KIT Fall, 2021 - Connecting

IN CONNECTING VOLUME 15: 1 FALL 2021

TOUCH

THE ROEPER SCHOOL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

KEEPING

KIT

TABLE OF CONTENTS David Feldman Head of School david.feldman@roeper.org Denita Banks-Sims Director of Development denita.banks-sims@roeper.org Keeping in Touch Editorial Committee Katie Buchmann Editor Bonnie Schemm Art Director

Contributors Denita Banks-Sims Cheryl Blau ’80 Carolyn Borman Katie Buchmann David Feldman Juliette Olejnik Marcia Ruff Emily Wine

THE ROEPER SCHOOL 41190 Woodward Avenue Bloomfield Hills Michigan 48304 248/203-7300 www.roeper.org

FEATURES

WELCOME TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 David Feldman, Head of School NEW FACES ON THE STAFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Carolyn Borman, Communications Assistant

NEW FACES ON THE BOARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Emily Wine, Assistant to the Head BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANTI-RACISM RESOLUTION . . . . . . . . . 12 Foreword by Cheryl Blau ’80, Trustee A MATTER OF EQUITY UPDATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Sarah Miller, Associate Director/The Roeper Institute ALUMNI PROFILE: RTC MEMBERS REUNITE FOR CAUSE IN DETROIT . 17 Matt Nahan ’04 & Laura Beth Scales ’02 ALUMNI UPDATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Juliette Olejnik, Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Fund PASSINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

PARTING THOUGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Denita Banks-Sims, Director of Development & Publications

COVER ART Paper maché/Mixed Media Mailboxes, 2021

The Roeper School is an independent coeducational day school for gifted and talented students preschool through grade 12 and an equal-opportunity institution

EDUCATING AND INSPIRING GIFTED STUDENTS TO THINK AS INDIVIDUALS AND TO ENGAGE AS A COMMUNITY WITH COMPASSION FOR EACH OTHER AND THIS WORLD

Stage II and III artists collaborated to design and build paper maché mailboxes for each Lower School homeroom for making community connections during our Covid-19 cohorting.

Stage III Butterfly designers: Naomi Fears-Williams, Zoe McEvoy & Emma Cangany-Reed. Stage III Robot designers: Richard Qu, Gabriel O’Laughlin, Cameron Brown & Murphy Chard. Stage III Bird designers: Blair Wescott, Charlie Schaffer & Christina Cummins. All in collaboration with Stage II with additional engineering by Art teacher Shoshanna Utchenik.

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KIT

David Feldman Head of School

WELCOME TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR The 2021-2022 school year has begun with students returning to campus for in-person learning! The challenges we have faced from COVID during the past 20 months continue to require thoughtful care and special attention to the health and safety of our community; at the same time, we have demonstrated the ability to be flexible and creative in delivering our Roeper program. The relationships our teachers build with families, the compassion we show to one another, and the ability to keep our focus on the well-being of our community is sustaining.

One of the interesting outcomes from the pandemic is that the broader community has noticed our School’s ability to adjust to the need for change. Families from across SE Michigan, in larger numbers than we have previously seen, have inquired about our program and chosen to enroll in our school. Thirty-one new students joined our classes at the start of the second semester last January, and 139 new students enrolled to start this new school year. These record numbers reflect the incredible focus, dedication, and hard work of our faculty, admissions group, and the leadership of my colleagues on our administrative team. Together, we have told the story and demonstrated our love and commitment to delivering a Roeper education, even through the most challenging of times.

While schools around us struggled last year through virtual teaching, Roeper delivered families choice — providing both virtual and in-person options. While other schools argued and debated mitigation strategies like mask wearing, Roeper was up front about its policies and expectations that all who come to campus are masked — the safety of our unvaccinated children, and the focus on maintaining in-person learning was and continues to be reinforced. We have much to be proud of as a community as we reflect on how we have responded to the challenges of the pandemic. Our commitment to continuously review our protocols, learn from our experiences, and to keep our focus on the safe delivery of an in-person Roeper education has made the difference.

Through our success, however, we must continue to be vigilant in caring for the physical and mental health needs of the people around us. The strain of the pandemic has made patient people more reactive, and the kindest of people less good-

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natured. Our ability to reflect responsibly on our behavior is being challenged as we enter our third school year in this unusual new normal. Our ability to make the necessary pivots and adjustments can feel exhausting; the health and care of the caretakers in our community must become a point of focus for the whole community. I encourage you to reach out to teachers, staff members, and administrators and let them know you see them — let them know you are grateful for their compassion and love. They are the people that sustain our community, hold our children close, and keep us moving forward. Let’s make sure we take care of the people who take care of us!

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE AUDIT When we go for a medical check-up, our clinician takes a variety of readings. The doctor checks your pulse, monitors your blood pressure, and checks your heart. On occasion you may provide a blood sample or engage in a variety of tests to measure your well-being. This collection of data is used to provide guidance, to make plans, and to give you direction on how to better live a healthy life.

On occasion, institutions like Roeper must also take the time to gather health data; we must ensure that the mission and philosophy that we discuss and share is in congruence with our actions. The data we collect must match the set of intended goals we say we strive to achieve.

This semester, we will begin to collect important data as we engage in the School’s first-ever Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Audit.

Through survey, a series of 10 focus groups and meetings across the schools from 32 Discovery Group committees, we will collect the health data necessary to guide our strategic direction in DEIJ. I am excited by this opportunity and the chance to grow into a healthier, more just School. The work we do will be impactful, it includes sharing observations, insights, and the need for new plans and polices. Most importantly, it is a chance to do what schools do best — create a community of learners.

The broader community has noticed our School’s ability to adjust to the need for change.

Families from across SE Michigan, in larger numbers than we have previously seen, have inquired about our program and chosen to enroll in our school.

It is not enough to have beautiful language to describe our goals and aspirations.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice work is about building a community where each person can say they belong, feel safe in their identity, and feel valued.

The data we collect will be reviewed by our outside consultant, Alison Park from Blink Consulting. Alison is a respected leader in Independent School diversity work, and it will be her job to gather all the data we collect and provide us with a summary report in the spring.

The report will then be used to make strategic decisions as we determine our priorities in the formation of policy and program growth.

It is not enough to have beautiful language to describe our goals and aspirations. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice work is about building a community where each person can say they belong, feel safe in their identity, and feel valued.

This audit is our chance to examine our curriculum, strengthen our operational practices, and learn to be more intentional stewards of our philosophy.

As we begin this work, our Multicultural Leadership Team (MLT) will take on a key role in guiding our discussions. This cross divisional group will help lead conversations and keep us focused on maintaining a growth mindset. The audit itself is not a one-time experience; to do this type of reflective work well requires an ongoing commitment to self-discovery and growth. We know the audit will produce useful data; we also know that data is reflective of information gathered this year. This must be an ongoing process so that we collect and analyze data over time to measure our growth and are accountable to one another for areas that need more focused effort.

Check-ups are about taking stock of our current condition so we can make the plans necessary for good growth and a healthy set of practices. This process is indeed about our wellness! F

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KIT

Carolyn Borman

Communications Assistant

NEW FACES ON THE STAFF A series of seven questions were asked of each new staff member. Their responses to these questions follow each introduction: 1. What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses will you be teaching, are you working with other faculty?

2. What were one or two highlights of your life?

3. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?

4. What are some things you’d like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?

5. What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

6. What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?

7. What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?

KATIE QUINN From Susannah Nichols: “In her interviews and sample class, Katie exuded a genuine kindness and appreciation for people that is at the heart of every Roeper teacher-she was in contention for a job, sure, but she was also simply connecting with people about literature and life. Additionally, Katie’s understanding and delight in her subject matter is palpable — -she sees the power in literature being not only intellectually challenging and rewarding but also as a tool for helping us becoming better citizens and humans.”

Katie’s responses: 1. My new position is at Roeper’s Upper School campus, where I will be teaching English courses full time. This year, I am teaching three sections of 9th grade American literature, and I am also teaching two sections

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of creative writing. I also plan to partner with Matt, the 9th grade history teacher, so we can prepare freshmen for their field trip to Washington D.C., pandemic permitting.

2. One significant moment in my life is the first time I was published in a literary magazine.

When I was 19 years old, two of my poems were selected for publication in BAC Street Journal. To make it even more exciting, BAC Street Journal invited all of the authors to read their work during a public celebration of the release of the magazine at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago, which is the headquarters for their publication. It was exciting to not only tour Chicago for the first time that weekend, but to also meet the editors of the magazine and read my work on stage during the Beverly Arts Center’s celebration.

