Nov 10, 2020 | Eva Schiller, New Faculty
By Eva Schiller (VI) This year, the Lower School Faculty is welcoming Ms. Gabriela Reyes as a K-3 Spanish teacher!
Ms. Reyes attended Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas, Venezuela, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Since then, she has obtained five years of hands-on teaching experience, including her most recent position as a Lower School Spanish Teacher at Leman Manhattan Preparatory School. Speaking on her past experiences, Ms. Reyes said she has “had the incredible opportunity of instructing a diverse group of students, as well as working extensively in several school settings.”
At Pingry, her “main objective includes engaging students with various learning needs through enhancing their Spanish skills in the advanced level of proficiency in speaking, reading, writing and listening.” She also hopes to “help students fulfill their potential, support the development of a new language in children by offering new working strategies,” and help her students “understand and appreciate the cultural diversity.”
Outside of the classroom, Ms. Reyes has a variety of hobbies and interests. “I love outdoor activities, especially playing volleyball at the beach, cooking, and baking cakes to share quality time with family and friends,” she remarks. She is also a fan of Harry Potter.
Welcome to the community, Ms. Reyes!
Nov 10, 2020 | New Faculty
By JP Salvatore (IV) Ms. Marcy Cohen is joining Pingry’s health services and counseling department as the new learning specialist! Upon meeting her for the first time, it was immediately clear how excited she is to be at Pingry and get to know the students.
Ms. Cohen attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in sociology. Later, she went on to receive two Master’s degrees: one in elementary education from The College of New Jersey, and another in educational leadership at Simmons College. She then remained in Massachusetts, teaching at the Pollard Middle School in Needham, before returning to New Jersey to join the Pingry faculty.
Now, a few weeks into the school year, Ms. Cohen is already enjoying her new role. She is “impressed with all the students that she has worked with and is excited to bring her knowledge to the school.” Although Ms. Cohen does not teach any courses, she is very involved in the Pingry community. She works 1-1 with students to help them stay organized, acts as a resource for the community, helps teachers accommodate the various needs of their students, and offers a friendly face in the hallways. Her inspiration for becoming a teacher was her “passion for helping kids reach their full potential,” as well as her gift for connecting with the students.
Lastly, a few fun facts to get to know her better: She has two young daughters, aged 5 and 2, she is a Knicks fan, and she loves to explore the New Jersey outdoors. Welcome to the community, Ms. Cohen!
Nov 10, 2020 | New Faculty
By Anjola Olawoye (IV) The Pingry Music Department welcomes seasoned musician Ms. Glynnis Gourhan as a part-time strings instructor. She will teach Upper School Strings as well as facilitate strings enrichment for Lower School students.
Mrs. Gourhan received her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, where she was part of the Women in Art music research team. Their mission aimed to “bring to light how women have participated in art music through history, and recognition to the scholars who are actively studying them.” She was also involved with conducting interviews and producing short documentaries that showcased women in classical music history.
Outside of Pingry, Mrs. Gourhan has taught orchestra at the Paterson Music Project, the Ridgewood Symphony’s Festival Strings, and the New Jersey Youth Symphony.
Throughout the school year, she hopes to prepare students for various concerts, such as the Winter Festival and Spring Concert, as they are an opportunity for students to showcase their musical talents and abilities for the rest of the community.
Nov 10, 2020 | New Faculty
By Brian Li (V) This fall, the Upper School English Department welcomes Dr. Barrett Ward, who will be teaching English 9 for freshmen as well as senior electives Ethical Dilemma and Magical Realism.
Dr. Barrett Ward graduated from Texas Christian University, where he received a B.A. in History. He then continued his education at the University of Texas at Austin, where he obtained a M.A. and a Ph.D. in English Literature.
