pioneer SPRING 2023 PARK
1 Iam excited to share with you the latest edition of the Park Pioneer magazine. This issue differs slightly from those in the recent past, as it centers on a theme: truth and joy. As you likely know, Veritas et Gaudium - truth and joy - is Park’s Latin motto. In this issue, you’ll hear from Head of School Lisa Conrad and President Keith Frome, both of whom share their perspective on the truth and joy they see at Park on a daily basis. You’ll learn more about Park’s Athletic Department and our talented faculty and staff, meet our Lower, Middle, and Upper School Heads, and spend a day in Grade 5. As you flip through the pages, I hope you get a renewed sense of just what a joyful place Park is. I have been at Park for 15 years, but it feels like there is something new in the air this year. Every day, I encounter so many happy, fully engaged students and faculty across campus. That genuine joy is one of the major differentiating factors that sets Park above and apart from other area schools. Not only do our students love coming to school each day, but our faculty love to teach, love what they teach, and want to be here. This combination of truth and joy makes Park Park - and what a special place this is! This issue also contains the 2021/22 Report on Giving, which celebrates the hundreds of alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, students, trustees, and friends who generously supported Park through their donations last year. Thank you to our incredible community. I truly enjoy hearing your feedback. Should you have questions or comments, please contact me anytime at kruppel@ theparkschool.org or 716.839.1243 x130. Many thanks for your continued belief in and support of Park! With appreciation, Kim Ruppel Director of Development PARK pioneer Head of School: Lisa Conrad President: Keith Frome, Ed.D Pioneer Editor + Designer: Kim Ruppel Contributors: Turner Battle, Jason Bird, Lisa Conrad, Amy DiChristina, Keith Frome, Charles Hartney, Jarret Izzo ’03, Harry Lipsitz '10, Omarlla Roulhac, Carl Thompson, Patty Cohen Gelman '66 Printing: Zenger Group The Park Pioneer magazine is published annually by the Development Office at The Park School of Buffalo. © Copyright 2023 The Park School of Buffalo. All rights reserved. No content from this publication may be reproduced or reprinted in any form without the express written consent of The Park School. On the cover: Elodie (12) and her Lower School buddies, Carys (K) and Parisa (K), at Zoo Day, a long-standing annual Park tradition. Page 2: Park’s 4th grade class took a field trip to Niagara Falls in October and learned all about the human history of the falls and the reasons why natural and human geography have changed over the past 12,000 years. The day was capped off with a visit to the Cave of the Winds! A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
2 features Letters from the Leaders Lisa Conrad, Head of School, and Keith Frome, President The Power of Park Remembering Bob Montgomery ’55 Remembering Karen Miller Meet Our Team Truth and joy through the Eyes of Park Faculty and Staff 3 7 9 11 15 21 24 27 30 36 The Future is Bright for Athletics at Park New AD Turner Battle Has Big Plans for the School Faculty Focus Meet Omarlla Roulhac, Amy DiChristina, and Charles Hartney A Day in Grade 5 Content, Collaboration, and Creativity Kadimah Scholars Program The 2021/22 Report on Giving A Year in Review
3 LISA CONRAD Head of School I feel that the true definition of joy goes beyond the limited explanation presented in a dictionary — “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” At Park, true joy emerges as a byproduct of the school’s programs, traditions, offerings, and gatherings when they are at their most robust. For the first time in three years, we concluded the school year last June with a Commencement ceremony under the tent in the Quad without a limit on attendees. While this event has always been a cause for celebration, this year the celebration was amplified because a sense of normalcy had returned to Park. Normalcy is not usually notable, but the lifting of COVID restrictions enabling our return to customary rituals has been palpably joyous for our community. The 2022 Commencement, true to the term, was just the beginning for Park. In September, the entire student body and all of our faculty, staff, and administrators were able to gather for a group photo in front of The KnoppHailpern Center. Late in November, we witnessed the culmination of our theater students’ hard work and dedication when they took the stage for the first time since 2020 for the performance of 12 Angry Jurors. And soon after, we all came together for our Autumn Assembly and heard our amazing student performers sing and play in the jazz ensemble. Our hearts burst with joy hearing all of our students perform together again because we were able to experience this together, in one place, at one performance. The truth is, Park is back. Though Park was able to fulfill its mission while adhering to protective COVID masking, distancing, and cohorting protocols, the Park programmatic model we all know and love has returned. Students will partake in Immersion this year; Upper Schoolers had a blast at a Homecoming dance in early November; and socials are planned for each division throughout the year. The gym is once again rocking with fans for our girls and boys basketball games. Students have begun rehearsing for our spring musical, Mary Poppins. It is because of this and more that I am able to hear laughter, see smiles, and watch the love of learning grow in our students in the context of Park’s full program. Witnessing Park overflowing with activity is truthfully what brings me joy. As we reflect on the impact of the pandemic, we are proud that the team was able to fulfill Park’s mission even within the restraints imposed by COVID. Our faculty’s unwavering focus on the core curriculum enabled our students to continue to succeed and grow their skills. I am so grateful to all the members of the Park community who helped us maintain a safe, healthy, and dynamic program since the start of the pandemic. Though things may have looked different at Park for a couple years during the pandemic, the truth and the joy that constitute the foundation of a Park education were always present, cultivated, and kept safe so that they could burst out and blossom once we were able to reopen. And it is with this kind of truth and joy always at the forefront of my mind that I look forward to the rest of the year seeing our students experience the exceptional learning opportunities here at Park.
