Country School Recognizes Excellence in Teaching through Endowed Chairs
New Canaan Country School celebrated excellence in teaching by naming three faculty chairs on Sept. 30, 2016 at a special Centennial event, “An Evening to Honor Faculty & Staff.” Beginners teacher Jeannie Staunton Bean ’83, second grade teacher Abigail Manny Newport ‘89 and eight grade English and History Teacher Will McDonough were presented the awards by Head of School Rob Macrae in front of hundreds of current and former faculty and staff members. Two of the three recipients of the chairs are Country School alumnae themselves.
Endowed faculty chairs are awarded every two years as a way to promote teaching excellence. The awards have been endowed by three former Country School families: the Holmes Family, the Laverack family, and the Williams Family. The chairs recognize exceptional full-time faculty who demonstrate a commitment to engaging and inspiring students, creating curriculum to reach all learners, and seek ongoing professional development. They also provide financial support above and support faculty teaching growth in academic research, teaching or service.
The Williams Family Faculty Chair was established in 2008 by Joanna and Robert Williams, P ’14.
Jeannie Staunton Bean ‘83 started in the Beginners program in 2008 as an Assistant Teacher. In 2011, she moved into her current role as a Lead Teacher.
She served as Co-Chair of the English department from 2014-16. “Jeannie is a masterful teacher who artfully weaves her deep understanding of child development with a commitment to helping children grow,” said Dr. Macrae
Colleagues describe her as “open, flexible and thoughtful, a force of positivity and light.” They admire her for her intentionality and perspective, understanding of the larger arc of child development, curiosity and desire to learn more about educating children, and daily practice in the classroom.
The Laverack Family Faculty Chair was established in 2008 by Cory and Bill Laverack, former President of the Board of Trustees P’03, P’07, P’08, P’11
Will McDonough joined Country School in 2008 as an Upper School English and History Teacher and coach. He now serves as the History Department Co-Chair and as an eighth grade coordinator. Mr. McDonough is also an accomplished distance runner and cross country coach.
“Will is a believer in world citizenship. He teaches it and he models it,” said Dr. Macrae.
As his colleagues shared, “Will always strives to be better ... better for the kids he teaches; and better for the colleagues he works alongside. He is relentlessly optimistic in his professional life, and students respond to that feeling strongly.”
The Holmes Family Faculty Chair was established in 2008 by Max Holmes, P’10, P’11 and P’13.
Abigail Manny Newport ’89 has been a second grade teacher at Country School since 2007.
“She is a master teacher who is caring, hard-working and devoted to meeting the needs of her students,” said Dr. Macrae. “Her classroom runs with a balance of structure and fun that enables each child to feel known and loved. Abigail is an early adopter of integrating technology seamlessly into her classroom and sharing her expertise with her colleagues. Through differentiated math and literacy stations, she ensures that every student’s program is personalized to challenge and engage.”
In the words of her fellow teachers, Mrs. Newport is “a fabulous colleague and mentor, smart as a whip, thoughtful, fair, and on top of all that, humble.”
Previous Recipients:
2014-2016
Kathy Kravec, The Holmes Family Faculty Chair
Kathy Kravec, The Holmes Family Faculty Chair
Liz Pepe, The Laverack Family Faculty Chair
Kristin Quisgard, The Williams Family Faculty Chair
2012-2014
Lauren Romeo, The Holmes Family Faculty Chair
Lauren Romeo, The Holmes Family Faculty Chair
Caryn Purcell, The Laverack Family Faculty Chair
Aron Back, The Williams Family Faculty Chair
2010-2012
Carin Walden, The Holmes Family Faculty Chair
Carin Walden, The Holmes Family Faculty Chair
Fraser Randolph, The Laverack Family Faculty Chair
Gretchen Tapscott, The Williams Family Faculty Chair
2008-2010
Melissa Heus, The Holmes Family Faculty Chair
Melissa Heus, The Holmes Family Faculty Chair
Sue Friborg, The Williams Family Faculty Chair
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
