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The Magazine of Cary Academy SUMMER 2021 Reflections on 25 years leading the Middle School Page 4 Follow the leaders Page 10 Equal opportunity for discovery Page 22 2020–21 Annual Report Page 34 RETURN OF ON-CAMPUS FUN Page 30 FOR ONE ALUM, ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS DOES A WORLD OF GOOD Page 24Welcome to the Annual Report edition of ?, The Magazine of Cary Academy. Let me start by adding my thanks for the warm support that so many members of our community have shown during the past year. While the Annual Report highlights financial contributions that were extremely important during a time of unanticipated COVID- related expenses, you also showed a generosity of spirit that helped pull us through one of the most challenging years in memory. In this issue, arriving at the beginning of our 25th year, we appropriately look backward and forward. We are guided, as always, by a mission and vision that inspires us to do good work on behalf of our current students and extended community. We celebrate the retirement of our founding Head of Middle School, Marti Jenkins, who built and sustained a model program for our younger learners, one that instills a joy of learning and discovery that positions them to thrive when they move into Upper School. Unfortunate timing caused our new Center for Community Engagement to launch right before the pandemic, limiting some of our ability to connect our students to the broader community through service and experiential learning. Nonetheless, three short vignettes highlight the creativity and passion present in our community and offer a glimpse of the remarkable potential that we are just beginning to explore. And, courtesy of the extraordinary generosity of alum Alex Wilson ’04 and his family, we’re thrilled to introduce the Center for Community Engagement Equity Fund. This new fund will enable all Chargers to take full advantage of all that the CCE offers— regardless of their financial resources. Our alumni profile in this issue appropriately highlights not only the importance of global health but also how our students are equipped with a mindset and skills to own their learning beyond the walls of Cary Academy. We hope you enjoy connecting with Cary Academy through this issue of The Magazine, and we hope to welcome you back to campus for one of our 25th Anniversary celebrations in the coming year. With gratitude for your support, Dear Friends of Cary Academy, FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Mike Ehrhardt, Head of SchoolThe Magazine of Cary Academy SUMMER 2021 In this issue COMMUNICATIONS TEAM Mandy Dailey Dean Sauls Dan Smith PHOTOGRAPHY Dan Smith The CA community HEAD OF SCHOOL Michael Ehrhardt DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT Heather Clarkson DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Mandy Dailey HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL Robin Follet DEAN OF FACULTY Martina Greene DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES Tony Hinton HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL Josette Huntress Holland DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Danielle Johnson-Webb DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION Karen McKenzie DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Ali Page CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Deborah Reichel is published three times a year by Cary Academy. CARY ACADEMY 1500 N. Harrison Avenue Cary, North Carolina 27513 (919) 677-3873 www.caryacademy.org Youth Engagement Summit What happens when a handful of high school students get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly to Switzerland and pick the brains of global leaders? If “they dedicate the next year of their lives to democratizing the experience for more than a hundred of their peers,” was not your answer, you need to learn to say YES! 15 Follow the Leaders What exactly does it mean to “own your learning”? To get a grasp of the concept at the very heart of Cary Academy’s mission to build lifelong learners, join us as we dive in deep and get hands-on with the Center for Community Engagement. 10 Founding Vision What is it like to chart the course for an entire generation of students? Twenty-five years ago, Marti Jenkins was given the rare opportunity to shape the very essence of Cary Academy’s Middle School experience. As she steps into retirement, she reflects on a quarter century of shepherding CA’s youngest students. 4 Leadership in Crisis Program As educators, we often ask: how can we inspire and develop the next generation of leaders who might help move our country towards a more equitable future? For a group of Cary Academy students, seeking the answers required rethinking the classroom altogether. 11 Community Engagement Equity Fund Alex Wilson ’04 was transformed by the hands-on learning opportunities that characterized his time at Cary Academy. Now, he’s paying it forward with a new fund designed to ensure that all students can make the most of their CA experience. 22 Snap- shots 30 Campus News 2 Alumni News 32 Migration Collaboration How do Middle School students develop a deeper understanding of human migration and the experience of refugees? For the seventh grade, nurturing crop and learning cuisine, helps plant the seeds of empathy and develop an appreciation for the taste of diversity. 