4 KEITH FROME President I’ve been asked to write a few words about Park’s motto, Veritas et Gaudium, truth and joy. A few words? How can anyone say just a few words, or even a few thousand words, about two pursuits which, arguably, have dominated the entirety of recorded (and unrecorded) human discourse, thought, and behavior? The nature of truth and the experience of joy pretty much encompass the fundamental questions all children and adolescents are naturally compelled to ask: What is the case? What is really going on? Why? Who is fooling me and whom can I trust? What is happening when I lose myself in play? How can I transform toil into joy? As we grow older, the idea of duty begins to predominate, and some of us put aside the seemingly inconsequential pursuit of truth and the perhaps childish delight in joy. But the residue of those nagging questions about truth and joy lingers within each of us, however buried by the cares of career and family. Park’s motto, though, sealed in perpetuity on the exterior of Hamlin Hall and on our publications and diplomas, is meant to remind (and to haunt) its graduates, like a long finger tapping on their shoulders, to continue to understand that the pursuit of truth is a joyful enterprise that can transform the calls of duty and responsibility into a life well-lived. A few words? I’ll start with truth and offer Plato’s allegory of the cave as an idea of truth that has dominated Western thinking for thousands of years. In The Republic, Socrates argues that most people grow up like prisoners chained to their seats facing the back wall of a cave unable to turn or move. At the front of the cave, a fire burns and objects pass before it projecting shadows on the back wall. For their entire lives, the prisoners take the shadows for reality and never realize that they are just illusions. One prisoner, though, escapes and discovers the true source of these images. The liberated prisoner returns to let the other prisoners know that they are experiencing mere representations, but they cannot comprehend the discovery, for shadows are all they know. This allegory has been much debated as to whether it is a story about appearance versus reality; the nature of art; the effects of political indoctrination; the consequences of poor education; or about the meaning of truth itself. I’ll make two points. First, the story is, of course, not real. It is a shadow itself and its simplicity belies difficult questions about how we come to know something to be true. But Socrates does capture that a lot of people think truth is objective; that truth is something really real somewhere “out there” independent of our minds. In order to apprehend it, we think we have to pierce the veil of appearance that continually fools and bewitches us. Second, if we take the story on its own terms, notice that the person who finds truth is the active learner as opposed to the passive prisoners who live in the cave. The hero of the allegory unchains, moves, darts, escapes, explores, risks, investigates, experiments, discovers, returns, and teaches. This is the kind of experiential truth-seeking and truthseeker I think Park’s founders meant to express when they chose veritas to anchor the school’s motto. On to joy. Many of the world’s faith traditions teach that joy is paradoxical, for you can never experience it. The idea is that joy, as distinguished from pleasure, involves breaking beyond the boundaries of the self and transcending one’s ego. By definition, in the moment of joy, there is no longer a distinctive “you” to – well – enjoy it. You let slip the shackles of your attachment to your “I” in order to experience the ecstasy of unity and oneness. The great saxophonist and jazz composer John Coltrane may have had this in mind in his composition “Joy,” but he goes beyond joy as an isolated experience, locating it in a comprehensive philosophy of living. In his “First Meditations for Quartet,” Coltrane situates joy as one among five movements: Love; Compassion; Joy; Consequences; Serenity. The idea, I think, is that joy is part of a life lived deliberately in service to others. If we lead with love and engage others with compassion, we unchain ourselves from the narrow confines of self-regard and experience joy which brings about salutary consequences resulting in serenity. Coltrane’s swirl of notes and sounds and melodies and tempos help us understand that truth and joy are never that simple and linear. Perhaps truth and joy, to be authentically understood, need to be heard or hearkened rather than spoken or written. But if school mottos are meant to act like life rudders, steering us toward what is fundamentally important, then the two words in Park’s motto, Veritas et Gaudium, are at least an invitation to continually reflect on how and why we do our work and lead our lives and how that experience deepens or disengages our connection to the world and to others.
