized support I received from the educators at Prairie gave me the confidence to set high goals for myself. The outstanding education I received gave me the foundation to meet those goals. I will always look back on my time at Prairie with fondness and gratitude.
Class notes are published as space permits. The editors of this magazine reserve the right to revise and rewrite items for content and length. Update your address, phone number, email address, profession, family information and To do so, email Brendan O’Brien, Director of Communication, at bobrien@prairieschool.com or use the Update Your Information form in the Alumni section of our website.
A Joy to be Around
For over thirty years, Colleen McCarthy was a source of light, laughter, and friendship for Primary School faculty and students
— By Kathy Boero, Head of Middle School & Compass Team Director
There are those certain very special and unique colleagues who, if you are lucky, right from the beginning bring to your day a spark, a special optimism, and inspiration. A colleague who when you see them in action – in the classroom working with children, on the playground or dining room supervising and serving – you immediately feel a touch of joy to be in their company due to the genuine love, zest, service and true passion in their style and tremendous work ethic. That special colleague and dear friend was Mrs. Colleen McCarthy. I met Colleen when I first came to Prairie in 1996. Mrs. McCarthy and Mrs. Rodgers co-taught The Shining Stars Early School classroom. Colleen was also the head of the after-school program: back then it was called P.E.P. (Prairie’s Educare Program), but soon was renamed as Stay & Play. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Colleen scheduled the after-school Stay & Play faculty and did all of the planning for the students who remained on campus until parents were able to pick them up. She was often at school through 6:00PM if parents needed her to be there. Colleen was the consummate servant-leader who never complained about long days or late parents. Instead, her sense of humor and love for creating a caring and enriching environment for our youngest students were always evident. I fondly remember many of her favorite things: sharing humorous stories about time spent with her children and grandchildren, the brownies served by our lunch faculty, spending time sitting on the floor teaching and guiding children, and going to Las Vegas with friends. Colleen McCarthy was full of life and thoroughly enjoyed her family and her profession. Even when Colleen began to experience challenges with her health, she would call me and let me know her interest in substitute teaching, “Just as soon as her health allowed.” Colleen McCarthy’s passion and servant leadership will always be remembered, as will her smile and the warm humor and love she brought to every day at The Prairie School. 24 | prairieschool.com
THANK YOU FOR THE RIDE — Brendan J. O’Brien For thirty years Colleen McCarthy worked with Prairie’s youngest students. This was important. A Primary School child is building the foundation on which their life will stand, and three decades of Prairie students are kinder, funnier, and more authentically themselves because of Mrs. McCarthy. When she retired in 2016, her colleagues discovered it was a lifelong dream of hers to ride in a convertible, waving. We were happy to help this remarkable educator, a woman who spent her life inspiring young hearts and minds to create their own dreams, realize one of her own.
STATING THE FACTS
WE ARE TO
WE W FOLL THE DA
— By Brendan J. O’Brien
He knew it was coming. Last January, having talked to various independent school colleagues both in the US and abroad, Dr. Coffman wasn’t questioning if Prairie would feel the ramifications of COVID-19, but rather when. That when came on March 13th, 2020 when Governor Evers closed schools in Wisconsin. What followed was half a semester of virtual learning, a summer of relentless planning, and nine months of on-campus, in-person learning – one of the only schools in the state to remain open all year long. How does one describe the past twelve months? Trying. Successful. Eye-opening. Scary. Reaffirming. Hopeful. Uncertain. Confused. Confident. They all apply.
However, perhaps more than any other, pride and collaboration best describe the past year at TPS. When Dr. Coffman took the stage in the Mitchell Theatre on February 23rd, 2021 for this year’s State of the School and spoke to a small number of socially-distanced guests and those watching on Zoom, he told the story of a resilient community that has grown closer, stronger, despite the challenges of the pandemic. Joined this year by Maggie McDonough, Head of Upper School, Jenny Cobb, Middle School Reading teacher, Abby Brzezinski, Early School teacher, and Upper School students Izzy Gustitus and Roger Lofquist, their collected stories reiterated a single message: the state of Prairie is strong.
“At Prairie, we have a strong shared ethic of civility and respect. We work to instill in students an understanding of what it means to be a contributing member of their community from the smallest concentric circle, family, friends, school, to the largest, their profession, country, world.” 26 | prairieschool.com
Maggie McDonough, Head of Upper School, on building an ethos of connectedness at TPS
E BETTER OGETHER.
WILL LOW ATA.
SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT. STUDENTS LEARN BEST IN PERSON.
