Each year, Park celebrates the arrival of new students in the fall, and then proudly applauds student achievements and accomplishments in the spring, culminating with the graduation of our eldest students as they launch off into the adventure of secondary school. We will celebrate the Class of 2022 on June 15, grateful for all leadership, curiosity, and passion they have shared with us throughout their Park journey.
On June 22, we will similarly celebrate members of Park’s faculty and staff who will also move on to new adventures after this June. In many cases, these individuals have been part of the Park community as long or even longer than students who traveled the full 10 year journey at Park, and with their long service and dedication, they have shaped the very community we so appreciate. It’s hard to say good-bye to friends who have been our leaders, our partners, and our inspiration for many years, and yet it’s with tremendous gratitude that we appreciate all they have done for Park, and all that they have brought to this community we build together. Just as we applaud the growth and next steps of our students, we are excited for the new adventures our colleagues will undertake – and look forward to their coming back to visit!
First, we are proud to celebrate three colleagues whose tenure of over 20 years each has had a profound shaping impact on Park as we know it today.
Alice Perera Lucey ’77 leaves Park this year after 34 years of service. Currently serving as a Grade 6 Humanities teacher, Alice has worn many hats through her Park career – beginning with that of student, from age four through her graduation from Grade 9. Returning to Park after college, she taught Grade 4 before moving to Grade 6, and has served in Secondary School Counseling, as Upper Division Head, advised students and oversaw Student Council, and redesigned the Upper Division advisory program, all while raising two Park alumni. The depth of Alice’s knowledge of Park is unparalleled, and her devotion to Park’s core values, her colleagues, and her students is even deeper. Carrying the Park tradition of friendship and community forward herself, Alice reminds us of the best of why we are here and why we do what we do. Alice and her husband will be moving to the Cape, where she has deep family roots, and she looks forward to reading, writing, spending time with family, and to finding opportunities to engage with a new community.
Bob Little, Director of Athletics, leaves Park this spring after 25 years. Since Joining Park in 1997, Bob has been dedicated to building and guiding Park’s after school athletics program. Under his leadership, Park has sustained and expanded a vibrant athletics program, and continued making it possible for every child who wants to play sports at Park to do so. He has professionalized the athletics program, recruiting coaches, overseeing the addition of a full time athletic trainer, and implementing the IMPACT concussion baseline testing to support the health and safety of Park student athletes. Over the years, Bob sustained and encouraged the involvement of Park teachers as coaches, enriching the ways students are known, seen, and supported, and he helped launch community-building traditions. Having started his professional career as a coach at both the high school and collegiate level, he has lately been reminded of this by his three daughters as they developed into college athletes, and now looks forward to working with older kids again. Please join us in wishing Bob all the best!
Kate LaPine leaves Park this year after 23 years. In her role as Director of Communications, she has had a profound shaping impact on how we know and appreciate Park. Kate has shared Park’s stories, created landmark celebrations, managed Park’s visual identity and branding on campus and beyond, and has done all this with warmth, humor, an inviting spirit of collaboration, and lots of heart. The parent of two Park alumni, Kate led the rebranding effort and subsequent redesign and launch of Park’s website in 2019, has produced at least 38 Park Bulletins, over 155 Park Parents, countless invitations, email blasts, and Friday Notes. She has collaborated on most every significant event at Park over 23 years. Earlier this spring, Kate decided that it was time for her to devote her heart and energies to her family and to long-wished-for horizons beyond Park. Kate looks forward to returning to the museum sector, where her love of history, creative vision, and passion for education can come together. Given her deep connection to Park and many friendships, we don’t expect this to be “good-bye!”
In addition, we celebrate three more colleagues whose leadership has has powerful impact on the Park community:
Merle Jacobs retires this spring after 14 years as Park’s Director of Admission. Merle has been the driving force behind creating the vibrant Park community of students and families we so appreciate. Working in partnership with Jonathan Prosky, Merle has been the first person to greet Park families, getting to know them and their children and helping them get to know Park. A founding member of the Great Boston Lower School Diversity Consortium, she has led Park’s effort to attract families of color, increasing the number of students of color from 31% to a high of 44%. She worked with peer schools to create the Common Parent Statement, making it easier for families to apply to multiple schools, and when COVID-19 fundamentally disrupted the ways in which schools could meet families and evaluate students, she and her team redesigned the entire admission process to be a virtual one. Merle is the proud parent of a Park alum, and looks forward to more time with her family in her retirement. Please join us in wishing her well in the journey ahead.
Bea Sanders leaves Park School this spring after eleven years as Park’s Director of Development, and has accepted the position of Chief Advancement Officer at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, MA. Throughout her Park tenure, Bea has been a transformative leader in the life of the School, growing the culture of philanthropy at Park, expanding Park’s capital, principal, and major giving programs, and building a strong, collegial team of professionals dedicated to the philanthropic advancement of the School. Bea led two successful capital campaigns at Park – “Park21,” which raised $16 million in support of academic innovation and programs, and SPARK, a three-phase building and endowment campaign in support of Park’s Strategic Plan and Campus Master Plan. A highly regarded member of the greater Boston development community, she serves as a leader and mentor to many. Bea is excited to return to working at the secondary school level, and looks forward to getting to know a new school community with a strong boarding component, and to building a fundraising program centered around alumni of all ages and geographic regions.
