Fall 2011 PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL 2010-2011 ANNUAL REPORT OF GIFTS One of my favorite books is called The Passionate of a unique devotion to learning are at the heart of Teacher: A Practical Guide by Robert Fried. This book Presbyterian School. Robert Fried suggests that “of those transformed my life as an educator when I first came teachers who inspired us most, we remember what they across it as a novice teacher in the late 1990’s. It argues cared about, and that they cared about us and the person that teachers who truly want to make a difference in we might become . It is this quality of caring about the lives of their students must embody and display one ideas and values, this fascination with the potential for thing: passion . “More than knowledge of subject growth within people, this depth and fervor about doing matter. More than a variety of teaching techniques. things well and striving for excellence, that comes the More than being well-organized or friendly or funny or closest to what it means to be a passionate teacher” (17). fair. It’s passion” (16). I am confident as the Headmaster of this terrific school I would bet that each and every one of us could tell that each of our teachers thrives on an abundance of a story right now of one such passionate teacher who this passion, but here I will just give you three examples. awakened in us a desire to learn that we had never Beta teacher, Carrie Steele, shows her passion when before experienced . one such passionate teacher who she dresses up as a different character in the books her challenged us to be our best ALL the time—not just in students are studying in order to make those books come his or her classroom . one such passionate teacher who alive for her emerging readers. Laurie Robertson, our continues to influence us as parents, and professionals Lower School music teacher, doesn’t let a fire drill keep even today . one such passionate teacher who, simply her students from singing: beautiful 3rd grade voices can put, changed our lives. Do you remember that teacher? be heard on the lawn of the School even over the din For me, there are several, but the most notable was a of the screeching fire alarm as students hastily exit the high school English teacher I had named Mitch Billings. building. Finally, Kathy Webb unleashes her passion for 4th Century Eastern European culture on her 7th Above all else, Mr. Billings was a storyteller, a spinner graders by giving them a firsthand look at art, history, of yarns, a raconteur. He was as spellbinding as he was and culture when she takes them on walking tours of the hilarious; he was the most interesting person I had ever local Byzantine Fresco Chapel, the Rothko Chapel, and come in contact with when I entered his Sophomore the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. English class in 1985. His reputation preceded him, but I still found myself wondering why this man of When we receive generous and sacrificial gifts—like such experience, intelligence, and wit was teaching high those to the 2010-2011 record-breaking Annual Fund— school English. Surely, he could be a wealthy entertainer, they go toward supporting the passionate teachers successful statesman, or world traveler if he wanted. But who are at the center of our culture and at the heart of a teacher . it seemed to me at the time to be such a our mission. When you invest in our School, you are waste. Today I know that the real waste would have been investing in the passion of our teachers, and we think the if I had never met Mr. Billings, whose passion for my return on that investment is limitless. Thank you again learning instilled a confidence in me that I still possess. for your stalwart support of this good place-where we teach and learn with passion every day. Passionate teachers like Mr. Billings who eschew otherwise lucrative careers outside of education in favor Dr. Mark Carleton, Headmaster PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL | 5300 Main Street Houston, Texas 77004 | 713-520-0284 | www.pshouston.org ANNUAL REPORT OF GIFTS • 2010-2011 The Annual Fund supports faculty development, technology enhancements, financial aid, the Outdoor Education Campus, the learning commons and program enhancements in every division. Over 450 families and friends of Presbyterian School contributed over $595,000 to the Annual Fund in 2010-2011. Thank you to our dedicated chairs, Nora Dobin and Chris Wolfe, who worked tirelessly to lead the most successful Annual Fund in the history of the school. Thank you also to the committed and hard working Annual Fund Grade Level Committee Members: Allison and Zach Jordan (Alpha), Tameka and Paul Lord (Beta), Polly and Jerry Gauthier (Prekindergarten), Sandy and Will Anderson (Kindergarten), Kim and Rob Clark (First Grade), Lauren and Brock Hudson (Second Grade), Mary and Mark D’Andrea (Third Grade), Julia and Luke Burke (Fourth Grade), Burkely and Tim Herbert (Fifth Grade), Patty and Neil Kallmeyer (Sixth Grade), Stacie and Tim Williamson (Seventh Grade), Julie and David Jenkins and Pilar and Jeff McNear (Eighth Grade). LANCASTER CIRCLE Brenda and Bob Wempe Cindy and Mark Cook Marcia and Brig Smart Sally Ann and Bill Windle Laura Marsh and Eric Davis Lori and Julien Smythe $10,000 and above Janet and David Wrather Margaret and John Dwyer Cathy and Randy Steward Henrietta Alexander Maureen and Neil Ebaugh Claudia and Alan Stewart Sarah and Ken Fisher HEADMASTER CIRCLE Michelle and Greg Elliott Sheena and Ron Stubbers Polly and Jerry Gauthier $2,500 - $4,999 Carol and Mark Feanny Katherine and Martin Thompson Katherine and Sean Keenan Paula and Magnus Fyhr Lisa and Barron Wallace Kim and David Lindsey Sandy and Will Anderson Amanda and Raul Garcia Carlton Wilde Amy and John Luchsinger Amy and Rob Bryant Karen and Dewey Gonsoulin Stacie and Tim Williamson Janette and Robert McCollum Leia and Clay Carpenter John and Pauline Goodgame Marilyn and Chris Winters Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Mewbourne Mary and Mark D’Andrea Amy and Hart Goodrich Ping Hou and Ronald Zhu Krissi and Taylor Reid Karen and Paul Davis Helen Groves Christine and Andrew Zipper Mary Lynn and Steve Williard Doreen and Jon Fjeld-Hansen Rachel Hadcock Nora Dobin and Chris Wolfe Andrea and Jonas Georgsson Debbie and Bill Hanna HONOR ROLL Lori and Ted Gobillot Catherine and Chris Hanslik $500 - $999 Angie and Ian Hancock Elizabeth and Robert Hendricks Melissa and Rob Henshaw Tracie Renfro and Amber Alonso LEADERSHIP CIRCLE Amy and Cliff Husted Allison and Zach Jordan Burkely and Tim Herbert Hima Kadiyala and Prasad Atluri $5,000-$9,999 Ann and Greg Hill Doretha Banks Mr. and Mrs. John Kennedy, III Irene and Richard Kim Katy and Kevin Holt Mary Es and Richard Beaver Vanessa and Brandon Bailey Hook Family Foundation Holly and Wade Bennett Kristina and O.P. Banks Jodie and Duane King Mary and Wally Knapp Karen Hook King Patty and Hal Bourlon Mollie and Dan Castaneda Dave Jacobs Alanna and Douglas Bree Michelle and Michael Ciaravino Katie Sammons and Terry Lohrenz Lea Aden and Michael Lueck Anuja Jhingran and Naveen Jaggi Prescilla and Riley Burnett Lisa and Canon Coleman Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Jastrow Joy and Kurt Burr Catherine and Edward Crain Sue and Ted Oldham Sara and Fred Robertson George Jordan Jane and Chris Champion Polina Kyriakides and Jim Crowe Cindy and Kurt Keene Janet and Brad Childers Deb and Cle Dade Ann and Mac Rowe Jenn and Allen Rustay Jessica and Steve Koo Blake Collier Brandye and B.J. Drager Lisa and Tom Kretzschmar Sheila Coogan Christy and Matt Galtney Sarah and Ron Simon Andryea Buggs and Matt Stahlbaum Kristy and Greg Kroencke Dorothy and Ronny Cuenod Linsey and J.D. Hasenbank Pamela and Ed Laborde Jennifer and Jason Dunn Krista and Marc Hensel Michelle and Duncan Stewart Cathy and Patrick Trask Angela and Garry Landowski Mary and John Enerson Laurie and Ace Holley Laura and Lynn Lednicky Mrs. Martha Erwin Lauren and Brock Hudson Donna Ramsay and Neil Wilcox Janna and Adam Zylman Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Lloyd Isabella and Edwin Essandoh Janet and Mark Jacobs Tameka and Paul Lord Nadia Michel and Samer Fakhri Elizabeth and Ed James PANTHER CIRCLE Lisa Ehrlich and Ted Malone Linda Chi and David Ferson Julie and David Jenkins Joanne Mandel Marcela and Ricardo Gonzalez Jane and Bill Joplin $1,000-$2,499 Caren and Mac McKinnie Teandra and Brian Gordon Patty and Neil Kallmeyer Iris and Nathan Allen Kristin and Douglas McWilliams Lois Gulledge Linda and John Kennedy Hanna and Roby Norvell Hawkins Family Foundation Janet and David Lionberger Efua and Victor Ankoma-Sey Dina and Mike Bahramipour Anne Loo and Brad Nyberg Monica and Steven Heal Gretchen and Andrew McFarland Jamie and David Oliver Laura and Denman Heard Pilar and Jeffrey McNear Dejon Banks Beth and Sean Barton Valerie Lewis and Michael O’Reilly Lynn and Bill Herbert Sarah and Jeff McParland Melissa and Perry Padden Kathleen and Robert Holt Katy and Sam Murray Lisa and Phillip Berquist Lisa Mann and Brad Bingham Allison and Tod Penrod Molly and Craig Joyce Jennifer Six and Tom Murphy David Portz Michelle and Alex Juden Amy and David Novelli Laura and Don Black Jennifer and Anthony Bohnert Amy and Eric Powitzky Gayle and Tom Kennedy Waverly and Adam Peakes Mary and Bart Reese Kirsten and Andrew Kienstra Abigail Rodgers and Andy Pickens Heather and Berry Bowen Karen and John Bradshaw Suzanne and Jay Rippeto Christin Kirby Frances and Rick Rambo Lisanne and Jim Rogers Angela and Stephen Koch Rochelle and Jerry Seade Julia and Luke Burke Laura and John Calaway Stephanie and Robert Roman Evalyn and George Krudy Judy and Bret Stanley Melissa and Jamey Rootes Shay and Marc Labbe Jackie Sharbrough/Bruce Taten Laurel and Mark Carleton Kim and Rob Clark Sally Brown and Mark Russ Margaret Symonds and Michael Larkin Susan and Eugene Vaughan Kerry and Eric Sandberg Carter and Bill Lee Kelli and Chris Watson Charisse and Julian Clark Rachel and Scott Clingman Beth and Mark Scimemi Nancy Lenoir PAGE 2 | THE WINDOW PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL | Family, School and Church United in the Education and Support of Each Child.