5 Greetings, Park Community - It is with great appreciation that I write this letter. On behalf of the Park School Board of Trustees, I want to thank you for the incredible support you have shown the school for many years, but especially since 2020. As Park faculty, staff, and administrators navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, our community stepped up in a way that deserves to be recognized. During a time of great change at Park, we saw just how much this school matters to so many people who continue to give generously in both tangible and intangible ways. Thank you. The Park School leadership team is second-to-none, and the Board of Trustees has full confidence and appreciation for the work they do each day. Head of School Lisa Conrad and President Keith Frome have worked diligently to ensure Park’s present and future. Mrs. Conrad has developed and led a team of administrators, faculty, and staff that passionately and adeptly endeavors to deliver the Park School mission to our students on every square inch of our 34-acre campus. These efforts are producing outstanding student outcomes through rigorous, nurturing, and intellectually stimulating academic programs and engaging extracurricular experiences. In addition, Park has tremendously benefited from Dr. Frome’s considerable insights, experience, and perspective. His leadership has been key in the organization's enhanced operational effectiveness and efficiencies. This has been critical to our strategic positioning, which is allowing for exciting but responsible growth opportunities. Serving as a member of Park’s Board of Trustees is both an honor and responsibility that we take very seriously. We stand on the foundation of 110+ years of nationally-relevant history. Therefore, as we do our part in charting the course for a thriving future, we want to ensure the rich history of The Park School of Buffalo thoughtfully informs that future. This is why much of the work of the Board of Trustees over the past two years has been related to structural enhancements and the Strategic Plan process. The development of the Strategic Plan was facilitated by Dr. Frome and involved input from more than 400 members of the Park community through focus groups, surveys, and interviews. This plan has been fully approved and endorsed by the Park School Board of Trustees. We believe it connects the mission, vision, and core values of the school to its future in a way that allows us to sustainably operate in our unique position as a wholechild educational platform. A tangible result is the campus master planning that is underway. This plan will call for capital improvements including but not limited to enhanced technology infrastructure, a home base for our Middle School, a new visual and performing arts facility, and updated athletics facilities. The Strategic Plan also includes growing the school’s endowment, increasing faculty salaries, stabilizing tuition, and continued alignment of all our programs to ensure they carry out the full measure of Park's mission. The last few years have left me more thankful and grateful for all of those that are part of my life, near and far. One special group of people that I greatly appreciate are those I have met being a parent, coach, and volunteer at Park, many of whom have played instrumental roles in developing the organization and are a big reason why it has never been a more exciting time to be a member of the Park School community. Please look out for more updates, communications, and engagement opportunities with this dynamic institution and community. Take care, and see you on campus! Jason L. Bird Board of Trustees President THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Board of Trustees: 2022/23 Jason Bird, President Sheryl Davies, Vice President Gil Dickoff, Treasurer Christie Witt Berardi, Secretary Cheri Carter, Vice President David Draper Brenda Feldstein Guy Gunzberg ’58 Todd Levin ‘86 Madeline Connors Loeb ’11 Joel Moore ’99 David Taylor Melissa Archer, Park Parents Association Rep. Harry Lipsitz ’10, Alumni Association Rep. Lyssa Wexler ’23, Student Rep. Macarena FritzCefaratti, Faculty Rep. Beth Anne Jeswald, Faculty Rep. Ken Peterson
6 BRENDA FELDSTEIN GUY GUNZBERG ’58 TODD LEVIN ’86 KEN PETERSON New Members of the Board of Trustees We are extremely grateful to the following new members of Park’s Board of Trustees for their willingness to support the school in so many ways, including their service on the Board. Brenda Feldstein is an award winning filmmaker and journalist originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil. In Brazil, she worked as a reporter and news anchor for a TV news and entertainment show. In the US, she earned an MBA from the University at Buffalo and founded A Special Story, a production company where she uses her storytelling passion to produce documentaries. Brenda serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Buffalo Jewish Federation and is the chair of LiNK, its engagement branch. She was the Federation’s 2020 Emerging Leadership Award recipient. Her interests include reading (historical fiction and magical realism), watching documentaries, traveling to national parks, and nature photography. Brenda and husband Eric have two children: Eli (14), and Gabi (12), who is a Park student. Guy Gunzberg architected and managed corporate information systems, directed strategic planning at both corporate and information systems levels, and founded an e-learning company. He was an officer at Buffalo’s M. Wile & Co. before moving to Chicago, where he held executive positions at Hartmarx Corporation, Fel-Pro, and American Express Tax and Business Services. He pioneered the industrial use of Computer Aided Design, Sales Force Automation, and Factory Data Collection, for which he holds several patents. Guy was the former Board Chair of the Center for Research in Information Management at the College of Business Administration, University of Illinois at Chicago; Program Director of Textile/Clothing Technology Corporation [TC]2 that developed fully automatic manufacturing systems; and a member of the Uniform Code Council committee that set retail bar code standards. After he retired, Guy tutored Advanced Mathematics at Evanston Township High School, served as a Volunteer Consultant with the Executive Service Corps, and was President of the Rembrandt Chamber Musicians. Guy attended Park School from the age of 4, spending part of his senior year in New Zealand in the first cohort of American Field Service students to study abroad. He took a year off college to sail across the Pacific as Second Mate and Navigator on the Brigantine Yankee, the famous square-rigged sailing ship. Guy was awarded BA and MBA degrees from Harvard University. Todd Levin is the Founder and President of Niagara Metals, a full-service scrap metal and transloading facility headquartered in Niagara Falls, NY with seven locations throughout Western and Central New York. Niagara Metals recently received the Buffalo Niagara Business Ethics Award, which recognizes local businesses that consistently demonstrate ethical conduct in everything they do. Todd has also been actively involved in Buffalo Prep, Buffalo Hearing & Speech, Love Heart and Soul of Niagara, the Buffalo Jewish Federation, and March of Dimes. He is a graduate of the University of Hartford and previously served on Park’s Board of Trustees, with active involvement in the conceptual and fundraising phases of the Centennial Capital Campaign to build the KnoppHailpern Center. Todd and his wife Karen have three adult children: Taylor, Julia, and Connor ’16. Ken Peterson is the Founder and CEO of KXD Consulting LLC, an impact communications and economic inclusion group, which drives mission-oriented capital and inclusive strategies for underserved communities. Through his work at KXD, Ken focuses on finding better solutions at the intersection of society’s most complex challenges: improving educational outcomes, granting access to workforce opportunities, and providing quality, affordable housing and health care. Ken’s clients have included the GE Foundation, Siemens Corporation, Pearson Education, the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation, Norstar Development USA, and the NRP Group. Additionally, Ken has more than 20 years of experience in government relations, public affairs, and community economic development for public, private, and non-profit organizations. In 2020, his passion for African American heritage led him to become involved with civic preservation projects: rescuing and restoring Murphy Orchard, a historic fruit farm near Lake Ontario that had been a stop on the Underground Railroad; and renovating and expanding the Colored Musicians Club & Museum, formerly Musicians Local 533—the only continuously running Black-owned club in the United States. Ken earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Medaille College in Buffalo, NY and graduated from Leadership Buffalo, the Governor’s Leadership Classroom of 1998. He also received honors from Buffalo Business First.