Afterwards, he served as an Officer in the United States Army for just under 14 years. During his initial five years in the Army, he was an Armored Cavalry Officer and served as a paratrooper and a “trainer for combat soldiers,” said Dr. Ward. He then moved into intelligence work and became an Intelligence Officer, where he commanded an “intelligence and interrogation analysis company” in Baghdad, Iraq, until 2010. Subsequently, Dr. Ward taught at West Point for three years, and in 2015 and 2016, served as a Liaison Officer for an army intelligence unit in Daegu, South Korea. Most recently, he taught English Literature at the United States Air Force Academy. Needless to say, he has an extremely unique and interesting career background.
Dr. Ward hopes to meet as many members of the Pingry community as he can and support his students whenever possible. Welcome to Pingry, Dr. Ward!
Nov 10, 2020 | New Faculty
By Mae Lange (III)
Mr. Matthew Osborne, known as “Herr Osborne” to his students, has joined the Middle and Upper School World Language Departments. In addition to teaching German C, German 2, and Latin 3, he serves as an assistant coach for the girls’ cross country team and is a member of the LGBT Faculty and Staff Affinity Group. Herr Osborne attended Northwestern University, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in World Language and Education. Before coming to Pingry, he taught at multiple schools, most recently at a large public school in the Washington D.C. area.
Herr Osborne became a teacher due to his own love for learning, which he strives to spread among his students. So far, he has greatly appreciated the strong sense of community and welcoming feeling that his colleagues and students have fostered, and his goals for his first year at Pingry are to learn about the school, to develop good connections, and to thrive despite this challenging year. Outside of school, Herr Osborne enjoys hiking, cooking/baking, and exploring the general NYC area. His message to students is that “Latin and German are optime!”, and that they should, given the chance, study those languages.
Nov 10, 2020 | New Faculty
By Ava Kotsen (IV)
This fall, Pingry welcomed Mrs. Kathryn Smoot; she will teach two blocks of World History 9 and 10. She joins Pingry with thirteen years of experience teaching in public schools; she most recently taught at Florham Park Middle School, and worked in Bellevue, Washington and New York City prior to that. Mrs. Smoot is a graduate of Boston University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. Additionally, she earned her MA in Teaching from New York University and MS in Educational Leadership from Baruch College.
In her freetime, Mrs. Smoot enjoys spending time with her family; they often go for hikes or bike rides, or go geocaching. She also enjoys cooking up new recipes, solving puzzles, and reading science fiction and fantasy books. A particular love of Mrs. Smoot’s is traveling. After she graduated college, she spent a year traveling in Europe. One of her favorite trips was the cross-country road trip her family took from Washington to New Jersey when they moved here; along the way, they visited numerous American landmarks, monuments, and national parks, including Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.
Mrs. Smoot is excited to be at Pingry and teaching high school again, as she finds that high schoolers suit her personality best. She looks forward to getting to know the students and faculty and eagerly anticipates the day when she can finally meet them without masks. Welcome Mrs. Smoot!
Nov 10, 2020 | New Faculty
By Sarah Kloss (V) This fall, the Lower School welcomes Ms. Kendall Davies, who will be teaching kindergarten students.
Ms. Davies received a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education from Miami University in Ohio. Before coming to Pingry, she taught kindergarten to second grade at Stevens Cooperative School in Hoboken for three years. Her passion for teaching started at a young age: “For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. As a kid, my favorite toy to play with was my chalkboard. I love being around the children, and I feel like I learn from them just as much as they learn from me.”
One of her favorite things about teaching kindergarten is the writer’s workshop. “I love seeing my students move through the writing process and bring their stories to life,” Ms. Davies said. In addition to being a homeroom teacher, Ms. Davies is an instructional design coach at Pingry; she helps lower school faculty get acclimated to the Pingry Anywhere model, specifically using the classroom technology.
Her goal for the school year is to continue to grow as an educator by learning from all of the amazing teachers around her. “I have absolutely loved my time at Pingry so far and already feel at home here,” Ms. Davies said. During her free time, Ms. Davies loves spending time with her friends and family.; she also enjoys going for walks and reading mystery novels.
Welcome Ms. Davies!
Nov 10, 2020 | New Faculty
By Maya Khan (III)
This fall, Mr. Marquis Ormond joins the Pingry faculty as a permanent Upper School and Middle School substitute teacher and sub-coordinator. Mr. Ormond earned his bachelor’s degree at Southern Connecticut State University.