Eric Chapman, Park’s Assistant Head of School for Academics and Program since 2019, has been selected to serve as the next Head of School at Pine Cobble School in Williamstown, Massachusetts, effective July 1, 2022. While a loss for Park, it’s a wonderful opportunity for Eric, who has proven himself to be a thoughtful and steadfast educational leader. From curricular and instructional review to faculty recruitment to the essential planning that has supported Park’s response to COVID-19, Eric has been a valued partner in driving Park’s journey forward. We are grateful for his partnership, and are excited for his next chapter. Please join us in congratulating Eric, and thanking him for all his hard work over these last three years at Park.
In addition, the following members of the Park Faculty and Staff are transitioning from Park this year:
Diana Bateman is retiring after 11 years of service. Diana joined Park’s Academic Support team as a math-focused learning specialist in 2011, and countless students have benefitted from Diana’s dedication to her craft and her unwavering belief that all students can grow their skills as mathematicians and approach math with confidence. We wish her all the best in her next chapter!
Joeimy Bloom, Park’s Director of Health Services, who joined Park this past winter, is expecting her first child in July, and she is looking forward to spending the year ahead at home with her child. We are grateful to Joeimy for all her contributions to the School this year and hope our paths cross again in the future.
Shakera Bramwell came to Park in the fall of 2020 to support the Division offices and served this year as assistant to the Lower Division office. She departed this spring with the plan of exploring other opportunities out of state.
Jamie Byron joined Park as Director of Alumni Relations in February 2016, and leaves Park this June to begin a new opportunity with The Rhodes Trust. We are grateful to Jamie for all her efforts in building a warm and gracious alumni relations program and wish her the best in her exciting new role.
Sarah Carter, Park’s Director of Human Resources since 2019, left Park earlier this year for a role in a collegiate setting. During her time at Park, Sarah broadened the role of human resources, providing support to employees throughout their journey at the School in every area from onboarding and benefits to arranging for employee COVID vaccination last fall. We wish her the best of luck in her new role.
Cecilia Chen, a four-year member of Park’s Business Office, left Park this winter for a new opportunity as Senior Accountant at a higher education institution. We are thankful for all of her contributions to our accounting practices and her support of the School’s financial aid program, and hope all is well in her new endeavor.
Theresa Coffeen, Grade Five Humanities teacher, leaves Park after four years’ service as she relocates to the Washington, D.C. area to be closer to extended family. She has accepted a new position at The Potomac School. Safe travels and best wishes, Theresa!
Amanda Goodman served as a valuable member of the Lower Division team, supporting our Kindergarten and Grade 1 programs in a variety of roles since 2018. Having completed her most recent role as a parental leave replacement earlier this year, she looks forward to a new, full-time position at BB&N in the fall. Congratulations, Amanda!
Jamie Gunther leaves Park this year after three years as a member of Park’s music faculty. Having recently completed his graduate work, Jamie has accepted a new role as Assistant Director of Teacher Education at Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. Best of luck, Jamie!
Taylor Holland, a four year member of Park’s PreK team, leaves Park this year as well to move closer to her family. Taylor brought her warmth and love for music to each and every student in PreK. Taylor will continue to pursue her love for music on the west coast, and will be missed dearly by her PreK family. Best wishes, Taylor!
Audrey James, who joined Park’s Development team in December 2017 and has served as Manager of Development Operations, supporting all aspects of the department’s work, has accepted a new role as Director of Annual Giving & Events at The Steppingstone Foundation. Thank you, Audrey, for all your efforts on behalf of Park!
Victoria Lee, a member of the Upper Division Math team since 2019, leaves Park this year, having spent her most recent time as a 6th grade math teacher and advisor. Victoria has a passion for helping students see math in real life, and she always loved developing and facilitating projects, new and old, for her 6th grade students. Her dedication and planning showed in all aspects of her work at Park, and we wish her all the best on her next adventures!
Lachelle McKinley-Connor, who joined Park last year as Controller, has accepted another position closer to home and leaves Park at the end of the academic year. Lachelle has brought systems and strong processes to the School’s accounting that will serve as a lasting contribution to the School. We wish her the best in her next steps!
Liz Miller, Grade 2 teacher since 2017, has also decided to leave Park, having recently welcomed an addition to her family. Liz has been a collaborative and joyful member of the Grade 2 team, sharing her great love for teaching poetry. A two-year participant in Park’s faculty/staff SEED group, she helped lead the parent SEED cohort this year. She also loves baking and the outdoors and is excited to start the next phase of her life with her growing family in more rural western Mass!
Heather Offen has served Park since 2008 as a member of the Upper Division science department and as leader of the Growth Education Department. Heather has been a great mentor to students both in the classroom and on the playing fields as a coach. She will relocate to the DC area this summer to be closer to family, and is beginning a new job at Holton-Arms School in Potomac, MD. All the best for the next adventure, Heather!
Stephanie Waterman joined The Park School in September 2020 as a member of the World Languages department, teaching French. She leaves at the end of the 2021-22 academic year to pursue graduate studies. We wish her all the best in her next chapter!