7 MARK W. KARRER '73 CO-CHAIR WENDE MOLLENBERG STEVENSON '97 CO-CHAIR MARTIN J. BERARDI HONORARY CHAIR "Park means...confidence." Parent of Katherine '10 "Park means...acceptance." Parent of Holly '19, Ella '28, and Van '28 "Park means...leadership." Parent of Chris '03 and Andrea '04 Grandparent of Roman '33 In June 2022, the Park School Board of Trustees adopted a comprehensive strategic plan for the school, which we began to implement during the current academic year. The full plan can be found on the school’s website at www.theparkschool.org/strategicplan. As part of the strategy, The Power of Park comprehensive campaign committee was formed under the leadership of co-chairs Mark Karrer ’73 and Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ’97. Composed of alumni, parents, grandparents, and board members, The Power of Park team is focused on the fundraising aspects of the plan for capital improvements and endowment growth. When this committee first convened as a whole in January, we asked each member to share one (and only one!) word that represents what Park means to them. Their answers were nothing short of beautiful and demonstrate the life-changing, enduring power of a Park education. Meet the committee that is working to strengthen and grow Park to ensure that current and future generations of students and families can benefit from this educational institution.
8 KEVIN J. COPPOLA '03 "Park means...freedom." Parent of Kevin '32, Dominic '33, and Gabriel '36 DAVID DRAPER "Park means...empowerment." TREVOR A. CORNISH '15 "Park is...community." GUY GUNZBERG '58 "Park means...creativity." TODD LEVIN '86 HONORARY MEMBER "Park means...achievement" Parent of Connor '16 EMMEKUNLA NYLANDER, MD "Park is...influential." Parent of Amari '28 TRUDY MOLLENBERG "Park means...authenticity." Parent of Wende '97 Grandparent of Holly '19, Ella '28, and Van '28 SPENCER PATTERSON '78 "Park is...select." ANNIE PROVENZO FREEDMAN '72 "Park means...kindness." PETER DOW '50 HONORARY MEMBER "Park is...caring."
9 REMEMBERING Bob Montgomery ’55 Park alumnus Robert L. Montgomery, Jr. ‘55 passed away on August 8, 2022. Bob’s kindness and unparalleled generosity have had a profound impact on Park for many years. He most recently co-chaired Park’s Centennial Capital Campaign, through which his strong leadership helped the school to raise more than $6.5 million, build The KnoppHailpern Science Center, and reconnect with many alumni and friends. A steadfast cheerleader for the School, Bob also served on Park’s Board of Trustees from 2004-2007 and was the force behind many fundraising challenges to encourage more donors to support Park. He had tremendous financial knowledge, imparting invaluable wisdom on all of us at Park, and always ended a conversation by offering to help in any way he could. Bob received the Alumni Service Award at Park in 2013, honoring his dedication to the school. His quiet leadership, incredible generosity, and love for Park have done so much in helping the School to grow, and we are eternally grateful for his many contributions. A few of the people who knew Bob well at Park have shared their thoughts here.
10 Bob was what I’d call a true gentleman. From the moment we became Co-Chairs of the Centennial Capital Campaign Committee, all the way through his detailed and insightful contributions to the Finance Committee of The Park School, Bob was always focused on the best for the school along with an honest assessment of circumstances...said another way, ‘no fluff or wishfulness vs. the facts.’ His kindness, intellect, and vast experience rubbed off on all of us with every interaction we had. Bob was a true ‘Parkie’ and a great one at that. -Martin Berardi (pictured above with Bob) Bob was always generous, modest, patient, and kind. He was a leader by example. -Patty Cohen Gelman ’66 Bob was a man of deep faith and high morals and believed that if we were doing the right things, it would all work out for the best in the end. He was so clear in his convictions and so affirming in his attitude that he made those around him believe that we could do anything. He also had very high standards for behavior, particularly where finances were concerned, but also a deep belief that the right people will get the right results. Bob Montgomery was a central figure in my life as Head of School at The Park School of Buffalo. He was also a model for me in terms of what a true gentleman could be: tough but also fair, loyal, and loving. Those of us who knew him are much better for it. Bob’s legacy goes well beyond us. -Chris Lauricella, Head of School 2008-2018 What a joy and blessing to have worked with and for Bob! He and Marty (Berardi) were co-leaders of the campaign and Bob was always present, positive, a hard worker, a great leader, and a great listener. He was kind, warm, funny, and so incredibly humble and generous. His spirit lives on in all of us and inspires us to be honest, have integrity, and do our best work for Park. -Trudy Mollenberg, Park Foundation Board President Bob made me feel respected and supported from our very first meeting. I enjoyed hearing about his long history with Park, and appreciated that he was always genuinely interested in what was going on. He would ask questions that would push me as a leader and then tell me that he would always be there to help. On a personal note, I always enjoyed hearing about his lovely wife Carolyn, his amazing daughters, and his beautiful grandchildren. I am forever grateful for Bob’s support of Park, and his memory will be cherished and carried on long into the future. -Lisa Conrad, Head of School When I think of Bob, of those wonderful lunches he always insisted on hosting at the Orchard Park Country Club, I think of that rare combination of savvy and support. He would nourish us, nurture us, and also nudge us to always do better and to lead with measurable results. We thank you Bob for the management lessons you imparted - we live them as our living legacy to you. -Keith Frome, President What I remember most about Bob, besides his good nature, hard work, determination, and of course generosity of time and means, is that he was a teacher and a mentor to Park. By that I mean, he was committed to financial support only if, we as a school corrected our past behavior and stayed away from making the same mistakes moving forward. His stewardship led Park to a path of long-term financial stability. He will be greatly missed in our community. -Mark Karrer ’73 Bob Montgomery was a gentle giant: modest, hard-working, very smart, and a wonderful friend and supporter of Park. Together with Marty Berardi he led the most successful capital campaign in Park’s history. Earlier I had the privilege of working with him on The Plan for Park, a collection of goals that Bob, like a good accountant, converted to a set of numbers-driven financial targets laid out on an enormous spreadsheet. It was the most detailed and thoughtful statement of how Park could improve its financial condition I had ever seen. What a sad loss for Park that he is no longer with us. -Peter Dow ’50