“I was given all the resources and had the good relationships with my teachers to be able to harness my own learning and continue improving.” Izzy Gustitus ’22, on learning from home last spring
Growth in Giving TAKE STOCK OF YOUR PHILANTHROPY Donating stock directly to a non-profit organization like Prairie is one of the most tax-savvy ways to give — yet, it is often not well-understood or widely used. Just the facts: Your gift is worth more. Donating long-term appreciated assets (those you have owned for more than one year) as charitable gifts allows you to avoid capital gains tax. That means you are actually giving 20% more than if you sold the stock and then made a cash donation with the proceeds. You have options. Appreciated assets include stock, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, or even business interests. You win, too. With this type of charitable donation, you are eligible to deduct the full fair-market value of the gift from your income taxes. Each donor’s financial situation is unique. Please contact our office or speak with your tax professional to determine if this giving option is right for you. Questions? Contact Aliya Pitts, Chief Advancement Officer, at (262) 752-2520 or via email at apitts@prairieschool.com. Thank you for supporting Prairie!
Save the Date: Friday, September 10th, 2021
www.PrairieSchool.com/Golf
The Last Word BEYOND THE MARGINS
Not even time apart tarnishes the shine of a beautiful TPS friendship.
— By Callie Atanasoff, Director of Admission We started in a cozy space with big windows and a secret passageway. We ended in an old storage closet-turnedworkspace, outfitted with a weather radio, cinder blocks, and beige corded telephones. It wasn’t exactly how I pictured my first job, and I would guess Jess (White) Dessart ’99 didn’t expect to return to Prairie only to be partnered with some southerner in a windowless bunker. When I packed my things and moved from Georgia to Wisconsin, I was eager and green. I’d never even heard of Prairie before taking a position in the Development Office; all I wanted was to begin. Jess, on the other hand, was a product of the mission: an alumna who had challenged herself academically, was an incredible three-sport athlete, a leader. Taking a role here meant returning to a place she called home for fifteen years and reshaping her identity — no longer Coach Owsley’s point guard, but rather the point person for the Prairie Fund. There we were, a couple of 20-somethings navigating work, life, relationships. Our partnership quickly shifted from coworkers to friends to sisters, but that’s to be expected when you end up with a Jess in your life. She was quietly ambitious, driven to do more than she did yesterday, and I appreciated the fire she lit for me. I started running because I wanted to say “yes” to an afternoon jog around the Point; it was the only athletic thing I could ever do next to her. She tried teaching me how to drive stick shift, a lesson that ended in my frustration and her laughter. Many things we did brought on big belly laughs, and nothing was better than stumbling upon those moments in the office. At one point, we thought it would help our productivity to place our desks directly in front of each other, like reporters at a busy newspaper. The new arrangement was temporary; as it turns out, making phone calls while your colleague faces you provokes as many giggles as what ensues when asked to be quiet in church. We rarely worked alone, a reflection of our environment. At TPS, collaboration wins. It is the result of a lean faculty — requiring you to keep track of your hats and rely on the strengths of others — combined with the tenacity to improve. Iron sharpening iron. Because of this, because we are driven
The author, right, with former Development team members (from left) Lisa Koleske, Pat Wagner ’87, and Jess (White) Dessart ’99.
and intentional and like-minded, relationships develop differently at Prairie. You come to know your co-workers in a way that is uncommon. Anyone can throw a Halloween party, but can your team members accurately identify which Muppet the others will impersonate? Are you able to pinpoint the exact moment a corny joke will be shared, thus stealing the thunder but encouraging playful jabs? We don’t stand in the margins of each other’s lives. We wiggle into the middle, we get messy, and we pay attention. It has been ten years since Jess and I shared an office. In that time, we have pursued different careers, established families, moved, and moved again. We keep up through social media, and reach out from time to time. The ebb and flow of friendship. But there is something about the warmth and familiarity we share that keeps us connected. We spent forty-five minutes talking over Zoom recently and it was like taking in a deep breath, refreshing and reflective at the same time. Maybe this is what everyone experiences in their job: teammates who are also roommates, who ride the highs and lows of dating alongside you, who stand up next to you in your wedding, who show you what it means to be brave in spite of all the reasons not to be. Or maybe it’s not. Maybe what we have at Prairie is a unique opportunity to cultivate relationships where we start as colleagues, and we end as family.
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DISCLAIMER: As always, we appreciate hearing from you and welcome your input, contributions, comments and suggestions. Information in this publication is presented in good faith. Please email the school or send your feedback to us at bobrien@prairieschool.com. To guarantee delivery, update your mailing information by contacting us at ahearn@prairieschool.com. Please call 262.752.2532 if you no longer wish to receive this publication.