Before Pingry, he worked as a physical therapy aide with senior citizens. His interest in teaching younger generations sparked when he began working with young lacrosse athletes, recognizing their eagerness and determination to improve. When asked about his experience at Pingry so far, Mr. Ormond noted how supportive and welcoming the community has been during these times, remarking that “If someone doesn’t know the answer to something, they’ll find the answer for you.”
Despite this year being a significant adjustment for the Pingry community, Mr. Ormond is making the best of it and encourages students to reach out for support. He welcomes students to keep an eye out for his new club that showcases documentaries in hopes to further bring awareness to the community about America’s racial injustices.
Looking forward to the school year ahead, Mr. Ormond says that he is “incredibly excited to get to know everyone in the community and can’t wait to see what the year has in store.” He enjoys coaching the freshmen football team, loves supporting the Eagles football team as a “die-hard fan,” and likes finding new places to eat in his free time.
Nov 10, 2020 | New Faculty
By Saniya Kamat (III) Pingry welcomes Dr. Parminder Haven, who will be teaching Chemistry 1 and 2, while serving as an iRT advisor and Form V co-advisor.
Dr. Haven was born and raised in Punjab, a state in the northern part of India, where she lived until she turned 24. Dr. Haven received her Bachelors in Education and Science from Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, Punjab, and received her Masters in Chemistry from Punjabi University in Patiala, Punjab. She then earned her PhD from Hunter College in New York.
Before coming to Pingry, Dr. Haven was a long-term substitute teacher at Riverdale Country School in the Bronx and taught at an all-girls school in New York City. After spending twelve years in research, while also teaching college students, Dr. Haven decided to come to Pingry. She described her decision: “For the love of science! [I] wanted to inspire young kids to not be afraid of science.”
In her free time, Dr. Haven enjoys running, cooking, going on long drives with her family, reading Punjabi literature, and baking without eggs. “I make a really good eggless cake,” she said, “Chemistry helped me with that.” So far, Dr. Haven has “absolutely love[d] everything about Pingry . . . It’s very inspirational to see young minds doing the right thing and embodying Honor Code.”. This year, Dr. Haven hopes to develop a bond with her students; she wants to “help them thrive to the best of their capacities and do the best they can.” Welcome to Pingry, Dr. Haven!
Nov 10, 2020 | Mirika Jambudi, New Faculty
By Mirika Jambudi (IV) This fall, the Pingry community welcomes Dr. Feeley to the Upper School English Department, where she is teaching English 9, American Literature, and American Perspectives.
Dr. Feeley obtained her Bachelor of Arts at Cornell University and her Doctorate in English at Duke. After finishing her Ph.D., she taught history, literature, and American studies at Harvard University at the collegiate level for three years.
Before arriving at Pingry, she was a teacher at the Northwest School in Seattle, Washington. There, she taught the interdisciplinary humanities, combining history and literature. Dr. Feeley remarks that she has “always had a love for literature.” Even in high school, she was drawn to academia because she “wanted to discuss literature with people who were also engaged and interested in thinking about it.”
So far, Dr. Feeley loves Pingry. “The Pingry environment and community members have been very welcoming, and I am excited to get to know all my students this year,” she remarked. Her goals for this year at Pingry are to create an anti-racist community in her classroom, and to “bring in practices of equity and inclusion.” She hopes to promote an environment where students feel safe, welcomed, and encouraged to participate.
When she’s not teaching, Dr. Feeley likes to spend time with her family, in nature, and in her garden—where she is experimenting with growing a variety of plants. She is also an avid hiker and is excited to explore New Jersey trails!
Nov 10, 2020 | New Faculty
By Sarah Gu (III) Ms. Frederique Schachter ’96 P ’27, ’30, ’33 joined Pingry’s Office of Institutional Advancement as the Associate Director of Parent Engagement last spring. Some of her responsibilities include raising money for the Pingry Fund and communicating with parents, faculty, staff, and students.