11 REMEMBERING Karen Miller Retired faculty member Karen Miller passed away on January 11, 2023. Over her 31 years at Park, Karen held several positions including Director of College Counseling, Grade 6 English and History teacher, Coordinator of the Middle and Upper Schools, Co-Camp Director, and Scheduler, but she did so much more for Park than that. Karen was truly the heart and soul of our school for three plus decades. She got to know each and every one of her students as she walked them through the college application process, answering endless questions while helping every student find the college or university that was the best fit for them. In doing so, she established college counseling as a premiere offering at Park. The school is working hard to ensure her legacy continues through the college counseling we provide to our current and future students. Her work and care positively impacted the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of Park students and families. She was the epitome of Park’s core values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and kindness and will truly be missed. She is survived by her husband, Tom, and daughters Erin '06 and Alaina, as well as two grandsons, and many relatives and friends. Upon learning of her passing, many Park faculty and friends shared their memories of Karen to honor the profound impact she had on the school, a few of which are included here. During my time at Park, and, of course, for many years prior to it, Karen Miller was a mainstay, the person who was always there. I could go into her office any time of day–especially after school and into the evening. (Except when the office door was shut with its intimidating “do not disturb” message. The messages on the door were always more intimidating than Karen herself, who simply wasn’t.) Karen was a listener and a problem solver. She was just there for so many of us. Students adored her. Teachers respected her. Her work ethic impressed us all. We did not even know how she got it all done. Maybe she didn’t know how to say no, more likely she just committed to saying yes. When I first arrived at Park, Karen did the scheduling, among so many other tasks. She was the most sensitive scheduler I have ever known. She massaged the schedule, she tweaked and bent and plied her alchemy, making a schedule that seemed to take every single person on campus into account. We didn’t have to fit the schedule; she tailored it to fit us. I watched her work masterfully with students in crisis, often as she pulled more than one senior from the brink in college counseling or thesis work, or came to the aid of 9th graders who were struggling with leveling up. She had patience in abundance and it was a privilege to work at her side. -Kerry Reynolds, Park Faculty 2007-2020
12 When I started in 2007, Karen was the college counselor, scheduler, academic support person, unofficial school psychologist, and many other roles. You could often find Karen working late in the evening in her office. The only reason I knew she actually went home and didn’t sleep in her back room was because she was also part of the carpool that brought students in from East Aurora. Despite how busy she was, Karen always made time for others. When I would stop by to discuss something academic related, I often left with support for myself. Karen was really good at giving advice, sometimes it was advice from the perspective of a colleague, other times it was advice as a friend and/or mother. I could always count on Karen, just like all of the US students, faculty and staff at Park. Karen was a very kind hearted woman, she will truly be missed. -Adrienne DeGroat, Park Science Teacher So much of what I learned about Park came from Karen. When I started at Park I was teaching English classes in the Middle School alongside Karen. Together, we planned books to read and lessons to teach to the 6th grade students. Karen’s passion for reading, writing, and working with students was contagious. I remember often chatting with her about the books - always with a cup of tea in her hand. Though my role at Park changed, Karen remained a person I could count on for advice or a happy chat. Each year, when Karen heard we were learning about owls in Kindergarten, she would invite the friends to come to her office to see her collection of owls. I will cherish the memories I have of Karen and am grateful to have known her for so many years. -Cheryl Benzinger, Park Kindergarten Teacher I came to Park and was experimenting with some math-art fusion projects which led to an invitation to present at a Jonathon Kozol conference at UB. I knew Karen as the College Counselor, but I didn’t know more about her except that her name came up often and seemingly everywhere. When she heard of the conference, she was the first and only person to express a level of enthusiasm that a figure like Kozol deserves. She shared that she had been inspired by his work throughout her career and it was then that I realized Karen’s depth as an educator in the most complete sense of this title. She felt deeply about the inequalities Kozol had fought against, and she took the time out of her endless school duties not only to attend the wider conference at UB, but also to attend my small talk. Her attendance and her words of support and encouragement meant the world to me and gave me renewed momentum as a journeyman educator aspiring to meet Karen’s levels of dedication and service. -Bill Fedirko, Park Math Teacher Karen was one of the kindest, smartest, most selfless people I've ever had the pleasure of calling a friend. She was also never afraid to tell it like it was, especially if that meant getting a student whatever they needed to be successful. She was a fierce advocate for her students–all of her students–and she gave so much of her time, energy, and love to Park. Karen was one of the people who taught me when I first arrived what it meant to be a Park teacher, and I'll never be able to thank her enough for that. She leaves behind an immense and beautiful legacy, from her own children and grandchildren to the hundreds of kids and adults whose lives were made immeasurably better by working with her. I know she'll be dearly missed by us all. -Charles Hartney, Park Head of Upper School Karen was the most gentle, kind, caring, and selfless person that I have come to know. I had the pleasure of working with Karen at Park for almost 23 years - from the time of my hire back in December of 1997 to the time of her retirement in 2021. Throughout those years, Karen mentored me professionally and personally, offering her words of wisdom without any judgment or bias. She did the same for countless students throughout her tenure. Her office door was a revolving door of sorts, always open for anyone seeking advice or guidance, despite how busy her day was. Karen made physical and emotional space for everyone, young and old, and she had the keen knack of making them feel a sense of relief