During Williston Northampton School’s 186th Convocation on Friday, September 18, Dean of Faculty Chris Pelliccia presented two Instructorships and one Faculty Chair to three teachers Adam Sussbauer with the Emily N. McFadon Vincent ’49 and Bob E. Vincent Instructorship; Stefania Nugteren with the The George E. and Catherine B. Gregory Arts Instructorship; and Patrick Loftus with the Henry M. ’52 and Judith M. Zachs Faculty Chair.
Williston has a variety of Instructorships and Chairs that are given on a rotating basis. Learn more about the program on our website.
Below are Pelliccia’s remarks in full.
Good evening, Williston.
Students: you’ve now – nearly – completed your first full week of classes. You’ve been in each class only two or three times, but whether this is your first year at Williston or your sixth year, I’m sure you’ve noticed the passion and knowledge that your teachers bring to class each day. They are passionate about their subjects and deeply knowledgeable about the material and how to present it. And, and this I’m especially proud of, they are lifelong learners, modeling the very learning we ask of all of you. Six faculty members went to AP Institutes this summer to work with peers on how best to structure and run their classes, and three more are enrolled in graduate school courses to enhance their teaching. There’s a thriving faculty book club. Additionally, Art Institutes in California, We the People institutes in New Hampshire, and Civil Rights museums in Alabama are all examples of the places faculty traveled to this past summer to learn more. If you would, please join me in a quick round of applause to thank the faculty that are working – and always learning – to become the best teachers they can be, and in turn, to best help YOU all to learn, and to become the best students you all can be.
After we have – hopefully – successfully made you the best students you can be, you’ll graduate from Williston and become alumni of the school. Williston is fortunate to have many dedicated alumni whose philanthropic efforts help the mission of the school in various ways. This philanthropy ranges from new buildings – one, soon to be just about where we’re sitting tonight – to the Film Room in the Athletic Center, to the two Grum visiting artists and four Writer’s Workshop authors who will soon be joining us to share their craft. Further, generous alumni from throughout the school’s 186 years have funded a variety of Instructorships and Chairs to recognize exemplary faculty members. Instructorships and Chairs are awarded on a three or five year basis, respectively, and help facilitate the faculty member further exploring their field through conferences, coursework, travel, or other opportunities. This evening, I have the pleasure of honoring three of your faculty: two with Instructorships and one with a Chair.
Emily N. McFadon Vincent ’49 and Bob E. Vincent Instructorship
The Emily N. McFadon Vincent ’49 and Bob E. Vincent Instructorship was established in 2007 by Emily N. McFadon Vincent, Class of 1949, and her husband Bob to recognize a young faculty member’s initiatives in and out of the classroom.
The Vincent Instructorship this year goes to science teacher Adam Sussbauer.
It’s not every teacher who will volunteer for a two-week trip with students to Alaska aboard a research vessel with limited access to showers. But this is exactly what Mr. Sussbauer did. And not only volunteer, but jump at the opportunity. His love of learning and adventure were on clear display throughout the working trip, where he ably led a group of six Williston students as they travelled, worked, and confronted grizzlies on the research ship Endeavour among the fjords and islands of southeast Alaska, conducting geology, biodiversity, ecology, and marine biology research. In what is quickly becoming a marquee annual trip, Mr. Sussbauer set a tone of professionalism, scientific curiosity, and camaraderie.
Director of the Middle School, Ms. Fulcher captures his value perfectly by saying, “From the moment Adam joined our Middle School faculty, it was clear that we had found someone special. He brings a remarkable maturity to his teaching and pairs it with a genuine passion for science that is contagious. His classroom is the perfect balance of high expectations and joy.” That is not easy to do. Students echo this by noting that he always does a good job gaining interest in the beginning of class by leaving the class open for conversation, yet he also has structure so that students can stay grounded.
His colleague, and adult ultimate league teammate, Mr. Schaffer, adds, “Adam became a key part of Varsity Ultimate this past spring. From the sideline and even on the field during practices, he challenged the players to improve. He took on both roles of learning and teaching, seamlessly bridging the gap between calm leadership and enthusiastic participation.” Mr. Cunha adds, “I couldn’t have asked for a better person to establish our pickleball program in its inaugural season. Adam showed up each day projecting a positive attitude and a willingness to learn, quickly establishing himself as approachable and friendly.”
And to return once more to his students, “Mr. Sussbauer connects the things we are learning to the area around us and things we have learned about the world. He makes the subject interesting” says one. Another adds, “he will answer any question you have.” A final sums it up with, “he asks us questions.” He asks us questions. Because he’s curious, because he has established a student-centered class predicated on inquiry, and because he cares about his students, he asks them questions. It is for these reasons that I am pleased to award the Vincent Instructorship to Mr. Adam Sussbauer.
The George E. Gregory and Catherine B. Gregory Instructorship
Established in 2007 by Dick Gregory, former faculty member, in honor of his parents. The purpose of the instructorship is to recognize the initiatives of a faculty member of the fine arts — in and out of the classroom.
The George E. and Catherine B. Gregory Arts Instructorship goes to photography teacher Stefania Nugteren.