18 Healthy Curiosity For epidemiologist Kristin Andrejko, asking the right questions isn’t just about finding a good answer. Learn how scientific curiosity and a strong sense of service led her to seek a brighter, healthier future for us all. 24 Celebrated author, food historian, and former CA Board member, Sandra Gutierrez, delivered the keynote address at CA’s Commencement (see page 31).Two Campus News Josette Huntress Holland assumed the position of Head of Middle School at the beginning of July. Ms. Huntress Holland has been Assistant Upper School Head since 2018. In addition to teaching and leadership roles at schools across North Carolina, Ms. Huntress Holland has also served in various teaching and leadership roles at schools in Maine and Africa. She received her BA in sociology from Colby College and an Ed.M in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University. Elsewhere in the Upper School, longtime Dean of Students Donna Eason is assuming a new role as Assistant Head of Upper School, while college counselor Brandon Carter is the new Upper School Dean of Students for 9th and 10th grades. Sequenta Blackman has joined the Athletics Department as the new Upper School physical education teacher and Palmer Seeley has been promoted to Entrepreneurship Director in the Center for Community Engagement. Congratulations, to all! Major Changes Afoot Across Campus ? The Magazine of Cary Academy week-long education program offered by Epic Games on the use of Unreal Engine for interactive 3-D design, and Upper School Spanish teacher Vic Quesada-Herrera was awarded Stanford University’s J.E. Wallace Sterling Award for Academic Achievement as a teacher. A number of CA faculty also were named recipients of the Friday Fellowship and Innovative Curriculum grants. For the full list, visit bit.ly/CAfaculty2021 GERMAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS CA German students earned honors for their performance on the 2021 National German Exam, administered by the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG). CA’s 11 Gold- medal winners scored above the 90th percentile nationally, the five Silber-medalists over the 80th percentile, and seven students earned Bronze by scoring over the 70th percentile. Leah Wiebe ’23 was one of 55 national prize winners of the AATG- CLV “Next Best Thing to Being There” Scholarship from the 2021 National German Exam. Closer to home, more than 30 Cary Academy Middle and Upper School German students took home awards from the North Carolina German Day Competition. CA NAMES CHIEF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER As CA becomes an increasingly green community, the Upper School announced the creation of a new student leadership position: Chief Environmental and Sustainability Officer (CESO). The CESO will coordinate all environmental efforts on campus by facilitating collaboration and increasing publicity to drive a consolidated vision of sustainability at CA. For the 2021–2022 school year, Sydney Tai ‘22 will be the first to serve as CESO. Tai has co-led the environmental club, CA Seeds, for the past two years and established relationships with the PTAA, Middle School Green Club, and Upper School administration. CELEBRATING CA ATHLETES The Athletics Celebration recognized dozens of All-Conference and All-State players, new record holders, and eight members of the Class of 2021 who have signed to compete at the collegiate level: Russell Burns—Track & Field at William & Mary, ThucUyen Dzu—Cross Country/ Track and Field at the University of Chicago, Kenny Eheman—Cross country/Track and Field at Davidson College, Ethan Hortelano— Fencing—Brandeis University, Koa Kaliebe— Soccer at Franklin & Marshall, Aaron Messer— Soccer at the University of Pennsylvania, Anna Newman—Swimming at Davidson College, and Abby Pompeo—Field Hockey at Davidson College. To see the full list of honorees, visit bit.ly/CA2021athletics THANK YOU AND FAREWELL! Following Commencement, we celebrated our retiring employees: Marti Jenkins—Head of Middle School, Freya Kridle—Upper School Spanish teacher, Sam Monsour—chef, Shawn Nix—Upper School speech and debate teacher, Jasmine Powell—dance teacher, Matthew Ripley-Moffitt—Middle School social studies teacher, and Leslie Williams—Middle School math teacher. We also wish to express our appreciation and well wishes for those faculty and staff members who are moving on from CA: Sharice Chandler— Associate Director of Enrollment Management, Arnette Ejire—Upper School testing coordinator, Fred Haas—Middle School science teacher, Jane Panhorst—Middle School science teacher, Beth Popp—Middle School learning specialist, Laura Price—Middle School language arts teacher, and Jamie Roszel—Upper School English teacher. FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS In addition, we would like to highlight a number of recent employee achievements: Upper School math chair Craig Lazarski recently had an article on his work with students in his stats class published in the professional journal Statistics Teacher, Upper School art and design teacher Betsy MacDonald was invited to participate in a RETURN OF ON-CAMPUS FUN This spring, when students returned to campus, they brought the fun with them. Fun Fest made a spectacular return (over three days!) to the Middle School. Each grade had their own day to play games, enjoy the sunshine, and share the laughter. Everywhere you looked, there were smiling eyes, bucking rodeo sharks, wobbly surfboards, and infectious laughter. In the Upper