and calm after their time spent with her. Karen was always quick to lend others an ear or a shoulder to cry on when they needed it, myself included, which was always accompanied by a warm cup of tea. Karen dedicated herself to Park and to her students, spending weekends and late evenings returning student emails and parent phone calls, hosting college app parties, working on recommendations and transcripts, coaching students on metacognitive strategies, and presenting her Road to College seminars. Karen believed in the success of every student and did anything in her ability to ensure that they were poised to do so. Karen was an amazing individual who never tooted her own horn, so I was delighted when asked to present Karen with the Park Pioneer Award during the Class of 2021 Commencement ceremony, an honor awarded to only those who have truly gone above and beyond for Park for a significant number of years. Karen left an indelible mark on Park and on all those who have shared her company, and will be sorely missed. Until we meet again, my dear friend. -Angela DiSalvo, Park Staff
13 My favorite part of my role as Director of Admissions and Family Engagement is being able to stroll among buildings and witness our students, faculty, and community members interact on campus in meaningful, unexpected, and joyful moments. Since the start of our school year, I’m constantly struck by how the school’s motto— Veritas et Gaudium— comes to life on campus each day. One of our school’s great strengths and distinctive features is our unique PreK through Grade 12 program. This means children as young as three interact with schoolmates engaged in the college search. I daresay this benefits the Upper Schoolers as much, if not more, than the little ones. A small child’s joy of learning is palpable and contagious- even to a jaded teenager. One example is our longstanding Tree Project, in which Kindergartners adopt a tree on campus- one that they will return to year after year to study and care for till graduation. Just last week I observed second graders collecting bark and leaf samples from their trees with their senior buddies. By the end of the hour, both seven- and seventeen-year olds gleefully jumped in puddles on the way back from the Pond. Last spring a group of Middle Schoolers discovered that a snapping turtle had made her way up the path from the Pond toward Kimball Hall, making a nest and laying eggs on the footpath. The students staked out the nest and strung caution tape around the perimeter. News of the visitor spread quickly, with students of all ages checking daily for updates. But by the end of June, it seemed hope was lost, with the nest deserted and no baby turtles in sight. The joy resurfaced, however, this Fall when a group of enterprising Lower Schoolers on a nature walk spotted three baby turtles, no bigger than silver dollars, among the reeds. Students across the school celebrated the discovery. Ready to learn more about PARK ? Contact admissions@theparkschool.org for more information or to schedule a private tour. Yet another example is the tremendous success of the Upper Schoolers producing Country Fair— a beloved tradition that had been on COVID hiatus several years. Despite Mother Nature’s lack of cooperation, our students organized and executed a successful event attended by community members of all ages. As I browsed the games and activity stands, I noticed the genuine enthusiasm our students had for creating a joyful event for their community. Spending time at Park, it’s too easy for me to take these scenes for granted. Not every school has acres of nature for students of all ages to explore. Not every school has over a century of history to inform our traditions. Not every school has a motto that’s breathed into life on campus each day. Meaningful, Unexpected, Moments By Jarret Izzo ’03, Director of Admissions & Family Engagement
14 It means so much when alumni choose to send their children or grandchildren to Park. Pictured below are some of the current legacy students for the 2022/23 school year. Interested in learning more about how your child can thrive at Park? Contact Jarret Izzo ’03, Director of Admissions & Family Engagement, at jizzo@theparkschool.org. Front row: Van '28 and Ella '28 Stevenson (children of Wende Mollenberg Stevenson '97); Grace Kregg '27 (daughter of John Kregg '87); Kaylie Birkmayr '26 (daughter of Liz Birkmayr '84); Georgia Nelson '29 (daughter of Christina Leed Nelson '93, granddaughter of Tom Leed '61); Ryan Koessler '31 (son of Lisa Gelman Koessler '93, grandson of Patty Cohen Gelman '66); Keeghan Cook '29 (son of Collin Cook '93) Back row: Roman Berardi '33 (son of Chris Berardi '03); Cecily Izzo '34 (daughter of Jarret Izzo '03); Kevin '32 and Dominic Coppola '33 (sons of Kevin Coppola '03); Emme Koessler '33 (daughter of Lisa Gelman Koessler '93, granddaughter of Patty Cohen Gelman '66) Not pictured: Gabriel Coppola '36 (son of Kevin Coppola '03); Talia Cerrato (daughter of Marnie Benatovich Cerrato '90); Mia Giglia '36 (granddaughter of Elisa Morgulis Appelbaum '84); Charlie Stewart '26 (son of Ryan Stewart '98) LEGACY STUDENTS
15 KYLE POLASKE Art Teacher At Park since 2001 “I see joy when things come together for a student. Whether it be an Upper School student who has worked for days and days on a painting, and they finally finished it and are proud of it, or a Middle school student, who just can’t wait until the next club day to work in the wood shop, or a preschool student who just learned and tried something new, and absolutely loved it...you see the JOY in their eyes!” AMY DICHRISTINA Head of Middle School At Park since 2022 “At Park, I’ve found that truth and joy can be found in the ‘in-between’ times. When you are in the dining hall and see so many different students sitting together at a table and laughing, or when I am walking across campus and a student comes up to tell me that they aced a test in one of their classes. These are the times when relationships are built, when we come to know more about the truth and joy in each one of us that brings us all together." WHO BETTER TO SPEAK ABOUT THE TRUTH & JOY SEEN AT PARK ON A DAILY BASIS THAN OUR TEAM OF FACULTY AND STAFF? WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL PAGES, YOU’LL MEET EACH PARK EMPLOYEE AND HEAR A DIRECT EXAMPLE OF A TRUTH OR A JOY THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED OR WITNESSED ON CAMPUS. CARL THOMPSON, PH.D. English Teacher At Park since 2022 “Early in the semester before students arrived on campus for the day, I was standing in the circle drinking coffee when a family of deer casually trotted past me. In that moment, before they disappeared into the woods again, I understood what makes Park so special.” TURNER BATTLE Director of Athletics At Park since 2022 “Truth and joy is bouncing back from adverse situations and becoming who you were meant to be. Post-pandemic it is so great to witness Park students work alongside one another to innovate and grow into who they were born to be."