3. I’ve always wanted to visit Hawaii, so I would absolutely love to live there, too! The semitropical weather appeals to me, and I imagine residents feel as though they are living on vacation all year-round.

4. I am Michigan born and raised, so I know the Oakland and Macomb County area intimately.

My family consists of my husband (married since 2015) and our elderly cat, Dora. I also love spending time with my parents and my brother, Matthew.

5. When I am not working, I enjoy curling up with a good book. I am open to any texts, but my favorite genres are fiction (especially contemporary), young adult, poetry, and memoir. I also enjoy playing the Nintendo Switch, especially since many of the new games are nostalgic remakes of my favorite childhood games, such as Animal Crossing and Pokemon. When I have the opportunity, I also enjoy attending concerts, whether it be to support local bands at venues such as The Loving Touch in Ferndale or attending a major venue such as Little Caesars Arena when one of my favorite rock/alternative bands is in town. Other than that, I try to spend as much time as possible with my family and my friends; my husband and I especially enjoy finding and supporting new restaurants and local businesses!

6. This might be the obvious response, but I am truly passionate about teaching literature. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved reading, and to this day I enjoy trips to the bookstore that end in purchasing a stack of novels

This is a series of posts about new members of the Roeper faculty and staff sharing a little about themselves through their answers to our questions.

Please join us in welcoming them to our community.

that towers well above my knees. I love everything about teaching literature; I love how I discover something new every time I reread a book, and in that vein, I love how my students always vocalize something that I had never previously considered, as well.

Teaching literature is also so personal to me because it’s often a reflection of our own selves and our own identities and self-growth, and I love when students tell me about how they connected with a text or a character on a visceral, personal level. I love watching the expression that splashes on a student’s face when they’ve had an “ah-ha” revelation/ moment, and I love when the book is so good that even the quietest student is eager to raise their hand and jump in on the conversation.

I also love uncovering the historical context of a book with students just as much as I love making connections about how a novel written within the past can still have ramifications, even in our present day.

7. I love Roeper’s flexibility when it comes to the curriculum; teachers and students truly are empowered to have their own voice here, and I am excited to translate that into many fun and creative electives in the future, whether that be something like a supernatural literature course, or a science fiction dystopian class; the options feel infinite, like endless reams of white paper. I truly know of no other school that gives their students so much autonomy inside and outside the classroom, and that’s important to me because I too believe that students should be encouraged to have complete control over their own futures and their own lives. I also love Roeper’s emphasis on social justice and equal rights, which is particularly significant for me as an English teacher because reading and discussing literature fosters wonderful opportunities for engaging with social justice; the freedom Roeper offers to craft a reading syllabus that highlights and supports marginalized narratives and voices will also enable me and my students to have constructive conversations about social justice and equal representation within the literary canon.

TAMARA FINLAY

From Kendra McKenzie: “I am so excited to have Tamara joining our Hill House family as my Team Teacher. Tamara is a familiar face at Roeper having subbed here for years across all stages, but really making her impression in Stage I. I am honored that she will be bringing her artistic skills, warmth, wisdom, and musicality to our program. Most of all, I feel very lucky that my new teammate is someone who I already considered a friend. We are all very lucky to have Tamara joining our Roeper community.

She is someone who lives so many pieces of our philosophy as a part of her life.”

Tamara’s responses: 1. I will be team teacher in Stage I in the Hill House with Kendra.

2. I was in a band called The Thornbills with my cousin; in 2010 we had the honor of recording a single on Third Man Records in Nashville and many opportunities to share the stage with legends like Rodriguez and Wanda Jackson.

3. Having grown up speaking Ukrainian as a second language, I’d love to spend a year in Ukraine and put those linguistic skills to frequent practice.

4. I come from a family of musicians. (Both of my parents are classically trained opera singers.)

5. I am passionate about stop-motion animation and create puppets and sets that I animate in my free time.

6. I love teaching/sharing skills in music and art.

I think when you’re sharing the things you’re truly passionate about, the enthusiasm inspires learners.

7. The very first time I visited Roeper I was struck by the ease with which the students I met expressed themselves, the freedom and comfort they had in exploring their interests, and the attitude and atmosphere of kindness, empathy, and acceptance at the school.

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MARA JACKSON From Jennifer Ziemann: “I am excited to welcome Mara Jackson not only to the classroom, but to the Stage I team and Roeper community.

After spending time over coffee getting to know her better, I can clearly see that Mara has a passion for teaching young learners and helping them navigate their many wonders in life. I cannot wait for her to share her art and travel background with the children along with her many talents.”

Mara’s responses: 1. I will be working as a Team Teacher with Head Teacher Jen Ziemann in Stage I. 2. Visiting four different countries to study between my four years of college 3. Japan. I visited before and would love to go back for the food and people.

4. I am the youngest of four children, born and raised in Detroit. Both of my parents work in education.

5. Discovering new music, attending concerts / festivals, studying film / cinematography 6. I played violin for about 13 years and come from a musical and artistic family. I still love to play and learn music and love incorporating those elements in a lesson 7. Roeper’s holistic view of each child and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

CORINNE VENS ’14 From Colleen Shelton: “Corinne is a lifer. Starting at age six, she grew up at Roeper. I am looking forward to this talented artist joining me this year. She is kind, funny, caring, and oh, so patient with the kids.

Corinne believes and lives by the Roeper Philosophy

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and our play-based and outdoor learning. She advocates for the kids, always listening intently and responding to the babes. And — an additional bonus — she has great tech skills! Welcome to this amazing young woman. She is wise, joyful, and funny! And we love her ever-changing hair color!”

Corinne’s responses: 1. I am working as a Team Teacher with Colleen in the Hill House, teaching pre-K in Stage I. 2. One highlight of my life was when I realized I wanted to become a teacher. I went to school at Roeper starting in Stage II second year and graduated in 2014, but I never left. I’ve worked at the Roeper Summer Day Camp for eight years, starting as a counselor-in-training and primarily working as a counselor with the three-year-olds. During the school year, I was a substitute teacher for three years and worked in Aftercare for four years. During that time, I realized this is what I was meant to do, that I wanted to be an inspiration for children like all the teachers I’ve had in the past, to follow your dreams and be who you want to be. Roeper has been and continues to be my second home.

3. If I could live anywhere in the world for a year, I would live in the Netherlands. I went on the Roeper exchange program my junior and senior year, to the Netherlands, and it has never left my heart. I would love to learn Dutch while living there and one day I hope to return to the beautiful place and see my host family again.

4. I am a Roeper graduate, and I recently graduated from Oakland University with a degree in Art/Drawing, and a minor in Psychology. All of three of my siblings attended Roeper as well. I have three beautiful cats and love to share my passion for art with the people I know.

5. I am an artist. I love to make stuffed animals, draw, and I have dabbled in many areas of art.

I enjoy walking through nature and reading about different mythologies; currently I am reading about Celtic and Pagan myths.

6. I love to use art to teach. It uses a hands-on approach and lets children’s imaginations and creativity out. I believe in using the kinesthetic learning approach combined with auditory learning and visual learning when teaching. I find the children more engaged and interactive

when I use this method.

7. Roeper has always been my home. The teachers here were a huge inspiration for me when figuring out what I wanted to be. The love teachers have for their students and the sense of community at Roeper made it so I never wanted to leave.

ANGELA Mc McCLAIN ’05 From Andi Akkasian: Angela brings a lot of enthusiasm to teaching and is especially happy to be back at Roeper.

She was in Roeper’s Lower School and has fond memories of singing in the Choir. She received her degree in Early Childhood Education from MSU. I’m looking forward to working with Angela this year!

Angela’s responses: 1. I will be a Stage II Team Teacher with Andi.

2. Graduating from my master’s program and giving birth to my two daughters.

3. Oooo, that is tricky. First it would need to be somewhere warm. I love Hawaii, but I think I would go for a new adventure and pick New Zealand.

4. I was a Roeper kid until 6th grade and came back again to work at Camp for a couple of summers. I have lived on the West and East coasts as well as the Midwest. I love singing, dancing and gymnastics! I am married with two daughters, four years and 18 months.

We love to go on bike rides together and have dance parties. I grew up in Southfield and Bloomfield, travelled, and ultimately came back in Bloomfield, buying my childhood home.

