WITHGratitude

In June, Bessie Speers completes her tenure as Head of Tower Hill School, graduating with the Class of ’23 to her next challenge at Middlesex School in Massachusetts. She leaves with the deep gratitude of our community and a long list of enduring accomplishments. Bessie made Tower Hill better than it was the day she arrived—no small feat at a school that has been admired for a century.

Early in her time here, Bessie promised that Tower Hill would be “bold in our vision, while also being humble enough to know that we can always grow and stretch ourselves to be even stronger as a school.” By any measure, she delivered on that promise. And lest we forget (as much as we’d like to), much of this progress was made in the face of a global pandemic, with schools at the center of the impassioned national debate about how best to meet the challenge.

Perhaps more important than the achievement of her tenure is the way in which she led—with presence, persistence and principle.

“Stunning” Progress

In June 2020, the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools accreditation committee described the growth in just five years as “stunning.” Mrs. Speers would rightly insist that many others had hands (and brains and heart) in all that was achieved. But it is hard to imagine the breadth and pace of this progress without Bessie’s leadership. The reviewing committee noted:

A strategic plan process that included broad community involvement

Improved safety measures and protocols around campus

Dynamic new program offerings

Great strides in the areas of academic technology, technology planning and technology infrastructure

A more unified school-wide message of who Tower Hill is and what it aims to accomplish

A greater investment in professional development and opportunities for faculty growth

Efforts to create a more open and transparent community

A renewed emphasis on fundraising from multiple sources

These initiatives were not for the sake of “accreditation,” but rather to make Tower Hill a better school for current and future students and teachers, consistent with the vision of the founders, the Board of Trustees and the Head of School. As significant as the initiatives are, there have been many other related achievements:

Since Bessie Speers’ arrival, Tower Hill’s enrollment has increased by 21%. Enrollment is the foundation of an independent school’s strength. Tower Hill has earned a stellar reputation, but increasing enrollment also requires a high-quality, current program, delivered by excellent teachers, in a dynamic environment. Bessie’s work enhanced all those elements—and her talented team made sure word got out to potential new families.

To accommodate the growth and changing needs of students and teachers, Tower Hill significantly expanded and reoriented its facilities. In less than eight years, the school planned and completed the Kullman Dining Commons and servery renovation, the Experiential Outdoor Classroom, the Neela Patel Center for Innovation (aka, THE Hub), an updated Admissions suite, a new turf surface on DeGroat Field, a hardwood flooring upgrade in the Field House, an advanced fire/ safety system and meaningful enhancements to Tower Hill’s technology.

Bessie’s vision for the school and demonstrated progress toward realizing it won the financial support of current families, alumni and friends. As a result, Tower Hill’s Annual Fund increased 36% during her tenure. These gifts to support the school’s current programs were part of a larger capital campaign to celebrate Tower Hill’s Centennial in 2019. That campaign was the most successful fundraising effort in the school’s history, raising nearly $25 million, which was $5 million over the goal.

Financial aid to students rose 74% since 2015, due in large part to Bessie Speers’ goal to improve the accessibility of a Tower Hill education to all well qualified students. From her first day on the job, Bessie understood the imperative, and value, of increasing the school’s financial aid budget and worked with the board to make it a priority.

Increased availability of financial aid

A stabilized, growing enrollment

Significant investments in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs

More meaningful engagement in the surrounding community

Significant investments in STEM

Creation of a robust Teaching and Learning Center

Bessie’s commitment to Tower Hill’s mission to “prepare students from diverse backgrounds for full and creative engagement with a dynamic world” is evidenced by the 43% increase in student diversity. Her aspiration that “Tower Hill should be a school of Wilmington and of the world” is now well known and within reach, thanks to many of the initiatives she encouraged. These include the Global Initiatives Program and Global Scholars Certificate, a Teaching and Learning Center, the ADVIS/MCRC regional conference hosted at Tower Hill, the school’s Social Justice Program, and Horizons at Tower Hill, to name a few.

Recognizing “teachers are [Tower Hill’s] backbone, carrying out the school’s mission each day with academic rigor, compassion and good humor,” Bessie championed a 100% increase in Tower Hill’s professional development budget for the ongoing growth, recognition and support of its faculty.

While a steward of Tower Hill tradition, Bessie encouraged innovation in the curriculum, leveraging the latest techniques and technology, and oversaw the expansion of the academic programs to meet the demands of 21st century learners. Among the enhancements were the creation of The Teaching and Learning Center (TLC), the expanded Wellness Center; the Global Certificate program; Scottish, Danish and Australian exchanges; environmental stewardship initiatives; student-led service and social justice boards; Tower Term; the Penn Social Innovators Program; and robotics, economics and computer science offerings. The school’s commitment to rigor was reaffirmed, enhanced by a keener understanding of the importance of “heart and balance”—always a focus for our 10th Head of School.