Colleagues, trustees, friends and family saluted 19 individuals from Spence’s academic and administrative divisions this September at the Annual Tenure Party. Head of School Bodie Brizendine shared tributes and high praise to celebrate the exceptional contributions the honorees make to the life of the School, as well as their dedication to teaching and learning.

 

We invite you learn more about our stellar faculty and staff celebrating milestone years of service at Spence through the Head of School’s accolades.

 

 

 

 

We all know Danny has an old soul, and he was probably born as such. Wise, nonanxious, warm, accessible and ever-ready to lend a hand, Danny is just one of those good citizens of the School who is here for us...here for us all. Whenever he joins me with the parents at those many playgroups, Danny speaks so eloquently about education, about caring, about teaching and always about the children. Better yet is, young students flock to him. They know he will tell the truth; they know that no matter who they are and no matter what their needs, he cares, and they know that he will be there tomorrow, standing tall, eyes on them, a smile just playing at the corners of his mouth...armed with both a huge welcome and the next best book to read. Who could ask for more?

 

 

One of the most important jobs in our schools is the one that keeps us all safe: adults and students alike. Essential, sometimes unsung, always giving, John Ambrose makes everything OK for us. A consummate caretaker with a wonderful sense of humor and a humanitarian reflex not matched by many, John, never easily startled, always steadfast and strong, works under the radar, never bringing attention to himself. Seeing all things is baked into him, and he takes great joy in building that safe home, which we call our School and in building our own sense of security and care. Daily when I see John, it feels to me, that all is right in the world. And who can beat that smile?

 

Suzanne Crow, Director of Libraries and Information Services and Middle School Librarian 

 

Suzanne Crow is one of those people-magnets who draws us all in by her tireless goodwill and her wellspring of knowledge. Heart-stoppingly kind, she seems born under some special sign of goodness, some star that never burns out. Semaphoring “this way for listening,” “this way for understanding,” or “this way for more important information,” the line to her office is long, and knows no age limit. We all line up! For Suzanne, there is no such thing as “half-there,” and no such thing as “we probably can’t do that.” Her mere name makes students smile as they immediately recognize and know personally her ever-present understanding and her truth-telling guidance. If you want some innovation, some wisdom and some high-thinking, some good old-fashioned care, make a space at the table for Suzanne Crow…and then…just watch her sparkle.

 

Of course, we think of Coni Fichera as “Coach,” Coach Fichera. But there is a deeper reason for this moniker than the job-related, obvious one. A coach to us all, Coni’s commitment to the teaching of the how rather than solely the what, her deep belief in fairness and equity, and her bankable dependability call us all off the sidelines and into the game…the right game and always played with the heart of a scholar-athlete. Community for Coni means an all-play with no timeout. And she’ll whistle you in with a smile and that trademark twinkle in her eyes. Part crusader and part wedding-planner, Coni handles incredibly multiple layers of responsibility with determination, can-do power and selflessness. Strong words mark her every day: decency, integrity, hard-working, and she lives these words for the full stretch of our long days: at our School’s first light, first thing in the morning and at dark, at the end of the day.

 

With seemingly boundless energy, Sandra Smith meets the world, and, happily, our School, with curiosity in one hand and joy in the other. A consummate and thoughtful scholar and an avid outdoors lover, she can welcome the page and the road with equal measure, loving both challenge and beauty alike in either arena. Always poised for engagement, Sandra, figuratively and literally, leans in to the conversation, to the work, to the learning. A believer in reciprocity, she’s the first to volunteer, the first to join in and the first to say thank you. With absolute sincerity, she projects a wide panorama of possibility…especially to the students we guide into increasing maturity. They see her and understand what honest and full engagement can look like. And that makes all the difference.

 

Knowing Sally Meisner is knowing a special force for good and a spirit of largeness beyond self. Strong, dedicated, unpretentious, Sally makes a mark in her teaching, in our School and in the world. Just watch her go: full of quiet grace and relentless determination, she moves toward kindness and virtue, like Dickens’ Ghost of Christmas Present who can spread goodwill with a single swish of his horn of plenty. Loving children, loving schools and loving mission, Sally is a teacher of extraordinary talent, putting students front and center of all she does, all the time. We all want to spend some time with her, but understandably you’ll have to wait. Before you undoubtedly are countless Middle Schoolers, all talking at once, all moving toward Sally. Always working hard to be a better version of herself, she is a true model for us all.

  

 

 

How many times have we witnessed Cesar De La Rosa coming to the rescue—any rescue, anytime. How many times have we seen his bright, unbelievably wide smile welcome us, no matter the time of day. How many times do we see him afar with his arm around a colleague or his hand out to help a friend. The man is a humanitarian wonder, the epitome of grace and joy. Part artist, part baseball player and all heart, Cesar keeps us safe and secure, and his remarkable calm and huge embrace command trust, respect and admiration all at the same time. He is in so many ways central to all that we do. Maya Angelou said, “people forget what you do, people forget what you say, but they never forget how you make them feel.” Thank you, dear Cesar, for making us all feel safe and always welcomed, and thank you for your immense goodwill.

