May 18, 2023

Dear Columbus Academy Families,

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week, and PACA did a fantastic job of making all the faculty and staff here feel good about their work. To follow the good feelings started by PACA, we are announcing awards given to some of our outstanding faculty this spring.

One of the most wonderful traditions for our faculty at Columbus Academy is the naming of Honorary Chairs – an honor modeled after collegiate recognition of excellent teaching and contributions to the institution. Here, our Honorary Chairs are nominated by the faculty and staff, selected by the Leadership Team and agreed to by the Board of Trustees.

Teachers are considered for Honorary Chairs if they satisfy the following criteria:

• Demonstrate exceptional responsibility to the school and its mission
• Are viewed as a leader in the school with the capacity to bring others along
• Are excellent in instruction
• Show commitment and dedication to Columbus Academy students, teaching and the school itself
• Continuously seek significant professional growth
• Have been full-time in the school for at least five years

When awarded an Honorary Chair, a teacher receives a $10,000 single distribution in salary and an individual professional development budget of $2,500 a year for the three years they hold the chair. In addition, expectations of the recipients of Honorary Chairs are that they will maintain their current teaching (or other) assignment, they will make their classes available for observation and will be expected to be a teacher-leader among their colleagues. Finally, they may be asked to represent the school in a number of public occasions.

The first Honorary Chairs at Columbus Academy were created in 1984 and since then have been added as donors have felt compelled to honor excellent faculty in particular departments or positions.

On our faculty this year, PreK teacher Sarah Penney P’18 ’24 ’27 ’31, History Department Chair Tim Morford ’79, P’12 ’14, and Co-Director of Student Support Services Suzanne Ritter P’11, Ph.D., each have been chosen to succeed colleagues as Honorary Chairs.

In addition, we also have a new Honorary Chair to announce.

The Class of 1971 Honorary Chair and Fund for Social and Emotional Health in Memory of Bobby Greentree

This Honorary Chair will recognize and reward those “unsung heroes” on the faculty and staff whom kids seek out for support, guidance, mentorship and a “safe space” to be themselves. By establishing this Honorary Chair, the Class of 1971 is making visible an exceptional educator who advocates for students. This designation will bring vital attention to the efforts being made by members of the faculty or staff – in any division – who maximize the social, emotional and behavioral outcomes for their students.

The first recipient is upper school history teacher Gerardina Garita.

Complete list of Honorary Chairs at Columbus Academy:

The George S. McElroy ’32 Master Chair in Mathematics (established 1984)

Held by John Detrick ’53, Larry Booth, Mark Daubenmier, Michelle Platt and, presently, Chris Bolognese

The Dedger and Rose Jones Master Chair in Science (1984)

Held by George Carver, MaryEve Corrigan, Joel Davis and, presently, Andy Bezant, Ph.D.

The W. Bolton Dixon Chair in Art and Art Appreciation (1987)

Held by David Block, Scott Neal, Lloyd Cicetti and, presently, Jessica Sneeringer

The Sumner F. Dennett Master Chair in English (1988)

Held by Kevin Morrin, Pat Hogan and, presently, Brianna Stout

The Wexner Chair for Excellence in Elementary Education (2003)

Held by JoAnne Adams, Beth Klug and, presently, Sarah Penney

The Rainey S. Taylor History Chair (2008)

Held by John Exline ’64, Laura Miller and, presently, Tim Morford ’79

The Chair of Student Support Services (2011)

Held by Nyssa Pymer, Brellle Farrenkopf and, presently, Suzanne Ritter, Ph.D.

The Class of 1971 Honorary Chair and Fund for Social and Emotional Health in Memory of Bobby Greentree (2023)

Held by Gerardina Garita

Finally, I want to share bits of news concerning two names you see above: Joel Davis, a former Honorary Chair in Science, and David Block, who was Academy’s first Honorary Chair in Art and Art Appreciation.

This past Tuesday morning, students in Joel’s advisory led him to the dining hall where his upper school colleagues and the entire Class of 2024 surprised him with well wishes for his upcoming retirement next month. Many were wearing a special t-shirt designed by senior Alicia Deng depicting Joel collecting specimens in a creek while holding a basketball and with ducklings following him. The shirts were printed by Homage, the vintage clothing story founded by Academy alumnus Ryan Vesler ’01, who was a former student of Joel’s. You can view the coverage by clicking here.

David, meanwhile, will be delivering the Cum Laude Address at Upper School Honors Assembly later this month. We cannot wait to hear what he and Commencement speaker Sarah Milks Bethel ’98 have to say. You can view the announcement about both year-end speakers by clicking here. And next school year, David will become just the second person to reach their 50th year working at Academy, following in the footsteps of another former Honorary Chair, John Exline ’64.

What a wonderful testament to the enduring legacy of this school that it will soon have two teachers reach the half-century mark!

All my best,

Melissa