Before joining Pingry, Ms. Schachter attended Princeton University and majored in politics. In the past, she has worked at Bloomingdales, the NBA, and various nonprofit organizations as a project manager. When asked about what she finds different between her previous workplaces and Pingry, Ms. Schachter stated that Pingry has a “delightful working environment” with dedicated staff and employees who have genuine care and concern for each other. She loves the team she works with and finds her job a positive experience; she was pleasantly surprised at how appreciative the parents were, especially amidst the panic surrounding COVID-19.
Ms. Schachter was already immensely involved in the Pingry community before she joined the staff team. Born and raised in Summit, she graduated from Pingry 24 years ago and also wrote for The Pingry Record as a student. Furthermore, she has three children who currently attend Pingry: one in kindergarten, one in third grade, and a third in sixth grade.
In her free time, Ms. Schachter likes to walk her dog and exercise. She also likes to spend time with her three children and her husband.
This year, Ms. Schachter aims “to engage parents, especially those who are new, with each other and the school.” She has already had many positive experiences with families and looks forward to connecting with even more people.
Nov 10, 2020 | New Faculty
By Keira Chen (III) This year, Pingry welcomes back Ms. Holmes-Glogower to co-teach Form III Financial Literacy alongside Mr. Weckesser, as well as work as the Director of People Operations and Talent Development. Ms. Holmes-Glogower is also involved with several Pingry groups, including the Alumni Board, the Alumni of Color Affinity group, and the Anti-Racism Task Force.
She has two children, one of whom attends kindergarten at the Pingry Short Hills campus. Ms. Holmes-Glogower graduated from Pingry in ’99 and attended Columbia University, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She later returned to Pingry to fill in several positions because of her love of the community.
Having worked closely with finance in the past, Ms. Holmes-Glogower agreed to teach Financial Literacy, stating that “It just made sense… to leverage that knowledge to help our students.”
Ms. Holmes-Glogower says she’s excited by Pingry’s growth, though she has more in mind for Pingry’s future. Her goal is to create a long-term plan to solidify Pingry’s HR team; this year is just for laying the foundation. Ms. Holmes-Glogower’s free time is mostly spent with her kids, although she enjoys reading, watching soccer, and studying interior design. When asked what else she’d like to share, Ms. Holmes-Glogower responded that she’s “… excited to be back at Pingry, as it’s a place that did a lot for me in my life; to be able to come back and give back to the school in a significant way is really important to me, and I feel really lucky that I’m able to do it.”
Nov 10, 2020 | New Faculty
By Christine Guo (V) This fall, the Pingry community welcomes Ms. Gabrielle D’Amodio to the Upper School Athletics Department. As an athletic trainer, she will be part of the medical personnel for sports practices and games, help rehabilitate athletes, and provide emergency first aid. Prior to arriving at Pingry, Ms. D’Amodio earned a B.A. in social and behavioral science and a master’s degree in athletic training from Seton Hall University.
Ms. D’Amodio has been part of the athletic world from a very early age. She began playing softball at the age of four. After going through an injury during her sophomore year of high school, she realized her passion for athletic training and saw the field as something that she wanted to pursue in college and beyond. She is also accustomed to Pingry after having been an athletic training student here two years ago.
In her free time, Ms. D’Amodio keeps in touch with her athletic side by watching or playing sports. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends and playing the guitar.
So far, Ms. D’Amodio has loved her experience working at Pingry. She commented, “I am excited to be here and the community has been super welcoming!” She is invested in helping students in any way possible. Her goal for the school year is to “help as many people as [she] can, so that they can be safe and play the sports that they love.”
Nov 10, 2020 | Emma Drzala, New Faculty
By Emma Drzala (V) The Pingry community welcomes Ms. Deanna Fischer to the Lower School faculty. Ms. Fischer joins the Lower School to teach fourth grade social studies and reading, as well as serve as an associate teacher and co-teacher to the Lower School’s mathematics specialist, Verna Lange.