 

 

With international recognition behind him, Josh Dorman is an artist of wide critical acclaim. And, perhaps even better than that, he is our own shepherd of creativity in every one of his classes…all the while leading with an ego-free confidence that allows his student-artists their own capacity for surprise and interpretation. Quietly and with his trademark understatement, Josh opens doors, broadens horizons and asks, “what do you see” and “what do you want to make.” His gifts: (patience, calmness, passion and improvisation) make each of his students want to go to the canvas with full belief in themselves and in their power of making. He guides by allowing their space to be the space. Josh’s art includes brilliantly rendered landscapes of possibilities, and I can’t help but think of the magic of his own teaching in our own world as I look into them.

 

 

Wrapped up, all in one package, is the bonanza of gifts we call Ana Silva: a poet, an artist, gardener, activist and parent...often all at once. But her commitment to teaching is one of the deepest I have seen, and she builds student understanding like an architect: from foundation to understanding and then beauty, never missing a step in between. She plans, she revises, she adapts, she redesigns; and her teaching craft is the epitome of that essential suppleness and meet-them-where-they-are momentum. A keen forger of relationships, Ana never misses an opportunity to engage nor one to assist a person in need. She sees it all, and then she goes to it…then she goes to them. With those words of our mission, purpose, passion and perspective, she leads by example, especially in her tireless work toward equity and community. I am a huge fan of her poetry most likely because that very pull of hers to language is the same good force that compels her to life, learning and love.

 

 

Drumroll, please. Don’t hold the applause. And just feel the wattage and hear the voices that make you mistake 91st Street for some celestial body, not of this world. This means that Evan Wels is in the room. This means that something good is going to happen. Who else but Evan can take 10-year-olds and mix them with 17-year-olds and pull forth complicated and sophisticated song as if by magic? Who else but Evan can take us from the edges to the center and back out again? And who else but Evan can stand with his back to a church full of parents and then have every single one of them in love with him when they leave? His worldwide choice of music reflects not only his love for challenge, but also his commitment to global understanding through beauty, grace and sound. Good-hearted, he didn’t skip a beat when last year’s seniors posted a college picture of him all over the School in their appreciation and love. And actually, we didn’t skip a beat either because…he kind of looked the same. 

 

 

Scott Godsen forever shows us what a stronger community would look like…and then he shows us how to get there, working by our side throughout. His unstinting dedication to teaching and learning is extraordinary: one of a kind. And the best part of both of these gifts, community and teaching, is his absolute generosity in never working alone. He has the power of one because he steadfastly believes in the strength of many. As if he had some kind of special magic Velcro, words such as kindness, care and life stick to him. And, better yet, when they do, he just metaphorically pulls them off and gives them to us to hold. He only says no, if he wants someone else to have a turn at opportunity, and he forever makes space in his classroom, in the hallways and in our world for wondering and wandering. Frost once wrote, “No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.” Scott is very much like that in his teaching and in his life: open, surprising and ever-giving.

 

 

Knowing Michèle Krauthamer is to know an uncompromising commitment to moral and emotional growth as part of our charge as teachers of the young. Teaching for Michèle is all about the developmental growth of our young charges where they are, all the while planting road signs to get them going in the right direction. “This way to deeper integrity.” “Take a slight right here to learn more about forgiveness.” And in her wonderful largeness of spirit, Michèle helps us, her fellow companions, to see the wholeness of our work, always leading by example and always teaching. “This way to see why this child needs a bit more attention.” “Take a slight right here to understand the full potential of this young person.” Deep, smart and with a wealth of experience behind her, Michèle loves schools and the people who make them come alive. Her natural empathy is rare, singular, immediate and far-reaching. Her whimsy, her warmth and accessibility are her well-known trademarks, and who among us has heard probing questions making us pay more attention, all the while knowing that she’s got our backs.

 

 

In the afternoon, just when most of us are packing things up, Cristina Hernandez starts unpacking to get ready for her day. It’s almost as if she floats in, sure-footed, calm and with that almost Mona Lisa smile on her face. Her school, our afternoon second and third acts, is just about ready to begin, and make no mistake school is in session. And, like any good division head, everything is ready because Cristina has made it so. With her oh-so-clear and higher sense and sensibilities, Cristina provides wonderful and challenging opportunities for our children and their families whose days and whose appetites don’t necessarily end at 3:30. Part business executive, part entrepreneur and all teacher, Cristina runs her after-school school program with grace, skill and tireless energy. It may look effortless, but it is nothing but the opposite in truth.

