Getting Ready for Celebrations
Source/Author: Mike Murphy, Headmaster
May 05, 2017
The Board knows. The faculty and staff know. The past Heads of School, Mary Booker Wall and Bruce Haskell, know. Many of the parent/guardian leaders of our school community know. I especially know that the well-deserved and planned retirement of Karen Bruggeman marks the beginning of a new stage of her life and a formal end to one of the most impactful “behind the scenes” careers ever at Shorecrest.
Karen’s impact is beyond her 30 years of service. The way she has used her huge heart to support, honor and embrace the members of this community modeled interpersonal leadership for all to see. Her dedication to order, timeliness and perfection allowed individuals and our school shine. Many of the exemplary comments Shorecrest received during the recent accreditation review can be credited to the work Karen has done for our school. Karen will continue to serve our community by working on our archives but her daily presence will be missed. We are looking forward to having the very talented Julie Meyer move into the position of Administrative Assistant to the Headmaster and Secretary to the Board of Trustees.
Richard Beaton, like Karen, will “retire,” but has agreed to come back and teach a semester of economics in the spring semester. Like Karen, Richard arrived at Shorecrest in 1987. Students continue to consider him was of the best teachers they have ever experienced. Richard retires while still at the top of his field. He has been an international ambassador for our school. He founded the Global Scholars Initiative, chaired the history department and has served as Dean of Faculty with distinction. Richard has been a go-to person for generations of students, teachers parents and guardians. Shorecrest is a better school because of his service.
Similarly, there will be no replacing Betty Gootson or “the lady in the red dress” who has greeted generations of Shorecrest students. Betty evolved from master teacher to master administrator. Teacher, counselor, therapist, coach, housekeeper… Betty does it all! The Experiential School is one of the hallmarks of Shorecrest because of her passion for the education of young children, their teachers, and their families. She leaves the school ready for Dr. Danyali, Dr. Bianco, Mrs. Craft and the faculty to provide the highest quality of early childhood education in the Tampa Bay Area.
Other superstars who have engaged, educated and connected with students for 20 or more years include Lee Ahlin, Mal Ellenburg, Amy Raab and Cary Powers. Each has left a lasting mark on our students. All four have changed the lives of students and provided them with inspiration for future success. We salute them.
Our Assistant Head and Director of Advancement, Adrianne Finley Odell, will assume the Head of School position at Roycemore School in Evanston, Illinois. We are thrilled that she has achieved an aspirational goal but will miss her passion and good work for our community.
Sue Rowe, our Lower School art teacher, who was a member of the first Shorecrest graduating class will move on to a new stage of life. The Lower School will also see our trusted Administrative Assistant, Debbie Becker move to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. And our dedicated school nurse, Marie Excellent, will continue her career at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and spend more time with family responsibilities.
The Experiential School will see both Wendy Jotch and Robin Wiltshire pursue other life and career options. Middle School will say farewell to Steve Brelsford and Harry Powers who have found positions on the other sides of the bridges. From Upper School, Daniel Asad and his family will relocate to Korea and Mr. Perrine to Montana to be closer to his family.
We have not experienced this much turnover with colleagues since 2008. While there will be special celebrations and acknowledgments for all those who are departing as well as those who will be joining our community, our focus is primarily on the celebrations for the Class of 2017.
The Senior Send-Off Lunch, unveiling of the class banner and class bricks in alumni walkway and Grad Bash took place last week. On May 12, the seniors, wearing the shirts of the college and universities they will attend, will take one “last walk” of the campus and will be recognized by the Upper School, Middle School, Lower School and Experiential School children. This is our first time to try a “Last Walk.” I am hopeful it will become one of the memorable traditions as the years pass.
Our job is to prepare people for the next stage of their education and life. Our seniors are moving on to fabulous universities. Even with only 76 members, they have been awarded more scholarships and significant honors than any class before them. I expect Baccalaureate and Commencement to be the beginning of many great celebrations the graduates will experience in the coming years. Likewise, I trust our departing colleagues will experience joy in success in all of their future endeavors.
Cheers!
Mike
