Country School Recognizes Excellence in Teaching at Annual Event

From New Canaan Country School: The Country School community gathered to welcome Head of School Aaron Cooper, to honor faculty and staff, and to celebrate the school’s momentum at the 2018 Annual Meeting & Dinner.

Board President Randy Salvatore of New Canaan shared recent successes including the opening of the Susan Haigh Carver ’51 Dining Hall & Commons and plans for a new Athletic Center, as well as fundraising achievements and Parents’ Association contributions, before turning the night over to Mr. Cooper.

“Aaron brings to NCCS an impressive record of experience and achievement as an educator, leader, administrator, and visionary for early childhood education,” said Mr. Salvatore. “Personally, the more time I have spent with Aaron both during the search process and more recently in planning for the upcoming year and future ahead, the more conviction I have that Aaron is the right individual to lead us into the future and I am so excited about what lies ahead.”

Mr. Cooper shared his excitement for joining the NCCS community and said that what drew him to the school is its unique approach to developing students’ intellectual capacity during the critical formative years, which has garnered it a national reputation as a leader among independent elementary and middle schools.

Earlier in the evening, Mr. Cooper presented three Faculty Chair Awards for exemplary teaching. Middle School Spanish teacher Abby Cali of Wilton was presented the Holmes Family Faculty Chair, Kindergarten teacher Darby Webber of New Canaan was presented the Laverack Family Faculty Chair and Upper School science teacher Scott Lilley of New Canaan was presented the Williams Family Faculty Chair. He also recognized teachers Lilani Balasuriya of Stamford and Fraser Randolph of Danbury each for their 30 years of extraordinary teaching, along with other faculty and staff celebrating milestone service anniversaries.

“Country School, if you boil it down to its essence, cultivates two things above all others – respect for childhood and excellent teaching."

Awarded every two years, faculty chairs have been endowed by three former Country School families in recognition of exceptional full-time faculty who demonstrate a commitment to engaging and inspiring students, creating curriculum to reach all learners, and seeking ongoing professional development. They also provide financial support for growth in academic research, teaching or service.

Mrs. Cali joined Country School in 2011 and currently serves as the World Language Department Chair. In a nomination letter, a colleague wrote about her: “As department chair, she is extremely encouraging and constantly supporting professional development opportunities for others. She has worked tirelessly to improve the transition of language study between the divisions and she is always willing to share lessons and materials with colleagues.”

In addition to her teaching and department chair responsibilities, Mrs. Cali coaches field hockey, volleyball, leads Middle School clubs and is always eager to help in any way she can, whether it’s running one of the Kyle Markes Day of Service volunteer groups or offering to drive vans for Middle and Upper School away games. Last year, she attended the People of Color Conference and chaperoned the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, such is her commitment to helping all students feel a sense of belonging at NCCS.

Ms. Webber first joined the school 8 years ago as a Kindergarten apprentice before taking on the role of lead teacher. She recently completed her masters with a double major from Manhattanville College.

Ms. Webber has actively sought out ways, both on and off campus, to grow her practice by visiting peer schools to learn more about innovative ways to teach math, project-based learning and literacy. She fully embraced the work of RULER and was an early adopter of the mood meter and the classroom charter, cornerstones of the school’s social-emotional curriculum. She is also part of the team that designed the full-day Kindergarten program. She serves as a member of the school’s sustainability committee.

Colleagues say: “Darby exemplifies our mission in every way. She is the embodiment of collaboration and positivity. Her approach to teaching and promoting children is what every 5-year old needs to be successful at Country School and beyond.”

Mr. Lilley began his career in education at NCCS as an apprentice teacher 20 years ago. He has been instrumental in connecting students to nature, whether by fully exploring the resources of the school’s 75-acre campus, or leading them in off-campus trips all over the region, country and hemisphere. As the varsity football and girls' hockey coach, his relationships with his students extend far beyond the classroom.

A colleague says: “Scott is one of the most caring and thoughtful educators I have encountered. Scott is innately (and insanely) curious. He is always integrating current events, Twitter insights, and books that he's reading into his 7th and 9th grade science curricula. With a keen eye for sustainable practices in all his ventures, Scott also holds his students to a high standard of excellence and inspires them to do good in the world.”

New Canaan Country School is a co-ed, independent day school for students in pre-K through Grade 9. The school is located on a 75-acre campus in New Canaan and provides transportation to families throughout Westchester and Fairfield counties. For more information about the school, please visit: www.countryschool.net.

Photos: 1. New Canaan Country School Spanish teacher Abby Cali of Wilton, Upper School science teacher Scott Lilley of New Canaan and Kindergarten teacher Darby Webber of New Canaan were each presented Faculty Chair Awards for exemplary teaching. 2. New Canaan Country School sixth grade teacher Fraser Randolph of Danbury and Kindergarten teacher Lilani Balasuriya of Stamford were each recognized for their 30 years of extraordinary teaching at the school’s annual meeting. Photo credit: New Canaan Country School

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