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Faculty and Staff Recognition
FACULTY & STAFF RECOGNITION
At the 2022 Board, Faculty, and Staff Awards ceremony, Upper School Curriculum Dean Melissa Freed received the fourteenth-annual Paul R. Cramer Award. This award is given in memory of the former Steward headmaster to a faculty member who best embraces the characteristics of balance, perspective, and humor. Ms. Freed also received a grant to use toward professional development.
Head of School Dan Frank spoke about Ms. Freed’s love for her family and friends, her dedication to all things Steward, and her quick wit.
Ms. Freed “has managed to pull off more areas of excellence than I’ve ever dreamed of attempting,” shared Mr. Frank. “She is an outstanding daughter, wife, mother, dancer, violinist, librarian, teacher, intrepid ‘entrepreneurist,’ and dean.” He continued, “[Her] work ethic is incomparable; she steps in to help everyone; she wants the kids to have spirit and opportunities. She loves — breathes — Steward and is always thinking about it, imagining its future, and her and her family’s life in the school.”
Mr. Frank also cited Ms. Freed’s work as Steward’s Entrepreneurship Program faculty sponsor.
“Melissa has sought out and formed relationships with organizations across the city and worked intimately with the kids to get them prepared,” he said. “I’ve been to all of the final pitches, and it’s incredible to watch our kids confidently pitch, answer questions, and sometimes go toe to toe with the CEOs. Thank you, Melissa, for seeing and meeting the kids’ needs in the classroom, in their personal lives, and in their futures.”
World Languages Teacher Author of Spanish-Language Book
Upper School World Languages Teacher Drew Forlano is the author of “Los ojos de Goya” (“The Eyes of Goya”). The Spanish-language book tells the story of two best friends on a 24-hour chase through the streets of Spain to unravel a mystery tied to Francisco de Goya’s art and the terrors of the Spanish Inquisition. He has also published an accompanying student workbook of activities.
“I started to write this book two years ago for my level-three Spanish students who were at home for distance learning,” said Mr. Forlano. “I pulled on my experiences living in Seville and Madrid for over seven years to set the scene for this young adult thriller. I wanted to write a book with a suspenseful storyline that still let students explore Spanish culture.” Mr. Forlano worked with Lily Chan, a freelance illustrator based in Hawaii, to create the illustrations, and his good friend Cito Lozano Ballesteros, who is from Seville, helped with cultural and language edits. “I also had some wonderful feedback from my Spanish colleagues here at Steward that helped make the book even better,” he said.
FACULTY & STAFF RECOGNITION
CAROLYN R. BRANDT PEER RECOGNITION AWARDS
At the end of each school year, faculty and staff are asked to nominate co-workers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty throughout the school year. Congratulations to the following award recipients!
Stephanie Bowlin, Craig Redmond Cilley, Garrett Compton, Sarah Dwelle, Amy Harris, Mary Hopkins, Katy Koppanyi, Cheryl Lafferty, Janel Nellen, Emily Oliff, Chris Petrie, Ann Robbins, and Jentae Scott-Mayo
FAREWELLS
MOVING ON:
Kate Boyles, Jenn Downey, Lisa Hand, Rebecca Harris, José Reyes López, Mike Mailey, Josep Masip, Diana Niemas, Chris Petrie, Samson Trinh, Sejal Vaywala, Susan Welk, and Jennifer Wilkerson
RETIREMENT:
Katherine Goodpasture, Cindy Grissom, and Chris Lundberg
SERVICE AWARDS
These faculty and staff members were honored for their years of service at The Steward School.
5 YEARS: Karen Ashworth, Claire Bailey, John Dacey, Ryan Gallagher, Rebecca Heck, Mary Hopkins, Khadijah Luqman, Lisa Moore, Emily Oliff, Betsy Orgain, Nan Semmelman, Leda Spencer, Samson Trinh, and Sejal Vaywala
10 YEARS: Laura Akesson, Jennifer Blanco, Barbara Coates, Dena Dickson, Christen Fratter, Heather Jeter, Corbin Orgain, and EJ Watkins
15 YEARS: Dan Frank and Sydney Smith
20 YEARS: John McAlister, Martha Romero, Craig Smith, and Martha Villavicencio
30 YEARS: Leslie Kovach
Caring for Ecosystems in Sixth-Grade Science
For the past three years, Middle School science teacher Claire Bailey’s sixth-grade students have raised brook trout in the classroom, a six-month project that culminates with a spring release into the South River in Waynesboro, Va.
“The project flows seamlessly with my curriculum,” Mrs. Bailey shared, smiling at the river-related pun.