16 “My learning space is not just about essays and writing, it is a comfortable place where many students feel they can come to talk, share, or just ‘be.’ Behind my desk hangs a long ribbon attached to which is every drawing, sketch, poem, or note from a student or colleague that I receive throughout the year. Each of these little gems of joy act as a reminder and validation of why I continue to choose to educate at Park!” DESMOND TRUESDALE Pre-K Teaching Assistant At Park since 2022 "An example of joy at Park is how connected the entire community is, from Pre-k all the way to 12th grade. The younger friends are always so excited to see their older friends, and the older friends are just as (if not more) excited to see them!" BOB KELLER Director of Maintenance At Park since 2008 "To me, nothing at Park fits 'truth and joy' more than greeting the little ones in the morning with their yawns and cute stories of what they did since last we saw them!" TANYA OKONIEWSKI English Teacher At Park since 2018 CHELSEA ZINCK Grades 5/6 Teacher At Park since 2021 “Park students enjoy friendships across grade levels and divisions. It is not uncommon to see an upper school student high-fiving a 5th grade buddy on their way to class and greeting them by name.” CHRIS CIECHOSKI Director of Innovation & Technology At Park since 2022 “While on campus I have been able to witness, and hear, the joy that the new playground has brought to Lower School.” BETH ANNE JESWALD French Teacher At Park since 2004 “Joy is watching beginning language students carrying on conversations with each other and realizing that they can actually communicate in a different language!” SARAH SMALL Math Teacher At Park since 2022 “Students pulling together to create a successful Country Fair event in spite of the weather!” ANDREA MARTZOLF Kindergarten Teacher At Park since 2005 “Truth and joy means to live as your most authentic self, doing things daily that bring you happiness and joy, living as true to yourself as possible. Park encourages students and faculty to embrace what makes them unique and celebrates what each individual adds to our community. Individuals working together for the betterment of all makes Park truly a school filled with both truth and joy.” HEX KLEINMARTIN, PH.D. Math Teacher At Park since 2020 “Seeing the joy of the Upper Schoolers greeting each other in the Dining Hall for the first day of school after a summer apart is an indicator of the joy of the new school year at Park.” CHERYL BENZINGER Kindergarten Teacher At Park since 1996 “Watching the annual alumni soccer game before Country Fair this year...there were so many alumni that returned for the game that a few even played on the student team. This speaks volumes about the Park community! Watching all the players play with smiles on their faces warmed my heart.” KEITH FROME, ED.D. President At Park since 2021 “Truth and joy converged for me when my 11th and 12th grade writing students visited Park’s fourth grade to teach them about logical fallacies. I was touched by the older students’ enthusiasm for the subject matter and how they wanted to share their excitement for rigorous logical analysis using visual cues, real life examples, puzzles and games. And the fourth graders 'got it' - as we say in education.” MACARENA FRITZ-CEFARATTI Spanish Teacher At Park since 2017 “In my time at Park, the advisory program is the best experience to live truth and joy. The relationships you are able to build with your advisees and to see them grow as bright young people is a very unique and powerful opportunity that only Park can create.”
