Honoring Excellence in Teaching and Service at the Day School

The Day School recently celebrated our talented faculty and staff at our annual Kindergarten-Grade 8 Chapel Honoring Faculty and Staff. We were proud to recognize the following faculty and staff members for their milestone years of service to St. Patrick’s:
5 Years

• Dean Lanois, Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher
• Shuyi Peng, PK3 Associate Teacher

10 Years

• Chris Bolger, Director of Development
• Kate Campbell, Middle School Science Teacher
• Marlena Elmore, Middle School History Teacher
• Sam Hart, Grade 4 Homeroom Teacher
• Chloe Hensold, Middle School Math Teacher
• Paul Lorenzo-Giguere, Director of the Early Childhood Division

20 Years

• Jenifer Congdon, Assistant Head of School for Academics/Head of Upper Elementary
• Elizabeth Markowitz, Head of Faculty
• Steph Sack, Lower School/Upper Elementary Art Teacher
• Hector Urrutia, Facilities

25 Years

• Kyujin Lee, Middle School Art Teacher
• Pascale Pereira, ITC Teacher

30 Years

• Judy Barr, Director of Health Services/Secondary School Outplacement Coordinator (not pictured)

35 Years

• Kankunda Klingenberg, Religion Teacher/Director of Service Learning

At this Chapel, we announced the Love of Teaching Award and Jeff Keffer Service Award and recognized faculty and staff celebrating anniversary years of service to St. Patrick’s. It was an opportunity to give thanks for these contributions of talent, energy, and commitment to our community.

Our faculty and staff regularly demonstrate professional excellence and profound dedication in their service to the Day School. This annual Chapel recognizes their efforts to create exceptional teaching and learning settings, find what works for each student, continue developing their craft knowledge, collaborate with colleagues, foster community, and serve others. 

Each year, we invite nominations of potential honorees for the Love of Teaching Award from faculty and staff members for consideration by the Division Heads, who in turn make a recommendation to the Head of School. We ask faculty and staff nominating someone for the Love of Teaching Award to write a brief statement on how the nominee displays a particular commitment to students, craft, and colleagues. This year, our recipient was Middle School Art Teacher Kyujin Lee. With regard to her relationships with students, one colleague wrote, “she never settles for anything less than perfection from herself, and as a result, her classroom is a place where [students] of all levels grow each day exponentially under her watchful eye and appropriately high expectations.”

Those who have experienced her teaching firsthand speak about Ms. Lee’s rare ability to push students toward excellence while making them feel capable and encouraged every step of the way. As one colleague shared, “She helps her students create stronger art than they thought possible.” Whether working with middle school artists or fellow faculty members, she inspires confidence, creativity, and growth through patience, insight, and kindness.

We also endeavor to remember a former Day School parent, volunteer, and friend, Jeff Keffer, who revealed his sense of St. Patrick’s through a depth of involvement, commitment, energy, and achievement — a life of service to this institution. We honor Jeff Keffer by acknowledging a member of the St. Patrick’s faculty and staff for their commitment to the Day School, demonstrated understanding of the community that comprises St. Patrick’s, and service to the health and vitality of the institution.

This year’s recipient of the Jeff Keffer Service Award was Jamila Felton, Day School Librarian. While Ms. Felton does a range of things at St. Patrick’s, her primary responsibilities revolve around curating a vibrant and challenging collection of literature that provides students with ample opportunity to explore passions and interests, consider alternative perspectives, discover new ideas and possibilities, and conduct research to answer burning questions. Ms. Felton’s presence is felt across all divisions and classrooms at St. Patrick’s. She never hesitates to support the overall educational journey of our students, even willingly stepping in as the lead homeroom teacher on an overnight field trip. Ms. Felton is also a trusted colleague to many members of the faculty, who see her as a thoughtful sounding board for new ideas and a confidante in solving challenges.