5. I like to play board games, hang with my family, and play volleyball, although this has taken a backseat to the kids.

6. I love doing cooking projects! I think cooking is a great way to bring the whole class together to make something new. It also uses math, reading/letter recognition, fine motor skills and tons of other academic skills while being fun!

I also love thinking creatively, so it is inclusive of allergies as well.

7. I have always LOVED Roeper. I have such fond memories of being a Roeper kid. I had the chance to sub this past year, and it brought back all the feelings I had from my childhood.

I was so excited to be able to be a part of the community I loved so much. I want to be able to give the Roeper children we have now, the same AMAZING memories that I had when I went to Roeper.

BEN SHEPARD ’03 From Matt Vallus: “The Social Studies department is very excited to welcome Ben. His passion and expertise during his sample lesson took us back in time and captivated the students (and committee members). The kids had many questions, and Ben had many answers. A learning environment/dynamic was created during this brief lesson that we all strive to maintain. Ben will primarily be teaching 6th Grade Ancient History and has some wonderful ideas for possible future electives in the MS and US. Such ideas focus deeply on his background in Anthropology and cultural histories. Starting ideas include World Pre-History Archeology, the American Indian experience, Food and Society, and Pseudoscience vs. Science. Ben will also be working with Patrick to formulate cross-curricular connections and thematic alignments with 6th grade English.”

Ben’s responses: 1. I will be teaching 6th Grade Ancient History and Social Studies electives for Middle and Upper School students. I’m also excited to share a 6th Grade homeroom with another Roeper alum, Sara Mendez ’96 (formerly Puzey).

2. I spent much of the last 13 years doing archaeological research in Russia. I’m thrilled to share some of the tangible aspects of the past that so interested me with students of all ages.

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3. I just moved home to Michigan — please don’t make me think about moving already!

Honestly though, I can’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else right now.

4. I grew up in Southeastern Michigan, and I was a Roeper student for 12 years (Stage II – Upper School graduation).

5. I’m really excited to spend my summer breaks canoeing on the Huron River.

6. Before coming back to Roeper as a teacher, I taught anthropology at the community college level. My favorite units involved looking at simultaneous and interrelated changes in human social life, biology, and technology that occurred throughout our evolutionary past.

For example, I loved discussing the web of factors that resulted in large-scale cooperation among humans. I also enjoyed presenting the fragmentary evidence that we use — usually with a good amount of creativity sprinkled in — to see those developments taking place in the distant past.

7. Roeper had a huge impact on me, not only as a child, but also as an adult. Roeper’s holistic approach to students’ emotional, ethical, and intellectual growth is one that I value tremendously.

MARIA WHITE From Meghan Stott: Maria is an adventurous and dynamic Spanish teacher who brings joy and enthusiasm to learning.

Maria’s love of nature and outdoor educa-tion were evident when we observed her teach.

She brings experience teaching in a Waldorf inspired school. Maria will be an incredible addition to Roeper, and we are so grateful to have her join our World Language team. Please welcome Maria to our community.

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Here are Maria’s answers to our questions: 1. I am a new Spanish teacher at Roeper Lower School.

2. My way to see the world changed the day that my “Ciencias Naturales” teacher took us on a field trip and show us how inside of a rotten tree stump (for me then, just an old piece of wood) the cycle of life was ready to begin again. While I was touching the wet organic material inside the stump, my teacher talked about tropical ecosystems, and my mind was able to imagine every single detail and found the real magic of this world! I imagined the seed of the canopy falling and mixing with the soil, I imagined worms and fungus fertilizing the dark, wet soil of the jungle, a tree getting older, I saw a jaguar hunting the possum living under the roots of that tree and finally the tree falling down, getting rotten invaded by thousands of little insects. Science is magic!

Till today every time I have the opportunity, I will look for rotten trees to touch and smell the beginnings of new life.

3. If I could spend one year relaxing and enjoying life, I would go back to Nicaragua beaches or the jungles of Quintana Roo in Mexico. If I could have the opportunity to spend one year studying, I would go back to Israel; if I could spend one year having dinner at friends’ houses and restaurantes, I will choose Portugal; if I could spend one year teaching sports, I will go back to South Africa or Zimbabwe; if I could spend one year taking pictures, I will go back to Ethiopia; if I could spend one year back in time, I will go back to Norway. I can spend one year in Detroit, USA, and I love it!

4. Helping others is the therapy I use when I feel overwhelmed and afraid. My family teaches me unconditional love. Guatemalans are kind, humble and friendly people in general, when we think nothing else is left, there is always a joke to make you laugh. The frijolitos con crema and handmade tortillas will be ready at the dinner table waiting for you. Let’s go!!!!

5. When possible, motorcycles are my passion.

When not, I dream to have one! I like to see my daughter growing while having a cup of black coffee in my hands.

6. I like to teach stories that could lift the spirit of the kids and their imagination. I love to teach about insects and trees. I like to

encourage the kids to discover themselves and their capabilities, and I love to see the kids overcoming fears! Nothing can be better than looking at the face of a kid who realizes that they can.

7. When I was reading the employment opportunity for a Spanish teacher, I also read the mission and philosophy of the school and I found this phrase: “Diversity and interdependence foster competence as much as compassion, and nurture excellence as much as empathy.” Immediately I thought that I was going to give my best to have the job and be part of this community.

MEGHAN STOTT From David Feldman: I am excited to welcome our new Lower School Director Meghan Stott to The Roeper School. Meghan joins Roeper after serving as Dean of Students and teaching lower school science at the Friends Academy in Locust Valley, NY, for the past 15 years. Spend time talking with Meghan, and you will quickly discover that she brings a love of elementary school teaching and learning, has a keen interest in design thinking, and has a passion for mentoring. She has spent the summer immersing herself in the history, philosophy, and culture of our school; meeting with faculty and staff and helping to plan for the fall. She is thoughtful, reflective, and I know you will find her eager to connect and learn from you about your Roeper journey. I invite you to reach out to Meghan and provide your personal welcome to our newest director.

Here are Meghan’s answers to our questions: 2. The two main highlights in my life are having my daughters, Maeve and Isla. Maeve, age 13, and Isla, age 11, both attend Roeper.

They are both so excited to begin their new adventure in Michigan. Already they feel a sense of independence as they head to the

local pool and library on their bikes, which was something they were unable to do in New York.

3. I would love to live in Finland for a year. I have been intrigued and deeply interested in the educational system and would love to immerse myself within this philosophy and pedagogical practice for one year. There is so much to learn from other areas in the world and Finland places a great deal of importance on educating the whole child and spending extended periods of time outdoors in order to learn from nature. This deeply resonates with me.

4. I was raised in both Madison and La Crosse, Wisconsin. My husband, Philip, is from Scotland, and we both spent the past 15 years living on the East Coast on Long Island where I worked at a co-educational Quaker School.

My husband and I met in Slovakia teaching English for one year and spent an additional two years teaching and traveling in Japan and Incheon, South Korea. As a family, we greatly enjoy traveling and experiencing new places whether we are taking a road trip across the country or flying to Scotland to visit family.

5. I have always enjoyed staying active and spending time outdoors. I love walking and hiking with friends and family. The winter is another time that I love to remain active and outdoors. Skiing and snowshoeing are just two activities that I love to spend my time doing. A quote I try to live my life by, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” In addition to spending time outdoors, I am an avid reader and always love a good book recommendation. Currently I am reading Just Mercy by Bryan Stephenson and the book Lupin after watching the series on Netflix.

6. I am passionate about science and technology and teaching children how to engage in asking questions about the world around them. By engaging in phenomena based learning, children can collaborate and begin to solve problems together in a meaningful way. This gives them the needed experience to have scientific discussions while using evidence to build and support their ideas.

7. I was drawn to Roeper by the tenets and values highlighted in the mission of the school. Roeper’s faculty and staff strive to teach students to think as individuals, but to

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also understand that they are part of a larger community. Social justice and equity are two evident values that were at the heart of each conversation as I spoke with community members and students during my interview.

I am committed to learning and engaging in action that will directly create equitable opportunities for all of our students and faculty. As I engage in conversations with my colleagues, I hear about the importance of understanding and cultivating the passions of our students, while encouraging them to be critical, collaborative and empathetic learners. I am so grateful to be part of the Roeper community and look forward to growing and learning alongside each and every member this year. F

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Emily Wine

Assistant to the Head

NEW FACES ON THE BOARD On behalf of the Trusteeship Committee, we would like to thank the departing valued board members for their time and dedication to the Board:

Ashley Lowe

Anessa Kramer

We are honored to introduce our newest Trustees:

CAROL APPEL A nurse practitioner with over 35 years of experience, Carol is affiliated with Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital and other hospitals in Michigan.