17 “Joy is watching the gears working as students dive head first into problem-solving mode, eager to find a solution. I see this drive every day, from exploring an engineering brain bin, to solving an ordinary math equation. The freedom to truly love learning is a remarkable stepping stone into the world beyond Park.” NICOLE GIARDINA Grade 3 Teacher At Park since 2021 “Joy at Park is watching students go out of their way to help one another. It is truly amazing to see their drive for helping others succeed.” JOANNE LEUGEMORS Director of Finance At Park since 2017 “There is no greater joy at Park School Summer Camp than hearing the sounds of happy children singing, playing, and learning from our amazing staff of counselors who are enthusiastic and dedicated in ensuring a great experience for our campers.” JESSICA REASINGER Grade 4 Teacher At Park since 2022 KIM RUPPEL Director of Development At Park since 2007 “Seeing Lower, Middle, and Upper School students candidly and confidently present to the Board of Visitors in October was one of the most powerful moments I’ve ever had at Park. I know the education they receive here instills this confidence, and that is so incredible!” ROCIO KELLEY Spanish Teacher At Park since 2020 “In Spanish, we finish each class by sharing a moment or experience with a partner that creates joy. Taking time to listen to each other creates empathy and compassion for the experiences of others. Sharing your story has the potential to help someone else feel less alone. We also create opportunities to understand others better and cultivate empathy toward them.” CHARLES HARTNEY Head of Upper School At Park since 2010 “When students experience the collective joy of discovering something new together in the classroom: the problem solved or truth unearthed that leads inevitably to deeper questions.” “Truth and Joy at Park is working with a child who struggles with writing to create a beautiful story and then exclaims, 'I am so proud of my work - this is the best day ever!'" KHATY ASSAR Montessori Teacher At Park since 2020 “When three-year-old Gabriel had a hard time in the morning at drop off, he said 'I want to watch mommy beep the horn 3 times, can you stay with me and hold my hand?' We waited together, counted 1-2-3, and waved goodbye. I could see the joy in his eyes instead of tears. With a big smile, he said 'Miss Khaty, I don’t miss my mommy and daddy anymore.'" SHARON SCHULTZ Learning Specialist At Park since 2022 JOHN ZAMOJSKI Science Teacher At Park since 2019 “In most science classrooms students only do a cursory study of the concept of inertia, which is central to one of Newton’s Laws of Motion. In our 8th grade physical science class we spent time outside experiencing inertia firsthand by rolling bowling balls around the Knopp-Hailpern plaza and trying to change the bowling balls’ motion with mallets." “When we had a new student start in 2nd grade, the class sprung into action to help him feel welcomed. They showed him around the class, they helped with transitions, made sure he had company at recess, and have been so kind and welcoming. I can tell that our new friend will also experience truth & joy because of all the good that has been shown to him in just a short amount of time.” OMARLLA ROULHAC Head of Lower School At Park since 2021 PAIGE MELIN French Teacher At Park since 2022 “An incredible example of joy that I’ve seen at Park was at this year’s Country Fair. Despite the rain, wind, and cold, our school community came together to have fun, be silly, and support each other. The smiles on everyone’s faces warmed me up on a cold day!” JOVOHN OWENS Physical Education & Health Teacher At Park since 2022 “The joy I’ve found at Park are moments when students come together to complete a task. Whether it’s getting a task done as a group in advisory or getting a win in a game being played during PE. The results always show how teamwork is truly valued here at Park!”
18 JARRET IZZO ’03 Director of Admissions & Family Engagement At Park since 2021 ADRIENNE DEGROAT Science Teacher At Park since 2007 “It’s wonderful to see our Upper School students working with our Lower School friends in cross-divisional projects. Every year I am amazed when I watch the biology students become leaders and teach our Lower School friends about trees on campus. This is just one of many examples of us living our mission. Our students leave here with the confidence to lead and serve.” BILL FEDIRKO Math Teacher At Park since 2006 KRISTINA SISYUKIN Science Teacher At Park since 2022 “Park has given me the space to learn each individual student’s truth and find a way to incorporate these truths into the class. When students see that their individual experiences are valued, it creates a sense of joy in the classroom community.” BETHANY WARD Choral Music Teacher At Park since 2017 "Joy is seeing my child thriving and learning more than I ever thought possible in Park’s wonderful PreK program!" AMBER ANDERSON, PH.D. History Teacher At Park since 2019 “It’s amazing to see the change Park can make for some students, especially after hearing from their parents about what their previous schooling was like and why they were drawn to Park.“ JERRY MIRAGLIA Instrumental Music Teacher At Park since 2017 “The joy that I observe and feel at Park is the feeling of family with the staff and students. There is a strong sense of caring for each other on campus as well as during events that happen in the community. The staff is incredibly supportive of all programs and are true advocates for students. There is no place I would rather be than right here, right now!!!” ANGELA DISALVO Executive Assistant At Park since 1998 “What brings me lots of joy at Park is the ability to see the wonder in the students’ eyes, the bright smiles on their faces, and hearing all the belly laughs on a daily basis as I walk the hallway of Helen Long.” MARIA JACOBI Performing Arts Teacher At Park since 2022 “I noticed the 10th grade drama class embrace and support one another during a moment of vulnerability during monologue presentations! It can be difficult to perform truthfully on stage; they celebrated everyone’s successes with joy!” DAN LOOMIS Art Teacher At Park since 2021 “The joy I experience at Park is just how wonderful and kind everyone can be. The faculty, staff, and students really go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome. It really is a special place.” “In our after school Judaic club for Grades 5-12 we meet with Holocaust survivors. In one of the sessions I overheard a student say to a survivor, ‘It is hard for me to imagine your experience, but in my heart I feel the pain.’” EINAV SYMONS Judaic Studies Teacher At Park since 2021 “ Veritas is confronting reality, rather than what is merely felt to be true. Our students seek veritas through trial, error, and lifelong learning. Gaudium is confronting that truth in a safe, supportive community that encourages exploration, learning, and play.” MICHAL SHMUEL-LEWIS Hebrew Teacher At Park since 2019 "My heart is full of joy when I walk with my 1st grade Kadimah Scholars students and hear them describing the weather in Hebrew as we sing the weather song. Another great joy is listening to my novice level Kadimah Scholars students reading a short story in Hebrew for the first time." “Even the most rebellious Upper School students become naturally caregiving when our youngest Lower School friends pass by on their way to art or music or the pond. I find both Truth and Joy in these moments when our soonto-be graduates demonstrate heightened love and responsibility for the little ones who are on the same journey they once took. We are, truthfully and joyously, a community of learners.”
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