Prior to teaching at Pingry, Ms. Fischer was a co-teacher to second grade students at Shongum Elementary School in Randolph, New Jersey, for three years. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology with human services and is currently working toward getting her master’s degree in P-3 Curriculum and Instruction at Montclair State University.
Ms. Fischer made the decision to join the Pingry community after she babysat two previous Pingry students and witnessed their enthusiasm and love for Pingry. Ms. Fischer heard of the school’s culture and camaraderie and decided to join the community. When she learned of the open position of an associate teacher, she felt as though she would “learn and grow as a teacher in this role.”
When she’s not teaching or studying for her masters, Ms. Fischer enjoys exercising, reading, and exploring nature. The Pingry community looks forward to the start of her journey at Pingry!
Nov 2, 2020 | Front Page News, School News, Sidebar News
By Emily Shen (V)
One of the most memorable and cherished traditions at Pingry is Convocation, a ceremony marking the school’s commitment to the Honor Code and a kick-off to the academic year. It was started in 1987 by Mr. John Hanly, the headmaster from 1987 to 2000. Mr. Hanly’s passing this year is a considerable loss, and Head of School Mr. Levinson acknowledged his significant impact on Pingry.
Each year, students arrive at the auditorium in formal attire, sitting alongside their peers and teachers. However, due to new social distancing measures only seniors could be seated in Hauser. Other students and faculty members watched the ceremony remotely, either in their advisory locations or at home. Senior faculty member and Magistri Mr. Miller Bugliari ’52 delivered the invocation, emphasizing that this year is a year of “testing” — a test of our community’s determination, resolve, and will.
After Mr. Bugliari, Student Body President Nolan Baynes (VI) lightened the mood by telling the Pingry community about a movement he started called “#respectfulsnowday,” an Instagram hashtag that demanded for snow days in a “polite” manner. However, the movement halted when it shifted from a hilarious tradition to serious conversations with Mr. Jake Ross, former Dean of Student Life. Although the fire of his first social media movement was extinguished, Baynes used that experience to fuel another one. Baynes spoke up about the racial injustices in the country, specifically the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor. In contrast to #respectfulsnowday, this story stemmed from genuine concern, confusion, and pain. When he expressed these emotions to the Pingry community, he found immense support in meetings, emails, and messages between the school’s leadership and students. This time, supportive actions were taken; Baynes emphasized the importance of voicing one’s genuine concerns and speaking out against injustice to spark change. The Honor Code teaches us that it is our responsibility, as members of the Pingry community, to use our strengths to create substantial impact and stand up for what is right.
The next speaker, Honor Board Chair Meghan Durkin (VI), began her speech by describing a news broadcast, which consists of 25 minutes of news and a kicker: a 5-minute positive bookend that leaves viewers “a sweet taste in their mouth to walk away with.” Although this year has felt like the negative news of the first 25 minutes, Durkin argued that we are now at the kicker, where the Pingry community has the opportunity to “redefine and bolster our values.” This year, the Honor Code is growing with the community to create a positive and compassionate environment; when there are challenges or obstacles, the Pingry community still upholds the Honor Code’s fundamental values of honor and integrity. At the end of Durkin’s speech, advisory and Honor Board representatives from the Middle and Upper School came to the stage to present Durkin and Baynes with copies of signed pledges that affirmed the students’ commitment to the Honor Code.
Then, Board of Trustees Chair Jeff Edwards ’78, P ’12, ’14, ’18 delivered his speech; he used Einstein’s saying of “in every difficulty lies opportunity,” but one’s mindset determines if a situation is one or the other. Despite the unpredicted difficulties, what lies at the heart of Pingry remains unchanged — our support and care for one another. He encouraged the students to approach the difficulties with an open mindset and an opportunistic outlook.
Mr. Levinson then recognized the twenty-five Magistri faculty members, who have served at Pingry for at least 25 years. He recounted a story about flat tires, highlighting the importance of seizing opportunities to learn from and understand each other.
Following Mr. Levinson’s remarks, members of the Pingry community joined together to listen to, and hum, “Old John Pingry.” As students and faculty exited Hauser and their advisory locations, each community member was reminded of our community’s values and traditions.