For the past several years, she has assisted her husband, Dr. Joel Appel, with his Hematology/ Oncology practice in Southfield. Carol is also the proud parent of Roeper alum Aaron ‘12, who attended Roeper for 14 years. The Appels have been actively engaged in the sustainability of The Roeper School, and we are thrilled to welcome Carol in her role as a Trustee.

JAMEEL SMITH, PHD, LLP, NCSP Middle/Upper School Parent Representative Jameel is currently the lead Pediatric Psychologist for Wayne Pediatrics. She has extensive experience and training in schools, hospitals, community mental health, and private practice. She and her husband, Diallo, joined the community in 2010 with their children Josiah ‘20* and Signe ‘23.

Soon after their arrival, Jameel and Diallo built a

Francis Allen

thriving chess community at Roeper, which is still active today. Jameel has also provided workshops on cultural competency through the S.E.E.D. curriculum and has been an active volunteer with planning the Mariann Hoag Scholarship Dinners.

We know Jameel’s experience and perspective will help foster a strong future for Roeper.

SIGNE SMITH ‘23

Student Representative Signe joined Roeper as a first year Stage II student in 2010. Along with this new leadership role, Signe serves on Student Government and is the Co-President of the Class of 2023.

She also launched a Roeper Mentor Group, which pairs Middle and Upper School students with shared interests and allows opportunities to strengthen peer-topeer relationships. Signe also participates in Volleyball, Basketball, Forensics, Model UN, Black Student Union and the Student Diversity Advisory Committee. We are honored to have this very engaged leader as a new Trustee. F

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Cheryl Blau ’80 Trustee

ANTI-RACISM RESOLUTION Diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) have long been hallmarks of the Roeper philosophy and school community. In 2019, the Roeper Board of Trustees formalized our commitment to these values at the Board level by creating a DEIJ Committee to ensure that all of our work at the Board level is viewed through this lens.

Following the events of the summer of 2020, our new DEIJ Committee made it a priority to write and hold ourselves accountable to a Roeper AntiRacism Resolution. Although this would be a Board-level resolution, we wanted it to reflect the needs and goals of the entire school community, so we invited input from from teachers, students, and parents from each special interest group on campus. Members of these groups collaborated with our DEIJ Board members in writing the

resolution with additional input from teachers, students, and Board members throughout the process. While it took us a full year to include so many voices in the conversation, writing, and revision work, we feel the resulting resolution is more accurately reflective of our community than it might have been had our DEIJ committee written it ourselves without such extensive community input and involvement.

Many thanks to those who contributed their time and input to this important work. Our hope is that this Roeper Anti-Racism Resolution will join the Roeper Philosophy and its tenets as foundational documents that will help guide the school well into the future to ensure we continue to live in accordance with these long-treasured values.

ROEPER BOARD ANTI-RACISM RESOLUTION PREAMBLE In 1941, after being forced to flee their home in Germany, George and Annemarie Roeper moved to Michigan and founded The Roeper School. At a time when the Nazis were shattering democratic systems across Europe, the Roepers understood they could not be silent. As religious refugees from totalitarianism, the Roepers experienced firsthand the consuming power of hate, bigotry, and prejudice that forced them into exile. They established The Roeper School as a place where students could develop their voices and stand against authoritarian injustice, a place where human rights would be held in esteem, and where a commitment to humanism would shape the community that needed to be built.

For almost 80 years, The Roeper School has stood as an institution whose foundation is built on social justice, dignity, and the worth of every individual. Our history, philosophy, and mission call on us to speak with clarity and purpose when we see hatred and intolerance being given voice and strength. We know that we cannot be bystanders; we know that racism cannot stand unanswered; we know that there is work to be done to address the injustices of today and systemic wrongs that have remained in place for generations.

This resolution is not merely a statement of beliefs, but it also is a statement that holds us accountable to ourselves and to the community. Our children are watching, and we are called upon as an educational institution to model for them what it means to be a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community committed to justice. Today, we use our voice to stand as anti-racists, as allies, and as leaders committed to guiding future generations toward the interdependent community George and Annemarie called on us to build.

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Our hope is that this Roeper Anti-Racism Resolution will join the Roeper Philosophy and its tenets as foundational documents that will help guide the school well into the future to ensure we continue to live in accordance with these longtreasured values.

THE ROEPER SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANTI-RACISM RESOLUTION The Roeper School Board of Trustees hereby consents to and approves the resolutions set forth below at a regular meeting of the Board on the 24th day of May 2021.

WHEREAS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice are the foundation of the Roeper Philosophy; WHEREAS the Roeper Philosophy and Core Tenets include a commitment to justice rather than power and to making equal human rights for all people a priority;

WHEREAS The Roeper School is committed to provide each student with a welcoming, respectful, inclusive, and culturally affirming environment for learning and success;

WHEREAS the ongoing social justice issues across our country, including the killings of Black,

Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), have had a profound impact on our past and present students, faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, and families at The Roeper School;

WHEREAS we choose to speak out in response to recent and historic national and local events that have called attention to racist attitudes, racist actions, societal race-based disparities, and other forms of systemic and institutional racism that have persisted for centuries;

WHEREAS we recognize our own position of privilege and acknowledge our own history of, whether conscious or unconscious, participation in systems in our community, that are built on oppression and include racist practices;

WHEREAS this unique historic moment in our country’s evolution presents an opportunity and a

challenge for all of us to be part of creating a more just educational community for BIPOC students, faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, and families within The Roeper School community;

WHEREAS we recognize that race is an important part of our identities, and we are responsible for

nurturing anti-racist learning environments where all students, faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, and families are respected and valued for who they are regardless of culture, race, or ethnicity; and

WHEREAS we believe that an accurate understanding of the past is necessary to build a successful vision of the future. We cannot value BIPOC lives without: (i) teaching their history, (ii) recognizing the contributions of BIPOC leaders, and (iii) celebrating the sacrifices and achievements they have made throughout the history of our School and of this country.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we believe Black lives matter.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we believe Indigenous lives matter.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we believe the lives of People of Color matter.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we condemn all forms of bullying, microaggressions, hate speech, and violence.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we condemn all forms of discrimination (unlawful or otherwise),

systemic racism, and manifestations of expressions of racism, xenophobia, and ethnic or racial intolerance.

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RESOLVED FURTHER that we resolutely stand, and will speak out, against all hate, bias, racism, and crimes of violence, and will commit to actively work toward becoming an anti-racist institution and toward dismantling the systems that promote racism.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we expect the School’s partners, contracted businesses, and other

vendors to support inclusive practices and work to eradicate racist behaviors, and we expect the School to make decisions around who they do business with to reflect such commitments.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we will adopt policies regarding the creation and performance of

curriculum review processes to ensure that our curriculum incorporates historically accurate portrayals and perspectives of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we will foster an anti-racist culture and take significant steps to further racial equity within our school, departments, and buildings.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we commit to regularly examine the School’s policies and practices to remove obstacles and barriers that may contribute to systemic inequities.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we commit to increase the accessibility of a Roeper education for traditionally marginalized groups, including specifically BIPOC students.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we commit to ensure that each student is valued, supported, and academically challenged by the School regardless of race, ethnicity, or culture.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we expect and will support ongoing professional development

opportunities for faculty, staff, and trustees that focus on combating systemic and institutional racism and further develop the attitudes, skills, and beliefs that are necessary to support all students and their families.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we commit to foster a school environment that promotes respect for, and curiosity about, all cultures and affirms equal human rights for all our community members.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we commit to ensure that student achievement will not fall into

predictable patterns identified by race, ethnicity, or culture and commit to ensure that each student will have access to personalized learning opportunities that honor the student’s unique background to promote a sense of belonging.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we pledge to amplify diverse voices, listening to the concerns they share and the aspirations they bring, as we create and adjust our School governance practices and policies.

RESOLVED FURTHER that we commit to create a process that integrates equity into all decisionmaking, board policy review, and adoption processes, including an annual review of policies on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.

This resolution was adopted

by The Roeper School Board of Trustees on May 24, 2021, by unanimous approval. F

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Sarah Miller

Associate Director The Roeper Institute

KIT

ROEPER INSTITUTE UPDATE It is coming up on a year since I received an unexpected but welcome request to connect from longtime Roeper community member, Lori Lutz. Lori’s own connections to Roeper run deep as an alumna (Class of 1975), alumnae parent and former Roeper Board Chair. When we originally spoke, Lori was nearing the end of what could easily be considered her most impactful gift to the Roeper community (which is saying something, given the long list one has to choose from!) — a reinvigorated Roeper Institute that was once again fulfilling the original purpose for which Annemarie Roeper, amongst others, created it.

