by CADY MAAS
SECTION EDITOR
and ANDERS GUSTAFSON
SECTION EDITOR
As the end of the school year approaches and seniors prepare for college, Chadwick faces the bittersweet departure of several cherished faculty members. Though these changes may be less visible than student farewells, the extraordinary faculty at Chadwick has played a vital role in shaping the remarkable community that defines the school.
This year’s departures include a group of talented teachers, advisors, and overall extraordinary individuals. Those saying goodbye are Upper School teachers Judy Kisor, Michelle and Greg Gerken, Elodie Lynn, Michael Keleher, and Emma Wright, as well as administrators Marian Hersh, Elizabeth Imende-Cooney, and Christe Greco.
Marian Hersh, Chadwick’s director of college counseling, joined the school in 2000 following the recommendation of a friend. Over her 24 years at Chadwick, Hersh has fondly reflected on her time working with students. “I’ve loved working with the students at Chadwick; they’re wonderful people,” she said. “I’ve loved watching students in plays, musicals, their sports, and ChImps … things like that. I love watching students outside the classroom pursue their interests, and I love the way people at Chadwick come close together when we go through some rough times.” Hersh described her Chadwick experience as “extremely rewarding,” emphasizing that she has learned as much from the community as she has imparted.
Elodie Lynn, who has been a familiar face in the Middle and Upper School French departments for the past decade, also plans to stay connected with the Chadwick community. Lynn hopes to continue contributing through substitute teaching or working with an online teaching network. Reflecting on her time at Chadwick, Lynn found her experience “humbling, with a lot of pros,” and cherished her interactions with students, including guiding Middle Schoolers on their inaugural ChIP Week trips to Quebec. She noted, “I think that it’ll probably be hard in the future to find a team like the one we have here, and I’m going to miss my department a ton.”
Judy Kisor, who has also served for ten years, is retiring at the end of the year. As a history and social studies teacher and director of the Center for Ethical Global Leadership, Kisor has made lasting memories at Chadwick, including assisting with Round Square trips, guiding expeditions in Chadwick Canyon, and teaching a sixth-grade leadership course. Kisor remarked, “Chadwick has made me a better teacher because I feel like I have been appropriately challenged by my students asking me questions.” She plans to spend her retirement reading novels, gardening, traveling, volunteering, and pursuing further education in teaching English as a second language. Reflecting on her time at Chadwick, she said, “It has been exciting, challenging, fun and funny. The students make me laugh a lot, which is really good.”
The sentiment of appreciation and affection is mutual. “It’s a bummer because you’re losing them in two capacities,” said Michael Cass, Upper School math and improvisation teacher. “You lose a teacher that’s been so valuable to the students, and then you lose your friend as well. So it’s doubly painful when a faculty member leaves.”
The departure of these beloved faculty members is a poignant reminder of the deep connections formed within the Chadwick community. Their contributions and the positive impact they have had on students and colleagues will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.
The Mainsheet 