School, Flex Day became a wild, laughter-filled Fun Day as students became inflatable pinballs (well, Knockerballs), played Spikeball, soccer darts, human foosball, and more thanks to the hard work of the PTAA. Music and community filled the CA Quad during Quadchella, a mini-music festival featuring multiple student bands. ? The Magazine of Cary Academy FOUNDING “That’s too hard; there are too many!” she exclaims with a laugh, before sharing a series of quick vignettes that spring to mind: The thrill of breaking ground on campus (and the nail-biting anxiety of getting the required certificate of occupancy the day before school opened). The excitement and nerves of traveling to local events (while eight-months pregnant) with little more than a series of watercolor renderings and an impassioned mission to entice prospective parents to enroll. The overwhelming sense of community at the opening day ceremony. And, the warm connections made with early families—those that were willing to make the leap of faith and join CA based on the strength of vision alone. Ask founding Head of Middle School Marti Jenkins to recount a favorite memory of her twenty-five years at Cary Academy and she’s hard pressed to answer. Four ? The Magazine of Cary Academy Of course, there are also the countless moments—small and large, challenging and cherished—that she has shared with students over the years that are close to her heart. While impossible to choose a favorite, she admits that graduation days are highlights, as are the many notes, emails, and visits from former students that come back as adults to say thank you or share stories of their success (particularly from those that might have struggled initially in Middle School, but ultimately found their place and flourished). In her final weeks on CA’s campus, however, it is those early days that have been top of mind as she reflects on her journey. INSPIRING VISION Her eyes light up as she recalls them—pivotal moments that shaped CA’s foundations, long before the first bricks were laid. Together, they represent many intense hours spent collaborating shoulder-to-shoulder with an intrepid group of education visionaries, technologists, and operations experts that were tapped by Cary Academy Founders Jim and Ann Goodnight and John and Ginger Sall to design a ground-breaking, technology-forward, mold-busting middle school for the future. For Jenkins, it was a time awash with the palpable promise of possibility. “The opportunity to open a school is such a rare occurrence, such a wonderful opportunity for an educator,” enthuses Jenkins. “There was so much dreaming in that first year, so much exciting and inspiring brainstorming. We got to ask the big questions—the ones that matter. What would our mission be? What would an ideal middle school look like? How do we best serve the needs of our students?” What emerged from those marathon planning sessions was, of course, the philosophical and physical blueprint for the Middle School we know today—one that broke significantly from the traditional junior- high model that was still prevalent at the time. “Junior highs were generally envisioned as miniature high schools,” explains Jenkins. “Decisions—about curriculum, wellness, resources, etc.—were made with high-school students in mind and were expected to trickle down to the younger students.” It was a model that was far less personal, far less human development-oriented and student-centered than middle school concept championed by Jenkins and embraced by CA’s founding leadership and faculty. “We wanted something different. Instead, we started with a blank slate and the freedom and flexibility to focus specifically on the middle school-aged learner. We put them in the center and designed a program, a building, a school from there—one that would best meet their specific physical, emotional, intellectual, developmental, and social needs.” A NEW BLUEPRINT For Jenkins, that focus was personal. “I love Middle School-aged students. I love seeing them change on an hourly, daily, and annual basis. You might be talking to a student one day and that same student will be a little different the next day, just depending on the space they are in. At CA, we focused on developing a program that morphs around their needs, that meets them where they are and prepares and guides them for what comes next. “I think from all my years here, that’s still what I am most proud of, what I find most exciting. We are true champions of the young adolescent learner,” reflects Jenkins. Founding Middle School teacher, inaugural Service Learning Director, and CA parent, Tami Polge, remembers well the energy Jenkins brought to early planning and faculty meetings, facilitating lively discussions that would ultimately go on to shape the curriculum, culture, and lasting traditions of the Middle School. She credits Jenkins with setting a pioneering example—one that empowered faculty to dream big, lean into the CA mission, and innovate and collaborate in new and exciting ways. Five“I’m grateful for Marti’s leadership —for setting a tone for the Middle School, one that put a high priority on team building, lifelong learning, and the spirit of adventure,” recalls Polge. “When we proposed a new curriculum, or even a whole new program such as service learning, when we pitched field trip ideas or events, or when we requested resources, Marti was actively listening and receptive. For some of the more ambitious ideas, she would have a