The Masters Community Recognizes Faculty Contributions

Ms. Danforth presented three faculty awards, each with a term of three years, during the annual event, which took place on Friday, September 21 on Graduation Terrace.

 

These awards were conceived in the 1960s and 1970s, leading up to the School’s 100th Anniversary in 1977. “Masters parents and alumnae/i felt it was their duty to pay forward the great education and experiences they had at Masters,” explained Ms. Danforth. “They wanted their school to remain strong and viable for the next 100 years, and wanted these faculty awards to be used to acknowledge and strengthen our hardworking teachers.”

Abdoulaye Ngom, a modern and classical languages teacher in the Upper School, received the Illinois Fund for Languages award. William M. Collins, former Masters trustee and board treasurer, spearheaded the Illinois Fund. The name of the fund is derived from the 10 Chicago-area donors who established the fund over several years.

Hank Kim, a mathematics teacher in the Upper School, received the Parvin Fund for Mathematics award. Mr. W. Rodman Parvin was a member of The Masters School board of trustees from 1942 to 1957. The fund was initiated by John P. Stevens, Jr., following the death of Mr. Parvin in 1962.

Frank Greally, Chair of the Upper School’s Science Department, received the Margaret Coulter Fund for Science award, which was conceived in the 1960s. Margaret Coulter attended The Masters School from 1900 to 1903 and served as a class representative until her death in 1967.

Jason Hult, Urban Core teacher and curriculum design leader at CITYterm, received the Lightner Fund for History award, which was conceived in 1963 by Eleanor Lightner Frazier, Class of 1912, and Margaret Lightner Billings, Class of 1939, to honor their family’s legacy.

Representing the Middle School, Katie Meadows, Coordinator of Performing Arts and sixth grade dean, received the Centennial Fund award. The award was created in honor of the School’s 100th anniversary in 1977. Parents of the Class of 1977 raised funds to create this special award to recognize an outstanding member of the faculty whose love of teaching and excellence in the classroom rises above the norm.

Ms. Danforth also recognized three members who continue to hold awards.

Jennifer Carnevale, Chair of the Department of Performing Arts, is in her third year of a three-year term of the Louise Harkness Lawrence Chair for Music. Ellen Cowhey, Upper School history and religion, and journalism teacher, is in the last year of a four-year term of the Jane Rechtman Faculty Chair. Marianne van Brummelen, an Upper School mathematics teacher, is in the last year of a four-year term of the Maureen Fonseca Faculty Chair for teaching excellence.