With Gratitude: Honoring Those Who Make St. Patrick’s Shine

The Day School recently celebrated our talented faculty and staff at our annual Kindergarten-Grade 8 Chapel Honoring Faculty and Staff. At this Chapel, we announced the Love of Teaching Award and Jeff Keffer Service Award, recognizing faculty and staff celebrating anniversary years of service to St. Patrick’s, and acknowledged departing faculty and staff. 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 that individual displays a particular commitment to students, craft, and colleagues.

This year, our recipient was Middle School Humanities Teacher Julia Smith. With regard to this teacher’s relationships with students, one colleague wrote, “I would like to nominate Julia for the Love of Teaching Award. With an extensive history in the classroom, this teacher remains as passionate and committed as ever, eager to connect with every student and unafraid to dive into challenging, meaningful topics. Their warmth, humor, and deep care for their students make their classroom a place where all feel welcomed and seen. Whether designing a new curriculum or providing timely, thoughtful feedback, their dedication to craft is evident in everything they do.”

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 that individual’s 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 Minnie Ivery (P ’25), Assistant Controller—a wise and deeply grounded individual, guided by a strong sense of what is right, good, and fair. Minnie consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the well-being of our community. Whether supporting new faculty and staff as they navigated their benefits or assisting families during challenging financial times, she always stepped in with clarity, compassion, and care. Congratulations to Minnie and to her son Kaleb, who will graduate from St. Patrick’s in just a few days!