The Roeper Institute by design is intended to promote The Roeper School’s educational model and philosophy.

For decades its sole project has been the publication of the Roeper Review ...

Lori (Lutz), however, had the vision and energy to resurrect its potential to impact change in ways our school philosophy calls us to do.

As I take the reins of the Institute, we find ourselves buoyed by the immense success of our recent grant-funded multi-year project, A Matter of Equity, and also at a moment of reflection about how we utilize that success to leverage an even greater realization of our purpose.

As a separately incorporated organization within The Roeper School, The Roeper Institute by design is intended to promote The Roeper School’s educational model and philosophy. For decades its sole project has been the publication of the Roeper Review, a peer-reviewed academic journal of gifted education. Lori, however, had the vision and energy to resurrect its potential to impact change in ways our school philosophy calls us to do. In the Alumni News publication in 1985, then Head of School Pam Dart introduced the community to what was merely the idea of the Roeper Institute. She said this about the burgeoning plans, “… I am energized by the potential I think it has to develop into a viable community resource, and one that moves the school ever closer toward realizing a particular aspect of its mission — to make things better for many children, including those who do not attend our school.”

It was with this ingrained belief about how the Roeper community could make true in practice its values that Lori set about determining the Institute’s next steps.

An idea began to take shape, partly inspired by a 2013 article in the Roeper Review written by Editor Don Ambrose. Titled “Socioeconomic Inequality and Giftedness: Suppression and Distortion of High Ability”, Don outlined the case for the moral failing in not addressing the inequitable identification and support of gifted youth experiencing socio-

economic inequality. In fact, he wrote that if we are not actively working to address this inequity, we are contributing to it.

To address that challenge, Lori led The Roeper Institute in forming A Matter of Equity, a project that eventually enveloped nearly 50 Detroit Public School Community District teachers and staff members in a Professional Learning Community side by side with Roeper teachers and staff in order to better serve low-income and culturally diverse gifted young people in the City of Detroit.

With the Matter of Equity project at its formal end, its many successes can be combed through for lessons on how the Institute moves forward.

First and foremost, the project showcased that given the will, Roeper indeed has the ability to show up as a viable and successful community partner. It highlighted the beauty in removing the literal and figurative walls between Roeper and the community. As was witnessed, with these walls down a greater flow of information, learning, contributions, vulnerability, and engagement is possible. While the original intent was realized — for Roeper to make better those outside of our immediate community — it is not at all surprising that this type of engagement demonstrates how Roeper is made better by partnership and relationship with those in our community.

With these successes in mind and my own professional background in service learning, another part of the same Ambrose article drew my attention. Ambrose postulates that any gifted and talented education that does not tend to the moral and ethical considerations of how one uses their gifts and talents runs the very real risk of individuals only increasing ever-present and persistent social inequalities. With the Roeper Institute already positioned to continue addressing the inequitable ways gifted and talented students are served, this sentiment feels like the other side of the same coin.

Service learning at its core seeks to meet many of the same outcomes outlined above — a removal of arbitrary barriers between communities, an acknowledgment of what can be gained when relationships and partnerships are fostered, and the possibility of a society closer to realizing true justice.

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Pursuing new ways for our own Roeper students to authentically engage with the vast wisdom and incredible work being done to further justice in communities right around us opens up opportunities for the Institute and the School to partner in ways that will ensure there is increased attention given to how social justice is embedded in every Roeper graduate’s future.

In a year where Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice are being examined more closely than usual at the school, The Roeper Institute stands at the ready to continue the conversation and demonstrate the ways our mission and philosophy call us to take action. What does it look like in practice both big and small to live out our legacy

— to be actors and changemakers and creators of a world where we are closer to justice? How is our commitment to DEIJ not only in words we say we believe in but in actions we are willing to take and causes we are willing to commit ourselves to fully?

The Roeper Institute is no one person’s, it does not belong solely to its director or its Board, it belongs to all of us in the Roeper community. Consider this your open invitation to join the conversation and the work.

In solidarity,

F

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In a year where Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice are being examined more closely than usual at the school, The Roeper Institute stands at the ready to continue the conversation and demonstrate the ways our mission and philosophy call us to take action.

KIT

Juliette Olejnik

Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Fund

ANNUAL FUND UPDATE Each year, I am humbled to accept gifts on behalf of Roeper’s Annual Fund and to hear stories about how Roeper has changed lives. While tuition covers most of the school’s operating budget, Roeper also relies heavily upon the generosity of alumni, parents, and friends who support the annual giving program to ensure our students continue to have experiences that help them thrive.

As a pioneer in the gifted community, Roeper is committed to offering its best to students, faculty and staff, and we have no doubt that you share this commitment.

Without a doubt, much of everyday life at Roeper is made possible by the Roeper Annual Fund. It impacts students in countless ways by fulfilling the current needs of our school and ensuring we continue to create an environment in which students feel physically and emotionally safe. Many new investments have been made over the past year so Roeper could continue to offer in-person learning during a time when many other schools simply couldn’t. Air purifiers in every classroom, hand sanitizing stations throughout each building, and new technology to support virtual classrooms are just some of the urgent needs Annual Fund dollars helped fund.

Strong community support of the Annual Fund has allowed Roeper to respond to recent challenges and added expenses in a way that has thankfully not diminished our support of need-based financial assistance.

We are proud to maintain our position as a worldwide leader in gifted education with one of the most diverse student populations in Michigan. A significant aspect of The Roeper School’s philosophy is its commitment to socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic diversity, which is why Roeper continues to prioritize need-based financial assistance that is critical for more than 40% of current families.

As a pioneer in the gifted community, Roeper is committed to offering its best to students, faculty and staff, and we have no doubt that you share this commitment. The Annual Fund is the foundation of all fundraising at Roeper, and we are confident that if we have the full support and participation of our community, we will be able to reach our increased goal of $270,000 this academic year.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift this holiday season, consider the gift of education. Make a donation in honor of someone who is special to you, or consider stretching your gift with a recurring monthly donation rather than a one-time gift. Remember that your support not only brings us closer to our goal but, most importantly, helps students now and in the future continue to lead lives of meaning and substance.

There is no minimum donation, and every gift truly makes a difference.

Sincerely,

Juliette Olejnik Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Fund F

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KIT Alumni Profile

MATT NAHAN ’04 & LAURA BETH SCALES ’02 Roeper Theater Company Alumni Reunite, Expand Access to Arts for Detroit Youth

As Executive Director and Board President, Laura Scales ’02 and Matt Nahan ‘04 have found their intersecting passion for leadership, arts, community, and education in Living Arts. Founded 22 years ago with 12 students learning dance in the basement of Messiah Church in Southwest Detroit, Living Arts has grown to reach more than 3000 students annually across Detroit. With arts programming in early learning, K-12, and afterschool spaces, Living Arts has grown into a community that spans the City of Detroit. Both Matt and Laura find their connections to Living Arts rooted in the Roepers’ approach to education and community. As Matt says, “At Living Arts, we believe there is genius inside every young person, and that arts and creative expression can boost discovery of self, academic success, and heal trauma. It’s just so Roeper to me.”

For Laura, “The opportunity to join Living Arts felt like a true homecoming, because of what Roeper instilled in me.” Her Roeper journey began as a Stage IV first year. “That’s where it all started for me. Roeper provided me with years of amazing opportunities to try everything. That’s really how I found my love for theater.” After graduating with an impressive resume with the Roeper Theater Company (RTC), Laura attended The Theatre School at DePaul University where she studied Stage and Production Management.

After DePaul, Laura interned with the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and apprenticed with Steppenwolf Theatre Company. As Laura worked in the world of professional theater, she realized that mentoring the next generation of theatre artists was her real passion. Laura soon accepted a position at the University of Chicago’s Theatre & Performance Studies program. Laura had no intention of leaving Chicago, until her son Dax was born. She then realized, it was time to come home. Laura continued her path in higher education, in a new faculty appointment at Michigan State University’s Department of Theater.

At MSU, Laura found herself leading once again, this time on matters of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the College of Arts & Letters.