Through months of caring for the trout and their inclass ecosystem (a 60-gallon temperature-controlled fish tank), the students learn about the mutualistic relationships between species as well as sustainability and care for the environment, especially clean water. Brook trout are considered both a threatened species and an indicator species. If they can thrive in a river or stream, then that water is considered safe.
The project began with receiving 200 eggs from the Department of Wildlife Resources in September. The students nurtured the trout through their developmental stages: egg, alevin, fry, and juvenile, all the while keeping observational journals and running daily water-quality checks of temperature, pH, nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia levels. In early May, the students carefully released 50 two-inch juvenile trout to become part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed ecosystem.
FACULTY & STAFF RECOGNITION
Ron Coles Certified by Cornell University in Diversity and Inclusion
Fifth-grade teacher Ron Coles has been involved with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives throughout his 17-year tenure at Steward, most recently as the current co-chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Council.
That work led him to complete Cornell University’s certificate program on this topic. The six-week program required about 15 hours of work per week and focused on four topics: improving engagement, counteracting unconscious bias, diversity and inclusion at work, and fostering an inclusive climate. Since completing the program, Mr. Coles said he’s “more likely to encourage people to consider what they can do to make things more inclusive and then use their voice to speak up.”
This is true in the classroom as well as among colleagues and on the D&I Council.
“I now feel comfortable in the role of leader on this topic,” he shared. “I’m grateful for how far we’ve come at Steward. We used to talk about things on the surface, but now we dive into it and are making things happen. We are focused on better understanding one another. Inclusion lifts everybody up.”
“I’m excited to learn and make an impact,” said Laura Akesson, Upper School science teacher, Bryan Innovation Lab liaison, and newly named 2022-23 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow (AEF). “I love teaching not only because I get to share my excitement for science, but for the ability to create opportunities where students realize their great capabilities and potential. The chance to do this on the national level is both daunting and exciting.”
The AEF Program provides a unique opportunity for accomplished K-12 STEM educators to apply their extensive classroom knowledge and experiences to inform federal STEM education efforts, according to a press release.
Ms. Akesson had learned about the AEF Program several years ago and was fascinated by the idea that teachers could have a voice at the table on a national level. Following an intense six-month application process, Ms. Akesson was chosen alongside 14 other educators for this national program.
She’ll take a one-year leave of absence from Steward to participate, bringing expertise garnered from 22 total years of teaching at Steward, Henrico County Public Schools, VCU, and Zurich International School, as well as leading Science Overdrive, her science education non-profit company. She’ll live in Washington, D.C. for the 2022-23 school year, working directly on STEM resources and programs with the Department of Energy alongside the other Fellows embedded in other federal agencies or U.S. Congressional offices.
Congratulations to Jessica Conley
Congratulations to Upper School English Teacher Jessica Conley, who recently earned her M.F.A. in poetry.
"I value life-long learning and am grateful for the opportunity to work with the talented poets in VCU's creative writing program and grow as a writer myself," Ms. Conley said.
Scan this QR code to learn more about the program.
KATHERINE GOODPASTURE
4th Grade Teacher 26 years at Steward
Katherine embodies the ethic of care at Steward. She is a constant advocate for her students, a steadfast and enthusiastic champion of her colleagues, and an invested and dedicated friend to us all. Katherine doesn’t just love children; she discovers their unique gifts and strengths and then holds them up for everyone to love.”
– INGRID MOORE, Director of the Lower School
CHRIS LUNDBERG
Upper School Science Teacher 14 years at Steward
A beloved teacher of physics, anatomy, and seminars, as well as a baseball coach, arguably Chris’ most lasting contribution to Steward will be how instrumental he was in the creation of the Bryan Innovation Lab, as both a physical and curriculum space. Much of what we all benefit from with the BIL today was the result of Chris’ blood, sweat, tears, creativity, and perseverance in those early days.”
– ADAM SELDIS, Director of the Upper School
FACULTY & STAFF RECOGNITION
CINDY GRISSOM
Lower and Middle School Art Teacher 22 years at Steward
Cindy believed, as Pablo Picasso said, that every child is an artist. She believed it even if the students did not believe it about themselves at first. I could go on and on about the magic that occurred in Cindy’s art room, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the joyful dedication she brought to every endeavor at Steward, from Whirled Peace Days to school plays, field trips, and art exhibits.”
– SUSAN ATKINSON, Director of the Middle School
MELANIE RODRIGUEZ
Founder of the Latino Education and Advancement Program (LEAP) and retired Spanish Teacher 32 years at Steward
Melanie has not only been instrumental in promoting Spanish language use at Steward but also in founding and sustaining the LEAP program. LEAP has positively impacted hundreds of students’ academics and improved their families’ lives, potentially for generations to come; Melanie was their champion and inspiration throughout!”
– DAN FRANK, Head of School
