Faculty & Staff
FACULTY CHAIRS AWARDED TO THREE EDUCATORS
These Faculty Chairs recognize exemplary teaching as defined by Engaging and inspiring students, creating a curriculum to reach all learners, and demonstrating a commitment to ongoing professional development. The awards were made possible by the generosity of three Country School families and the recipients were nominated by their peers.
The Laverack Family Faculty Chair: Marshall Johnson
Marshall, class of 2004, has been an Upper School history and English teacher for the past nine years and is currently our history/social studies program coordinator.
Colleagues comment that Marshall is “a fantastic teacher who cares deeply about his students and is adored by them, he makes content engaging and relevant for a wide range of learners, he partners beautifully with families, and is an incredibly thoughtful and collaborative colleague.”
They share that Marshall unpacks history like a true storyteller, he is very knowledgeable, he brings history to life, he captivates students’ minds and pushes their critical thinking skills and that during mock interviews, many students share that Marshall has been their favorite teacher.
As a colleague, Marshall is always willing to lend a hand, partnering with others to develop new programs like the American Forum and the 9th grade Community Action Project capstone. He has a great sense of humor and a personality to which others are drawn.
Even his own former NCCS English and history teacher, Sue Friborg, recalls that each of the six boys in her seventh grade advisory when Marshall was that age listed Marshall as their top choice for roommates ahead of the annual class trip to Boston. She finished her remarks by saying “Congratulations, Marshall!. You richly deserve this honor, and I’m so happy for you.” I could not agree more.
The Holmes Family Faculty Chair: Cyndi Vitti
Cyndi, our early childhood science teacher, has been at NCCS for 27 years. She also has amongst the deepest roots at NCCS: her father, as a young boy of 12, approached the dairy farmers who were on this land and requested to be their milk delivery boy. He lived his entire life within a few short steps of campus and was a local historian par excellence. Even Mark Macrides likely learned something about the history of this place from him
Cyndi’s colleagues share that “She constantly impresses me with her quiet but effective leadership with our students. She is like the Mother Goose of the Thacher building. She calmly gathers her students together to experience an informative and exciting science lesson. The oo’s and aah’s that float through her classes are indicative of her ability to captivate her young students’ attention.
In addition to her amazing work with our students, she also manages the well being of all of our finned, furry, and feathered friends on campus. Her care with our students and with our animals is impressive and is felt all the way through the School.”
Many families share that their children regularly come home to report what they learned in science with the family, such is the way that Cyndi captivates students’ attention with her teaching style and her genuine love of nature and science.
Cyndi’s chill, never ruffled; quiet, yet firm way draws students in, and her work behind the scenes to make sure science is also happening in the classrooms other than hers - like getting all the materials to raise the butterflies, ensures that students leave the Thatcher building with a deep understanding of - and usually a love for - the building blocks of science. And, of course, she is the engine behind one of the hallmarks of the Thatcher year - the incubating and raising of chicks.
The Williams Family Faculty Chair: Mollie Kirkland
Mollie has been a mainstay in our first grade for 18 years. In that time, she also taught for 14 years in our Horizons Summer program.
Her colleagues share that, “Mollie is a talented teacher who provides each student with what they need at the critical ages/stages in first grade. She holds high standards that her students meet and grow towards.
She advocates for students that need extra support or intervention, always with examples of exemplary differentiation that are happening each day in her room. Mollie is willing and excited to try new curriculum and structures as a collaborative colleague.”
Warm, loving, and caring, Mollie is a great mentor for students and teachers alike. She is incredibly proud of the progress of her students - she will often show up at Head of Lower School and Early Childhood Meaghan Mallin’s office with a student who has accomplished something special to share that achievement with Meaghan. And as proud as the student is of their accomplishment, it is Mollie’s face, lit up with pride, and often accompanied by tears in her eyes, that underscores how genuine her commitment to her students is.
Mollie is also an exceptional mentor teacher to her apprentices - they go far because of her; she develops a special relationship with them, In fact, several of her former apprentices are now thriving here as lead teachers, and it is common for Mollie’s apprentice teachers to credit Mollie in particular with helping launch them. Such is Mollie’s skill, professionalism, and commitment to everyone’s growth that she has a transformational impact on not just her students but also on other teachers.
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