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During the summer of 2020, it became apparent to Laura that she needed to make a change. “I have always given of myself, but the harsh light of the pandemic made it clear that I wanted to dedicate more of my life to service. I love teaching, and I love higher education, but when I read Living Arts’ mission statement it resonated deep within me. I knew I had to apply for the E.D. position.”

Matt’s time at Roeper also began as a Stage IV first year (the same year he made his RTC debut in the 1996 production of Oliver). “Without Roeper, I’m not sure where I’d be. The entire approach to education, socialization, and interdependence unequivocally made me who I am today.” Matt credits George Roeper’s immortal words as leading him down the path he ultimately took. “I never knew George, but those words: ‘citizen of the world,’ they resonate with me everyday.”

After Roeper, Matt stayed in Detroit, falling in love with the city, while earning a Bachelor of Social Work from Wayne State and subsequently a Master of Social Work from University of Michigan.

Between degrees, he spent four years teaching theatre at Detroit Country Day School while holding volunteer leadership positions with an NGO called CISV. Matt’s first introduction to Living Arts came just after graduate school, while working at the Detroit Bus Company on afterschool transit solutions for youth. His then-boss volunteered him to host a table at the annual Living Arts fundraiser. In recruiting friends and colleagues to join his table, Matt fell in love with Living Arts and joined the board later that year. “It all started when I learned Living Arts employs professional working artists to share their craft with young people and pays them well to do it. Growing up as a child of professional artists, I know that hustle firsthand.”

At Living Arts, we believe there is genius inside every young person, and that arts and creative expression can boost discovery of self, academic success, and heal trauma.

It’s just so Roeper.

Arts education in some form is an imperative for young people everywhere.

There are tens of thousands of young people in Detroit.

Our goal is to help create a landscape where every single youth in Detroit has access to some form of high quality arts education.

Matt is currently a Community Coordinator at Henry Ford Health System where he facilitates community-led change, focused on ensuring equitable access to nutrition and physical activity resources in Wayne, Macomb, and Jackson counties. Matt recently started an MBA program so he can speak the language of finance and take the next step in his career, working towards equity and justice alongside traditionally under-resourced communities.

Matt has served on the Living Arts Board for six years, half of which have been as President. In that time he has hired two Executive Directors, helped increase event revenue and individual giving nearly 10x, helped win the 2019 Crain’s Best Managed Nonprofit award, navigated a pandemic, and was named a Crain’s 2021 Notable Nonprofit Board Member.

For Laura and Matt, expanding access to arts education for young people is a mission embedded in who they are. Both see this moment in time as an opportunity to find new avenues and outlets for programming, foster young creatives, and ensure that the next phase of Living Arts centers on the needs of partners, families, and students.

As Matt said, “Living Arts was at an inflection point before the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racially motivated violence rippled across the country. Now, we are rethinking what, where, and how the arts are possible. We are so excited to have Laura at the helm.”

Laura is equally as eager to put her vision and expertise to work. “I am thrilled to lead this chapter of Living Arts. I am excited to lean on my Roeper background and provide an environment where young people and families are comfortable self-identifying with various parts of the Living Arts community.” Some of Laura’s early steps as Executive Director seem to come straight out of the old school Roeper Playbook. “We have already begun a series of Town Halls that are not unlike the discussions we had on Disco Days,” she says.

students ranging from traditional to non-traditional.

“There are so many paths for young people rooted in the arts. I am looking forward to demystifying some of the hurdles in higher education.”

Arts education in some form is an imperative for young people everywhere. Living Arts has traditionally reached 3000 young people per year.

Laura and Matt hope to expand well beyond that number. “There are tens of thousands of young people in Detroit,” Matt says, “Our goal is to help create a landscape where every single youth in Detroit has access to some form of high quality arts education.”

When asked what kind of leader she hopes to be, Laura referred to the Roeper Philosophy (1981).

Both Laura and Matt believe this passage is an important reminder for all of us: For this leadership is not based on the authority vested in the power on the top of the hierarchy, but rather on the confidence of the community in the expertise and goodwill of the leaders.

It requires the skills to establish open communication and respect in the constituency, as well as their legitimate participation in decision-making. Only those who are affected by a decision experience its consequences and therefore should participate in reaching it in some form and to the extent that they are able. It includes the obligation to be continually aware of the rights of each individual and maintain a balance between all of those individual rights.

— Annemarie & George Roeper (The Philosophy of the Roeper City and Country School, 1981) To learn more about Living Arts and get connected to Laura and Matt, visit livingartsdetroit.org. F

Laura is also looking at ways to expand how Living Arts supports students, families, and artists by leaning on her contacts in higher education to partner, host college prep nights for parents and

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KIT Alumni Updates More than 70 alumni attended the August 5th virtual SUMMER RECESS REUNION! It was fun to see alumni from all over the country come together virtually to reminisce about their time at Roeper and to reconnect with one another.

Alumni from every decade joined the party, and more than 30 alumni filled the ’80’s breakout room! Thank you to all who joined, and for those who couldn’t make it, we hope to see you at future events!

recently taken the headmaster job (yes, that has a distinctly archaic ring). We covered a wide range of topics: families, work, culture, politics, education, the school canoe trip on the Au Sable River, and friendships with former faculty and students maintained over decades. Dick shared some insights into the challenges of developing a full high school at Roeper in the late ‘60s and what it took to make sure that expansion was sustained and stable — a complete revelation to this oblivious former student. It was my opportunity to tell Dick what a wonderful teacher he was, and it was SO GREAT to visit with him.

DAVID ALAN GRIER ’74* earned his first-ever Tony Award! David was named Best Featured Actor in a play for his emotive turn as a sergeant in A Soldier’s Play, a riveting Pulitzer Prizewinning tale about a platoon of Black soldiers at a World War II-era military base. A welldeserved curtain call for a fellow Roeperian!

Save th e Da t e!

LISA VIHOS ’77 first became th aware that there might be a poet inside her in In Person in Michigan ~ July 22 – 24, 2022 Kathleen Assorted Events Friday through Sunday Doughty’s second grade class at Main Reunion Event Saturday Evening Roeper when she Roeper Alumni from Our Class read a book called & Roeperians of the Late ‘70s & Early ‘80s Hailstones and are Welcome and Encouraged to Attend!

Halibut Bones by Mary

O’Neill. Lisa didn’t fully In the meantime, answer the call to poetry, The Class of ‘80 will be hosting Zoom Reunions however, until many years th th Sundays, February 13 & May 15 from 5 – 7pm later. Since 2008, she has

had four chapbooks of her To participate, go to zoom.com and when prompted, type in ~ poetry published, edited Meeting ID: 692-613-968 Meeting Password: 546806 two anthologies, and won numerous awards for her work including most recently, a Creative From MIKE TILCHIN ’72: Dick Halsey and I met Community Champion award from Arts Wisconsin. in Charlevoix, Michigan, on August 10, a midpoint She is the Sheboygan, WI, organizer for 100 location between Dick’s home in Interlochen and Thousand Poets for Change and was named the the cabin in Pellston, where I was on vacation. first poet laureate of Sheboygan in 2020. Her We last saw each other in the Fall of 1971, when podcast, Poetry on Air, is available on the Mead I was with a small group of Roeper students who Library website. You can also visit her online at went to visit the Kingsbury School, where Dick had lisavihos.com.

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The Class of ‘80 40 +2 Reunion

KRISTIN CLARK TAYLOR (attended Roeper until 1974) is an accomplished author, editor, journalist, and communications strategist. Her first four books were published by Random House/ Doubleday and Penguin/Berkley.

She has ghostwritten and edited many books in a variety of genres. In the political world, she served as White House Director of Media Relations under President George H.W. Bush, the first black woman in history to have held the post. Of Bush, Kristin says, “I still miss my friend dearly, I still grieve his loss, but I find comfort in the fact that he still feels very present in my life.”

Taylor, a member of the original creation and launch team of USA Today, has recently returned to the newspaper as a member of USAT’s Board of Contributors, where she is an opinion columnist.

“I started out with the newspaper as a young journalist, before the newspaper even began publishing, and to be back today as a not-soyoung journalist and contributing columnist is a wonderful, full-circle sensation.”

Kristin’s work has also appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, The Miami Herald, The Chicago Tribune, The Detroit Free Press, The Houston Post, and many other major publications.

She also serves as a communications consultant to corporations large and small: “Everything I learned at Roeper prepared me to fully embrace everything in my life today. From an itty-bitty little girl, Roeper gave me the space, the freedom, and the confidence to find myself, to be myself, and to help others in any way I can. This is my foundation.”

