Bill Montgomery

Enthusiasm Table of Contents Susan B. Lair, Ph.D. Message From the Head of School ..................................................................................................2 Head of School 2008–09 Board of Trustees ...........................................................................................................3 The Reverend Stuart A. Bates The Courage to Start: Carol Porter, J.D. ..........................................................................................4 Rector Incoming Board Chair: Bill Montgomery ..........................................................................................4 Endowed Investing: John H. Duncan Jr. ’69 ....................................................................................5 Carol Porter Board of Trustees Chair, 2006–09 Strategic Financial Planning: Patricia N. Turner, J.D. ........................................................................6 Report of Gifts and Sources ............................................................................................................7 Don Hicks Associate Head of School and Gifts to Annual Fund ......................................................................................................................8 Director of Physical Education and Athletics By Contribution Category .............................................................................................................9 By Student Classes .....................................................................................................................14 Colleen Curran Grandparent Gifts ......................................................................................................................19 Head of Middle School Alumni and Alumni Parent Gifts ..................................................................................................22 Faculty and Staff Gifts ................................................................................................................23 Nancy Church Head of Lower School Special Gifts to St. Francis ............................................................................................................24 Library Club ................................................................................................................................26 Michelle Symonds Woolrich Fund for Faculty ............................................................................................................27 Head of Primary School Class of 2009 ..............................................................................................................................29 Vance Ulsh Alumni News ...............................................................................................................................33 Head of Business and Operations Ways to Give ................................................................................................................................39 Bridget Hennessey Head of Institutional Advancement 335 Piney Point Road • Houston, Texas 77024 • Phone: 713.458.6100 • www.sfedshouston.org St. Francis Episcopal Day School Susan B. Lair, Ph.D., is the head of St. Francis Dear Friends of St. Francis, Episcopal Day School. Before being named to this position, she served as head of upper school at St. As a former math teacher and lifelong logician, I’ve always Thanks to your generosity, we launched our SMART Board Mary’s Hall in San Antonio. Her background also taken comfort in the fact that some things in life are com- project; our students are benefiting from additional class- includes service at Fort Worth Country Day School pletely predictable. No matter what the stock market is room supplies and support, scholarships, and the chance and in both the Fort Worth Independent School District and the Bryan Independent School District. doing or the weatherperson is announcing, two plus two to enter and participate in national academic competi- Dr. Lair earned her doctorate in education adm- will always equal four; the sun will always rise in the east; tions; our faculty members have become even better teach- inistration and finance from the University of and if a tree falls in a hurricane, it won’t hit the building ers through valuable, pertinent training opportunities; and Texas at Austin. She also holds a master’s degree that most needs replacement. I recently came across a quote much, much more. in mathematics education from Texas Christian by Wayne Dyer about something equally predictable: Just as University and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics squeezing an orange produces orange juice—because that’s There may not be many things in life that are truly certain, and physical education from the University of but of this at least I’m sure: It is because of you that we are North Texas. Dr. Lair is married to her high what’s inside—“When you are squeezed, what comes out is school sweetheart, and together they have three what is inside.” able to cultivate enthusiasm in each and every St. Francis children and three grandchildren. student and offer them an education that is truly extraor- Our theme for the 2008–09 academic year was “Enthusi- dinary. I am honored to serve you as head of school, and I asm,” a word derived from the Greek “éntheos,” meaning thank you for your generosity and support. “God within.” As stresses such as a powerful hurricane, crippled stock markets and various financial worries put pressure on our school’s community, we were all squeezed. Sincerely, But instead of the bitterness, frustration and parsimony that would have been justifiable under the circumstances, I was so impressed to see that what was “squeezed out” was compassion, strength of character, fortitude and generosity. In fact, in a year when many schools struggled to make ends meet, the St. Francis community boosted our school Susan B. Lair, Ph.D. past its goals with $729,251 in Annual Fund donations and Head of School $935,306 in total gifts. “He who possesses the source of enthusiasm will achieve great things.” –I Ching All divisions took part in clean-up efforts after Hurricane Ike. Pictured at right are three related projects: (Top) The award-winning Gale Force team tackled the hefty issue of deforestation as participants in the Lexus Eco Challenge, (Middle) Lower School students picked up around campus and the Baptist church lot, and (Bottom) the seventh grade went to Galveston to assist in clean-up effort. 2 2008–09 Board of Trustees As a parish school, St. Francis Episcopal Day School is governed by a board of trustees. The makeup of the board is dictated by its bylaws, and it is led by the rector and his designated chair. Sixty percent of the board must be St. Francis church communicants (members in good standing), and 51 percent of the board must have at least one child at the day school at the time of first election. Anyone with understanding of board governance is eligible for nomination and may volunteer for the role by contacting a current trustee. Members are elected to a three-year term, renewable up to three terms (nine years). Trustees hold the school in trust. They are therefore charged with the fiduciary responsibility of providing financial direction, security and long-term strategy for St. Francis Episcopal Day School, keeping the school’s best interests in mind. Members also review and maintain bylaws, hire and evaluate the head of school, and establish policies and plans consistent with the mission while leaving the day-to-day management of the school to the head of school and her staff. These outstanding volunteers are the pillars of our community and the foundation of our success. Thank you all for your tremendous donation of time and energy over the past year. Officers Trustees The Reverend Stuart A. Bates, Rector Elizabeth Arend Susan B. Lair, Ph.D., Head of School Sandy Aron Carol Porter, 2006–09 Chair Jeannie Rich Chandler Bill Montgomery, Vice Chair Jack Chandler Pat Spillman Jr., Secretary Mitch Cox Patricia Turner, Treasurer John H. Duncan Jr. ’69 3 Bill Montgomery The Courage to Start Incoming Board Chair Carol Porter, J.D., 2006–09 Chair of the Board of Trustees Bill and Kelly Montgomery joined the St. Francis community as parents in 1999. Their daughter Caroline “The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” graduated in 2008, and their young- est daughter, Katherine, is now in I can think of no better quote to describe St. Francis Episcopal Day School over the last five fourth grade. They also have a son, years than this one from John “The Penguin” Bingham, a running coach and sometime phi- Carol Porter, J.D., chaired the William. losopher. Schools are defined by change. We expect to see change and growth in our children St. Francis Episcopal Day from year to year and for them to know more at the end of the school year than on the first School Board of Trustees from In 2007, Mr. Montgomery began serv- 2006 to 2009. An attorney ing St. Francis Episcopal Day School day of class. I have served on the St. Francis Episcopal Day School Board of Trustees for five as a board member, and he has since for the Fourteenth Court of years—serving as chair during the last two—and have been a St. Francis parent for 11 years. served on the board investment Appeals state appellate court, During this time, I have seen the board of trustees display the courage to start a journey toward committee. she is responsible for drafting its long-term vision for the future growth and expansion of our school. We

Load more