Ms. Nugteren joined us last year from Hebron Academy, in Hebron, Maine. Ms. Nugteren joined Williston with over eight years of experience at both boarding and day schools and a commitment to student development through her classes, mentorship, and residential life. From her first days at Williston, this was immediately evident. As an art teacher, she taught photography to a mix of middle and upper schoolers. Dropping by her class from time to time, I saw Ms. Nugteren speaking with genuine passion and thorough understanding about the history, process, and composition of photography. And I regularly saw students engaged, working creatively, talking and collaborating among themselves, and producing some stunning photos and films. As the dorm head of Hathaway House, she was a leader and role model to a dozen girls. From the early days of September to the last days of May, she was there for the residents of Hathaway, helping that small dorm feel like a cozy home. As a yoga coach, Ms. Nugteren adeptly led a group of twelve students each afternoon in the spring – showcasing her love and knowledge of yoga both indoors and out.
Fellow art teacher Ms. Staples describes her by saying that Ms. Nugteren is, “a photographic artist deeply passionate about her work in the studio. I have witnessed innumerable conversations she has had with students, as she encourages them to dive deeper into their work to find success and strengthen their own craft and artistic voices.” Ms. Fulcher goes on to say, “this past year we launched 8th-grade Photography and Filmmaking, with large sections and the challenge of building something new. Ms. Nugteren brought a true ‘can-do’ spirit to every day. She embraced the challenge, made the program her own, and made sure every student felt known and connected. Her classroom strikes the balance between high expectations and warmth.” Former head of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, Natania Hume, added, “She is a little bit like a duck where she is seemingly gliding along calm as can be while quietly working and paddling hard under the water. She is always thoughtful and articulate and thinking about what is best for students.”
Appropriate that all three reference her students. Those students have equal adoration for Ms. Nugteren. One says that they enjoyed her courses because of the “interactive teaching. She’s very passionate about filmmaking and knows a lot about it. She has check ins and makes sure we have everything planned out prior to filming.” One student said simply that, “she makes art interesting” and a third followed up with, “Ms. Nugteren is a great teacher, and I love being in her class.” From these and so many more instances in the classroom, dorm, and now the Grubb’s Gallery, it is clear that Ms. Nugteren has made a tremendous impact on her students and on the greater Williston campus. It is for these reasons that I am excited to award her the George and Catherine Gregory Arts Instructorship.
Henry M. ’52 and Judith M. Zachs Faculty Chair
Established in 1999 by Henry ’52 and Judith Zachs.
The Henry M. ’52 and Judith M. Zachs Chair is awarded to English teacher Patrick Loftus.
Mr. Loftus is entering his third year teaching here at Williston. Prior to Williston, Mr. Loftus taught English and psychology at an independent school in Pennsylvania, where he was also the tennis coach, a role he continues to carry out here. Here at Williston, he has been a respected member of the English department, teaching 9th, 10th, and now AP English, a trusted dorm parent in Ford Hall, and a passionate coach of both varsity squash and tennis. I have always valued talking with Patrick – about English or squash, students or athletes, or our mutual connection to Cape May, New Jersey. He’s knowledgeable, thoughtful, and passionate about all, yet will just as quickly listen intently and with genuine interest. All traits of an excellent teacher. In talking with his colleagues and students, we learn even more about the impact Mr. Loftus has had on our community.
From Haas: Patrick is an incredible educator, who is deeply invested in his students and their success. He is always willing to go the extra mile to make the student experience at Williston a meaningful and positive one. He supports his colleagues in any way he can, and regularly inspires my own teaching with his lesson plans. He is a community builder in the truest sense and Williston is so, so lucky to have him. Department Head Matt Liebowitz is more succinct, yet just as laudatory, when he describes Patrick as, “a model of compassion, patience, and kindness in the classroom.” Director of Athletics Ms. Morris goes on to add that, “Mr. Loftus is on a very short list of coaches at Williston who lead two varsity programs, and he has made a tremendous impact on both squash and tennis. He is competitive and wants his teams to succeed, but never at the expense of joy or connection. What stands out most is the relationships he builds with his students and the way he manages two programs largely on his own with incredible care, consistency, and energy.”
Turning to his students, they echo these same sentiments, if from the other side of the proverbial desk. One describes how Mr. Loftus centers students in the classroom by saying, “He makes sure to ask questions. That is, he keeps the class involved in conversation.” Another says, “He makes us do lots of group activities,” before quickly adding, “which is a lot of fun.” A third adds that, “I like when there are topics drawn on the whiteboard and each person in the class has to write something down. I like seeing others people’s opinions and going through them afterwards. I always know I can talk to him if I have a problem.” Over and over, I hear the words “respectful”, “engaging”, “interactive”, “supportive”, and yes, “fun” used to describe his classes.
Ms. Sawyer has a more elegant and descriptive way with words than I do, so I defer to her for closing remarks on the impact that Mr. Loftus has made – and will continue to make – on our adult and student community here at Williston. She writes, “Patrick is the perfect colleague: he’s a perfect example of the “warm demander,” and he is a generous, thoughtful collaborator. He adds authentic delight into his interactions with his students, his fellow teachers, and his friends, all of whom see him as a person of many interests. Patrick is the best, and I’m so grateful for his humor, his curiosity, and his intellect every single day.
Patrick, for all you do for Williston, I’m pleased to award you the Zachs Chair.