Also an ordained minister, Kristin is highly active in the mindfulness and meditation community. She works closely with seniors, at-risk youth, and those from underrepresented communities, guiding them towards “compassionate creativity,” positive coping mechanisms, and mindful awareness.

Kristin would LOVE to hear from her fellow Roeperians. She can be reached at kristintay@aol.com.

ANITA RABY FOX ’77 was recently featured in Crain’s Detroit Business 50 Names to Know in Government. Anita joined Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration in January 2019 as Director of the 350-employee state Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Over the past two years, her department has been tasked with implementing Michigan’s new auto insurance law. DIFS also has regulatory authority over credit unions, state-chartered banks, consumer finance lending companies, auto insurance carriers, agents and producers and HMOs that sell health insurance plans on the individual market through the Affordable Care Act of 2010.

A collection of DC Comics stories by the late, great writer/ editor DWAYNE McDUFFIE ’80 will be collected in a new hardcover coming out December 14, 2021. DC Universe by Dwayne McDuffie will collect 12 issues from his work for the publisher. Dwayne was also the co-creator of the Emmy Awardwinning television series Static Shock and of Milestone Media, the most successful blackowned comic book company in history. Dwayne and his comic book characters have also been featured in a 1,000-foot mural located on the building of the newly relocated Vault of Midnight comic shop in Detroit. The mural was recently painted by Detroit-born artist Brian “Sintex” Glass.

MICHELLE ADAMS ’81 has been appointed to President Biden’s Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court. Michelle is a Professor of Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where she teaches Constitutional Law, Federal Courts, and Federal Civil Rights. She is published in several

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The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) announced on May 22, 2021, that DAVID K. BEST, DO (Roeper Class of 1990), will serve as the organization’s president for a one-year term. Dr. Best will serve as the 122nd president of the association after serving several years as a Board Trustee. Dr. Best has practiced medicine since 2002, specializing in primary care and addiction medicine and has served on the Michigan Osteopathic Association’s Board of Directors since 2014. In addition, he served on the board of the Michigan Osteopathic Family Physicians for eight years. He has spent the majority of his career in Northern Michigan, most recently serving as a hospice physician at Heartland Hospice and running Best Medical Services, PLLC, in Traverse City. He holds a DO from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, an MS in Medical Sciences from Wayne State University, and a BA in Chemistry from Kalamazoo College. The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) is the largest statewide osteopathic organization representing osteopathic physicians, interns, residents and medical students in Michigan. Since 1898, the MOA has been dedicated to the promotion of quality patient care and to the educational, informational and legislative needs of its members.

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Judge QIANA DENISE LILLARD ’94 has been elected to serve as the new Board President for The Roeper Institute, effective July 1, 2021. The Roeper Institute is a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which exists to promote broader understanding of the needs of gifted and creative children and the means of supporting their education, learning and growth in accordance with the core values of The Roeper Philosophy.

Most recently, the Institute has developed A Matter of Equity, a public/private partnership between the Detroit Public Schools Community District and Roeper to expand opportunities for low-income and culturally diverse gifted and talented children through an on-going collaborative professional learning community for teachers and school counselors in the District and at Roeper.

Qiana earned her Bachelor’s and JD degrees from Notre Dame University. After an eight-year career as an Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor, she was appointed (and subsequently elected) to the Wayne County Third Judicial Circuit Court, first in the Family-Juvenile Division, then the Criminal Division, and now serves in the Civil Division.

Qiana is also the incoming president of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan.

KIKI LOUYA ’01*, who was recently a contestant on Top Chef: Portland, has become the first-ever Executive Director of Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation, a national advocacy nonprofit. The foundation, which took shape in 2018, gained prominence for supporting frontline workers during the pandemic, providing aid in the form of zero-interest loans to restaurant workers, to other nonprofits helping industry workers in crisis, and to restaurant businesses.

Kiki has more than 20 years of experience in both food and beverage and nonprofit management.

She is the former founder and chef at Folk and the Farmer’s Hand restaurants in Detroit and gained national attention for championing for equity and better pay for her employees. The New York Times named her one of 16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America in 2019. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Le Cordon Bleu. Kiki is also excited to share that she’s working on a new restaurant concept to debut next summer in Detroit!

NICK HAGEN, NEW YORK TIMES

top level law reviews and is the author of The Containment: Detroit, The Supreme Court, and the Battle for Racial Justice in the North. She recently appeared in Amend: The Fight for America, a 2021 Netflix documentary about the 14th Amendment.

Michelle holds a B.A. from Brown University, a J.D. from City University of New York Law School, and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School. At Harvard she was the first Charles Hamilton Houston Scholar.

In addition to her membership in the State Bar of Michigan, in April 2021, CAROLINE N. GERSCH ’02, earned a Limited License (LLP) to practice psychology.

Caroline plans to use the skills and information gained from this education in her legal practice, where she assists individuals with social security disability claims, long-term disability appeals and negligence cases.

ALEX GOROSH ’03 directed a PSA titled In The Spotlight. The PSA for The Stuttering Association for The Young (SAY) from BBDO New York portrays the emotional weight on young people living with a stutter to ignite a conversation and bring awareness to this common yet stigmatized speech disorder. It aims to educate viewers on how to treat their peers who stutter, stressing empathy and patience.

Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=mp9voC0QymU. JENNIFER MARTIN MOORE ’03 and her husband Jacob are heading into their fifth year of tutoring Roeper students together. Jen and Jake are excited to share that this year, in addition to offering homework help in all subjects, writing instruction, and SAT/ACT prep, they are offering year-round independent studies in music theory, computer programming, civil rights, law, psychology, and more!

MARYSE RICHARDS SWANSON ’05 will be a competitor on the upcoming new Disney+ Foodtastic series! The series will be available to stream starting on December 15.

Hosted by the multi-talented actress Keke Palmer, Foodtastic is an immersive global competition series in which highly skilled artists create extravagant scene work and larger-thanlife sculptures made entirely out of food. From vegetables and butter to fruit and cheese, these everyday items are transformed into works of art. Each episode is rooted in iconic Disney IP, and the food-based builds are an extension of

that world. Flour Shop founder Amirah Kassem and NYC’s City Cakes founder Chef Benny Rivera serve as food art experts on the series.

SAM WOLSON ’07 has a new Virtual Reality documentary film called Reeducated available on The New Yorker’s website, YouTube and on Oculus TV. Reeducated premiered this March at SXSW, where the film won the Special Jury Recognition for Immersive Journalism.

Reeducated has since shown around the world at more than 17 film festivals and most recently won two awards from The Online Journalism Awards. The film takes viewers inside a reeducation camp in the Xinjiang region of China, guided by the recollections of three men who were imprisoned together at the same facility. Using more than a dozen hours of first-hand testimony, brush and ink animation, and ambisonic sound, the VR film reconstructs the experience of detention and political reeducation. As many as a million people were held in a vast network of “reeducation centers.” It is likely the largest mass-internment drive of ethnic and religious minorities since the Second World War. newyorker.com/reeducated.

EMMA WINE ’20 participated in a program dedicated to training the next generation of political activists, organizers, and leaders. In 2021, for the first time ever, Democracy Summer expanded nationally in

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partnership with the DCCC and 22 congressional member campaigns including Michigan’s Andy Levin for Congress. The theme of this year’s academic seminar was The Fight to Vote: Nonviolent Movements, Violent Reactions and the Continuing Struggle for Strong Democracy in America. Emma, along with other students aged 18 – 21, participated two days/week in virtual classes with their national cohort and two days/ week with their partner campaigns learning from local activists and participating in key organizing events, learning to phone-bank, text-bank, use social media to organize and educate, canvass, door-knock, fundraise, sign-wave, register voters, run effective field programs and build change in our country.

TIFFANY P. CUNNINGHAM ‘94 has become the first Black judge on the Federal Circuit, the only U.S. appeals court which has never had a Black jurist. She was nominated by President Biden to this court which is “unique among the 13 Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals. It has nationwide jurisdiction in a variety of subject areas.” Tiffany is eminently qualified for serving in this lifetime position. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from MIT in Chemical Engineering and went on to achieve her Juris Doctor degree from Harvard. She began her career as a law clerk to Judge Timothy B. Dyk on the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Tiffany previously was a partner at Perkins Coie LLP in Chicago since 2014 where her areas of specialization uniquely align with the types of cases taken up by the Federal Circuit. F

* Indicates the actual graduation year of those alumni who graduated from other secondary schools.

