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Mrs. Abby Williams Dean of Students
When she joined St. Richard's School three years ago as Dean of Students, it was readily apparent that the School had hired the perfect person for the job. Mrs. Williams coordinates the Student Government Association, established an Emergency Campus plan to cover most contingencies, actively contributes to Community By Design (an internal support group), oversees the Aftercare division and food service programs, represents St. Richard?s School on the Indianapolis Area Private School Diversity Consortium, plans and organizes weekly school assemblies, restructured middle school weekly advisories, coordinates dismissal and morning announcements, and works with the Student Assistance Team. These tasks are actually in addition to handling discipline for all students at St. Richard?s School from age 3 through 8th grade. It is this portion of her job that Mrs. Williams finds most rewarding. Mrs. Williams enjoys the variety of issues that send students to her office. The emotional needs of an Early Childhood student vary greatly from issues affecting Middle School students. Having a background in Special Education is helpful when working with students with different learning styles, and Mrs. Williams contributes to developing methods to best serve these students. Mrs. Williams has been married for 7 years to Kyle Williams, a school counselor at Lawrence North High School. They have two children, Cole, who is 3, and Rose, who is 4 months old. She runs 3-5 miles per day and has finished three full marathons, several sprint triathlons and over twenty mini marathons. Her dog Warren is her biggest motivator for running. In her spare time, Abby enjoys spending time outdoors and being with her family. Her mother and father live nearby, and her younger brother is pursuing his passion for music in Chicago. If you?ve ever heard the adage, "If you want something done, ask a busy person,? you?ll know that Abby Williams is frequently on the list. To view other student, faculty, and alumni profiles, please look under School Life, Achievements. Mrs. Carolyn Lausch Academic Dean
When it comes to all things British, Carolyn Lausch is in her element. Upon joining St. Richard's School in 2001 as the Head of Middle School, Mrs. Lausch embraced the English traditions that have flourished here since our inception in 1960. High Tea, English literature, and Episcopal services mesh perfectly with her long-standing membership in the Indianapolis English Speaking Union, the English maze and vegetable garden she and her husband created in the garden of their English Tudor home, and her love of English hedgehogs. Following 23 years of secondary education at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, Mrs. Lausch continued her work in Jesuit studies for three years in the national office of Jesuit Secondary Education. Prior to joining St. Richard's, she was awarded the Ignatian Educator Award for outstanding service to secondary education, a prestigious national award usually presented to members of the Jesuit order. In keeping with her background, Carolyn focuses on the Ignatius paradigm of experience, reflection, and action. As Academic Dean and Eighth Grade Writing Symposium teacher, Mrs. Lausch encourages students and teachers to reflect upon their experiences, drawing from them introspective and life-expanding actions. Her favorite author, Rainer Maria Rilke, writes in Letters to a Young Poet, "You have to love life's questions." Mrs. Lausch encourages her students to "love life's questions," so that one day, they might find the answers. As a Lilly fellow, Mrs. Lausch spent time in solitude in Gethsemani, Kentucky, and attended a poetry festival in Ireland. During this experience, she continued writing a book entitled, "A Privileged Moment: A Teacher's Journey With Her Students." True to form, the book includes her own reflections and anecdotal stories of students she has influenced in her significant teaching career. This year will be her 24th year of leading a writing class for senior adults entitled I've Got a Story to Tell, held at the Indianapolis Senior Center. Most recently, Mrs. Lausch has been selected as a participant of the Teacher Program sponsored by the Government of Japan and the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund. Designed to promote greater cultural understanding between Japan and the United States, participants will spend three weeks in Japan sharing ideas and experiences with Japanese primary and secondary educators. Mrs. Lausch leaves on this trip on October 14th and will spend six days in Tokyo and 15 days in Himaji, Japan. She is excited about this opportunity and hopes to network St. Richard's School with some Japanese sister schools. The honor of this privilege is a tribute to Mrs. Lausch's life work and will enhance St. Richard's significant Global Readiness preparation. St. Richard's School is proud to have such an accomplished woman and Academic Dean as a colleague and an educator! Rev. Peter Cheney St. Richard's School Hires Episcopal Executive as Interim Headmaster
Mr. Cheney will officially begin his duties at St. Richard's School this July.
C'est magnifique! Last year, Mary Louise Cardwell was recognized for her achievements in teaching Early Childhood French by being named Indiana's French Teacher of the Year. Born in El Paso, Texas, Mrs. Cardwell is a dual national: she is a citizen of the United States and France. Having received her Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College and a Masters from Middlebury College, Mary Louise achieved a Masters degree in Library Science from Indiana University. She has worked for UNICEF in Geneva, Switzerland, and was a lower school librarian for the International School there.