twinkle in her eye, asking how it would further our mission and what we needed to pull it off.” And so, under Jenkins’s guidance, the hallmarks of the student-centric CA Middle School experience emerged: a robust advisory program to support physical, social, and emotional growth; an integrated, interdisciplinary curriculum that would inspire curiosity and invite discovery of connections across content areas; and arts, world language, and physical education components that were integral, not elective, to encourage experimentation, safe risk-taking, and exploration. Most crucially, it would all be delivered by a supportive, rallying community of educators working together in grade- level teams to truly know and understand each student as an individual—their needs, passions, strengths, challenges, aspirations, and concerns—to ensure everyone had the best chance to thrive. “Marti‘s gift to CA was designing a program that always kept Middle School children’s adolescent development at the forefront of our planning,” recalls former founding Head of School Don Berger. “She developed the Middle School team concept that still exists today and orchestrated the student- centered teaching that blended beautifully emerging technology with core academic skill development. She also made sure the arts were an integral part of all students’ learning —a major reason that CA is as renowned for its arts program as well as its technology.” FIRM FOUNDATIONS It was a forward-thinking vision that was shaped, in large part, by the culmination of Jenkins’s own history and experience as an educator in both independent and public schools across the United States. Jenkins, who was born overseas, traveled extensively as a child, courtesy of her father’s engineering career. Igniting a love of travel, the arts, and of cultural exploration, these experiences would one day translate to an undergraduate degree in cultural anthropology with a minor in the arts from Vanderbilt University. ? The Magazine of Cary Academy SixThe varied elementary and secondary education experiences of her youth—including both public and private institutions, American and European—also sparked an interest in education and teaching that was only furthered after opportunities to work with children both in high school and college. It was a nascent interest that would later lead to the pursuit of a Master in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Orleans. In that program, she discovered her true passion. “Working on my certifications, I just fell in love with teaching, with working with kids,” recalls Jenkins. After graduation, she spent years teaching in schools across New Orleans, both independent and public, gaining important insights into the affordances of both—into what worked programmatically and organizationally, and what didn’t—lessons that she would ultimately bring to Cary Academy. She was particularly intrigued by opportunities to combine her passions—education and the arts—in curricular innovations. ASKING ‘WHY NOT’? Wanting to have the power to push the envelope and advocate for change—to ask ‘why not’ in the transformation of classrooms—she embarked on her second master’s degree. This time, she chose a Master of Education in Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin which focused on the principalship level. In Texas, she had opportunities to work in close collaboration with local school boards and communities, making recommendations for programmatic improvements. It was her first taste of effecting real change on the larger education landscape, of making education responsive to community and individual learner needs. Happily, a successful trimester long culminating internship—as Assistant Principal in an elementary school in one of the top school districts in Texas—turned into a post-graduation invitation to take the position on a permanent basis. She was on her way. Later, a move to Jackson, Mississippi for her husband’s career would prove serendipitous, coinciding with a career opportunity seemingly tailor made to her interests: a principalship for a new magnet public school program that combined academics and performing arts for grades four through twelve. As principal, Jenkins would transform the entire program, transitioning it from a pull-out model to an on-site program. “It was exciting!” recalls Jenkins of her four years at the Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex. “We were partnering with the national advocacy organization Parents for Public Schools that was fighting flight from public schools. There were so many cool opportunities to work closely with the community, with the parents. I really valued that, just as I had in Texas.” BUILDING TOGETHER Indeed, for Jenkins, building something more than a mere school—but a true collaborative learning community—has always been paramount. If it was the promise of a blank slate and similar start-up vibe that initially drew her to Cary Academy, in part, it has been the incredible close-knit and mission-driven Cary Academy community that has encouraged her to stay all these years. ? The Magazine of Cary Academy “Teaching in New Orleans was a fabulous experience, but I realized right away that I could make more of an impact, have more opportunities to make changes, if I was a school administrator,” explains Jenkins. “I had a wonderful professor at the University of New Orleans that used to say ‘don’t ask why, ask why not.’ It always stuck with me.” SevenNext >