WEDDINGS & BABIES Andrew Romano ’11 married

Meghan McDonald August 20, 2021 St John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador ROEPER FRIEND ZACH SILVERMAN ’12 AND SISTER AMY ROMANO ’13 AS WELL AS ANDREW’S MOM, PAULA (DIRECTOR OF AUXILIARY SERVICES) WERE IN ATTENDANCE ANDREW AND MEGHAN LIVE IN TORONTO, AND BOTH ARE PURSUING PhDs AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ~ ANDREW’S IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND MEGHAN’S IN CINEMA STUDIES

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Wally Nowinksi ’03 & Anne VanderMey exchanged marriage vows

September 4, 2021 in Seattle, Washington RACHEL SUGAR ’04, CHRIS GLAZEK ’03, JOE GOLDEN ’03 AND SISTER ANNA NOWINSKI ’10 ATTENDED for the last eight years, wally ran the marketing operations for collage.com, founded by joe golden ’03 and kevin borders ’02. they recently sold the company, and wally is figuring out what he’d like to do next.

Ryan Sosin ’03 & Curran Sosin welcomed

Theodore “Teddy” Sosin August 18, 2021 To celebrate his arrival, Ryan wrote a children’s book titled “Me eat a lentil? You must be mental!”

It’s based on an idea Curran’s late father had for an ABCs book about not liking vegetables.

You can find it on

BarnesandNoble.com.

Alex Dickinson ’04 & Joe Weeks

John Mickley ‘07 & Lauren Rivard & two year-old Eleanor

welcomed

Molly Mae Weeks August 26, 2021

welcomed

June September 27, 2021

h

She is named after two of her great grandmothers.

Congratulations to All! 25

KIT PASSINGS SALLY BOOTH It is with deep sadness that we share that Sara “Sally” Booth has passed away. Sally lived — and made — much of The Roeper School’s history. As a beloved matriarch and alumni parent, her influence is incalculable, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to Graydon ’69 and Bill ’71 and their families and remember with great fondness, Tim ‘76.

Most recently, we were honored when Sally returned home to Roeper to celebrate the school’s 75th Anniversary and to accept a Golden Apple Award along with a few luminaries including internationally renowned humanitarian, Bryan Stevenson in 2017. Of that encounter, Bryan Stevenson was noticeably smitten and relayed his great honor of meeting her and sharing this important moment.

Sally began working at Roeper in 1947, a year after graduating from Vassar College with a degree in childhood education. She was part of an intellectually progressive Detroit family; her mother Florence W. Booth helped found the Social Work Department at Wayne State University. Through those networks, Sally learned about Roeper and interviewed with Annemarie Roeper. Sally never heard back until the first day of school, when Annemarie called her and said, “Why aren’t you here?” “Because you never told me you’d hired me.” “Well, I did, so come!”

Sally worked closely with Annemarie in the nursery with the three- and four-year-olds, learning more in a year than in her whole college program. As Annemarie became busier with administration, Sally took charge of the classes. As a teacher, Sally saw her role as a creator of conditions for the child’s learning.

Sally’s life and Roeper were deeply intertwined. In addition to her three sons graduating from Roeper, her beloved husband Fred would help flood the ground below the Hill House to make an ice rink. When Roeper experimented with an adult education program, Sally, an expert cook, taught cooking classes.

Perhaps most indelibly, Sally indulged her mischievous side with her best friends, Roeper legend and school administrator-of-everything, Mariann Hoag.

Over the years, it became hard to imagine the school without Sally. She became Assistant Director of the Lower School, Admissions Director, and eventually a Trustee from 1983 – 1988. She was a respected voice for the core values of the school.

She filled important spaces and will never be forgotten.

LENORE ANCYPA Lenore, longtime member of the Roeper family as a staff member and parent of Donna Ancypa Holmes ‘87, died after a stroke in Port Charlotte, Florida, on February 25, 2021. She worked at Roeper for more than a decade, first as the switchboard operator and later as the purchasing manager. She was the editor of the first Roeper community cookbook, Round the Table, Round the World, published in 1974 as a scholarship fundraiser. Cooking for family and friends remained a lifelong passion.

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Sally Booth pictured here with her husband Fred and Annemarie Roeper.

ANN BOOTH Ann passed on June 28, 2021, at 89 years old. Ann was Administrative Assistant in the Lower School from 1967 – 1979, and parent of Roeper alumni Leslie, Gordon and Brad. She was living in the state of Washington at the time of her passing.

BARBARA HECHTMAN Longtime and beloved Stage III & IV teacher Barbara passed away on May 8, 2021. Barbara taught at Roeper between 1983 – 1995. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Michael C. Hechtman, and her children Naomi Kowalsy, Cynthia Tschumy, Amy Small, and Jason Hechtman.

STEVE HOOD ’81* Steve Hood passed away on August 19, 2021, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Steve was a political analyst, talk show host, and community activist in Detroit who was always looking for ways to lift up the community. His father, the late Nicholas Hood, Sr., was a renowned civil rights leader and a dear friend of George and Annemarie Roeper.

RICHARD LAWSON Educational innovator and former Stage III teacher, Rich passed away on August 21, 2021, in Sunnyvale, California. He taught at Roeper between 1976 – 1985. Rich is survived by Vicky, his devoted wife of 32 years, and children Roeper alumni Richard Jr. ’80, Karl ’82, and Karsten ’84.

DEBORAH STENLAKE ’05 Debbie Stenlake, daughter of Fiona and John Stenlake, sadly passed away on February 24, 2021.

JONATHAN TUKEL ’78 Jon had a distinguished career as a lawyer, federal prosecutor, Michigan Court of Appeals Judge and University of Michigan adjunct law professor. He died on September 17, 2021, and is survived by his wife Sandra Tukel, siblings Susan and Daniel, and children Steven, Henry, and Andrew.

RUSTY WILDE ’72 Rusty passed away from colon cancer on September 5, 2021. Rusty practiced Dentistry in Alpharetta, Georgia and is survived by his wife Elaine, sister and Roeper alumna Candee, and three sons John, Nick, and Brett. Rusty’s mother, Lyllis, taught at the Lower School. He was a cherished classmate and friend to many.

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CLIFFORD WOODARDS ’79* Cliff passed away in a car accident on February 8, 2021. He was known as a brilliant attorney, civil rights activist, and prominent figure in the Metro Detroit community. He is survived by his father, Clifford, his daughter, Melissa Connelly, his sisters, Cheryl Nicholls, Sheila Armstead, and Linda Moss.

PATRICIA FORD WOZNIAK Former European History teacher, Pat Wozniak, passed away of natural causes two weeks shy of her 90th birthday on August 15, 2021, in Portland, Oregon. She was a teacher and college counselor at Roeper between 1966 – 1985. Pat is survived by her children and Roeper alumni, Richard ’76 and Gwen ‘79*.

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KIT

Denita Banks-Sims

Director of Development & Publications

PARTING THOUGHTS 80 YEARS YOUNG! This year The Roeper School celebrates a big anniversary. From a little house in the city to a big house in the country, The Roeper School has always been a home as much as a school.

In fact, decades later, we continue to discover remnants of personal items that blended George and Annemarie’s passionate and practical pursuit of education as a guiding foundation for their life’s work.

A dozen or so volumes of The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child from 1956, landed in my office in the Hill House, and they sat undisturbed for months during the height of the pandemic. As you might imagine, my attentions were elsewhere at that time, and I only recently examined the contents.

From a little house in the city to a big house in the country, The Roeper School has always been a home as much as a school.

When I did open the box, all of my senses were immediately engaged — that mustiness you experience when you reach the rear of the attic … the slight creak of a bookbinding that has not been opened in decades … the texture of encyclopedic-reference volumes … and then the awe of discovering George Roeper’s signature adjacent to the content pages!

The confluence of this quaint gesture of a personal book collection you keep at home juxtaposed by the serious study of the child in that same significant year of 1956 — when George and Annemarie decided to make the then “City and Country” to one of the nation’s first schools devoted to gifted children — left me a little breathless.

We look back on origin moments with reverence and a sense of wonder; there are some occasions that are simultaneously profound and modest. Those moments feel like the very definition of “home.”

Happy 80th Birthday, Roeper!

Please Keep In Touch.

Yours,

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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

THE ROEPER SCHOOL

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO. 16 BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304

41190 WOODWARD AVENUE BLOOMFIELD HILLS • MI 48304-5020

SAVE THE DATE! The

Mariann Hoag Scholarship Dinner

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022 30