 

 

A few days ago at the senior retreat, the advisor groups had a chance to work together in an exercise with balloon design. Their assignment: to create something that represented their group. After a flurry of energy, Anne’s group emerged with a charming balloon hat representing Anne’s trademark flower at the top of her head. And of course, Anne wore it with delight and good humor. I’m surprised that she doesn’t have it on right now. Anne feels things strongly and without hesitation. For her, teaching and program design are windows to the world outside, allowing both a vista and an understanding of the complexity and challenges of what it means to be in a global world. For Anne, there are few U-turns, and her pulse on the politics and history outside of our everyday school day, is strong and steady. She’ll draw you in, and the conversation could be epic, but it will always be infused with intellect, passion and commitment that is Anne. So wear that balloon hat, Anne, and wear it with your joy and delight shining through.

 

When Juan DeLeon commits, he makes it forever and without reservation. That’s why he calls his beloved wife twice a day to see how she is. That’s why Philipp calls him the champion of his crew, and that’s why we, at Spence consider ourselves beyond blessed to have him by our side, feeding us, taking care of us, and making sure that the good stuff of schools is all in order and ready for us to do our thing. And believe me, we couldn’t do our thing if he didn’t do his! His work is seamless, and his commitment, ever-lasting. In many ways, Juan is the center of our mission–goodness of in and of itself: goodness that is never about self, never about achievement, never about acclaim, but always about care, giving and the simple things of this world, like good food and good, consistent, hard work that meets the daily and essential necessities of our day to day. This is what Juan does for us, and this is why we are so lucky to honor him today for his ever-present solicitude and good, good care for 25 years.

 

 

Sometimes in plays and novels there is a character called the reliable narrator…someone who is grounded, who is there in all the corners …someone who sets our compass back to true north and tell us what’s up. This is our Doreen, who with modesty, calm and dependability reaches us all institutionally and often personally every day. She is our solid support, our ambassador, our connector, all in one, and her caring tends to the within as well as the without. For Doreen Lyons, “Spence,” (and can’t you just hear her say it now in that lifting and promising way…“Spence”) is like breathing in and breathing out. She knows everyone’s name, what needs to go where, who needs what message and, literally and figuratively, how to turn on the lights. Find her for your questions, find her if you’re lost, and find her if you want that smile and that always-there answer…“You got it!”

 

Chris Colligan’s office–who goes in, how many come out–reminds me of that old Volkswagen beetle challenge about how many people can fit into one. Sometimes, while in the lobby, I watch one after another leave, and I understand that space, her space, as an important, very important, weigh-station for our ever-hurried and get to “X” world that can become overwhelming, to our children. Her good ministry, her carefully meted out affection and care reach all students beyond any boundaries of personality, age or background. She’s there for them all, and they know it. There is never a one-size-fits-all about Chris, and she truly is the epitome of our motto: “Not for school, but for life, we learn.” She knows everything about New York, the upcoming demonstration for any of a wide host of human rights, the latest best Irish play, the best new novel or TV show…anything. Her breadth is legion, and her interests know no margins. I swear she can see around the corners, and there isn’t a child among us who hasn’t felt her generous care and outreach.

 

I’m not sure I’ve met anyone who can, on one hand, render all the ups and downs of teaching absolutely joyful, and, then, on the other, can quickly snap our focus on to that which really matters. Astute, smart, strong and inviting, Elly Eisenberg, can bring both dreams and realities to the conversation, and she infuses everything she does with her trademark humility and deep self-reflections. When she tells us we must mean what we say, she really does mean “we.” She is the first to share her own challenges as she helps us with our own. With truly undiluted energy, she asks us to join her on her ongoing journey to better community, better teaching and learning, to our better selves. And…who can resist that laugh of hers, that welcome, that invitation. She’s courageous, curious and, happily, highly contagious. She seems to be a sort of realistic optimist who believes strongly in possibilities, and who also knows that dreams take good, careful and strategic work to come alive.

 

 

 

In this, her 35th and last year at Spence, Denise Adorante stands as strong, as kind, as significant, as humane, and significant as she ever has from day one. And as we both salute and realize her pending retirement, we all wonder where we will be without her. And yet, because of what she has built for us in her extraordinary teaching, her illuminating leadership, her adamant commitment to community and her singular love for the everyday in school, we will always have the stuff of Denise with us. And that is a gift, priceless and again, extraordinary in its width and every-day impact. There really is nothing ordinary about this woman: never wobbly, always open, thoroughly dedicated, alive with joy and integrity, and rich in empathy, she is one of our better angels. She’s been our architect, our mayor, our pioneer, our helpmate and our taproot. And for that we will all be forever grateful. There’s a favorite line of mine from Morrison’s Song of Solomon. Pilot, the eponymous protagonist, at the close of the novel says, meaningfully and beautifully, “I wish I had known more people, I would have loved them all.” Denise, our own Pilot in so many ways, lives and breathes this moral call for understanding and outreach to all people…. And that, my friends, is our own Wonder Woman Denise Adorante.