This year, both LoAndr頡nd Patricia Biberstein have been nominated for the 2006 Indiana French Teacher of the Year. Monsieur (or M.). Andr頴eaches grades 2 through 5, and Mrs. Biberstein continues with grades 6-8. Both are outstanding educators and their students achieve much success in French within St. Richard's School and beyond. Mr. Andr頷as born in Normandy and is a citizen of France. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Caen in France. He received his M.A. in comparative literature and his Licentiate of European Studies at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, where he met his wife, Bethany. Upon graduation, the Andr鳠moved to Indianapolis for Bethany's work while Locompleted his thesis. He is now in his sixth year at St. Richard's School and has led several Back-to-Back trips to France and Qu颥c. The students love the enthusiasm and humor that he brings to the classroom and on trips abroad. Mr. Andr霧s French website (found on the SRS website) is a mastery. French students from all over the world have visited it because of its thoroughness. He and his wife, Bethany, have two dogs and have recently served twice as foster parents. The Andr鳠are leading a trip to France during the 2007 spring break, an opportunity available to all who wish to attend. Mrs. Biberstein, or "Miz B" as she is affectionately called, engages her students on many levels. Born in Decatur, Indiana, Patricia LaFontaine received both her Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Science degree in both French and English from the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She married Ken Biberstein ten years ago and receives great joy from her life with Ken, their two married daughters, and her two-year old grandson. She devotedly says that Chad Michael teaches the family the infinite beauty of the little things in life. Madame Biberstein is in her 34th year of teaching French, having taught eight years on the middle school level (she created the program), eighteen years at the high school level, and eight years at St. Richard's School. Between middle school and high school teaching, Madame Biberstein spent a year's sabbatical at Laval University in Quebec City and also summer studies at the Institute for American Universities in France. Mrs. Biberstein's students will tell you that there is no other class like hers. Engaged from the beginning of class time until the end, the repartee of beautiful French accents can be heard. ?Children of Grace,? as she calls her students, flourish in the love she provides and the belief that they truly can achieve the high expectations that Mrs. Biberstein sets for them. A favorite annual project of eighth grade French is the Tour de France metaphor project. After a lengthy study of the Tour de France, students are asked to find pictures from magazines that are metaphors of characteristics of the race and write sentences using those metaphors. The results will amaze you. Every year, St. Richard's middle school students are well represented on the top ten list of the National French exam and the Indiana state French exam. They always place in at least French II in area high schools, but more often than not are placed in French III. A select few enter French IV. In 2006 alone, five high school seniors, St. Richard's alums, were selected by the Indiana University Honors Program to study in France for 6 weeks during the summer. The students were placed with French families and were only allowed to speak French during their stay. Regularly, alumni report that their background in French has opened career doors for them that they had not previously anticipated. These three French teachers prepare St. Richard's students with global readiness. Merci, Mrs. Cardwell, Mr. Andr鬠and Mrs. Biberstein for the joy and the skill with which you teach!
The 2006-2007 school year represents Mr. Sherrill's 21st year at St. Richard's School. A native of Noblesville, Jay Sherrill graduated from Noblesville High School and attended Huntington College on a baseball scholarship. He served as the coach for Huntington's girl's softball team his senior year, and tried out for the Kansas City Royals. Following graduation, Mr. Sherrill ran the athletic program at the Noblesville Boys and Girls Club for three years before St. Richard's School recruited him. As a child, Jay's favorite athlete was George Brett, 3rd baseman for the Kansas City Royals. It was therefore particularly exciting to meet Mr. Brett when Jay tried out for the Royals in the early 1980's. As an adult, Mr. Sherrill's favorite professional athlete is Tiger Woods. ?Since I play golf, I recognize how unusual it is for someone [Tiger] to be that good. Not only is he a skilled golfer, he excels at the mental game of golf by adapting his game to the course he is currently playing. He doesn't play the game the same way each time.? As for amateur sports, Mr. Sherrill's heart lies with his son, Tyler, 13, a seventh grader at Noblesville Middle School. Tyler plays nose tackle for NMS football. ?I have loved watching my son grow into an amazing young man who happens to be finding his stride athletically. It is very exciting for me to be able to attend his games and marvel at the athlete he has become.? When Mr. Sherrill joined St. Richard's in 1986, the school sports program included kickball and soccer. Twenty years later, St. Richard's School is competitive in soccer, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, and volleyball and conducts intramural sports in basketball and soccer. During the summers, Jay has been very active in sports camps. He has participated in the Billy Keller basketball camps for the last 15 years with St. Richard's students, and worked with the Alan Henderson basketball camp for the ten years it was held. Jay Sherrill is a jewel in the crown of St. Richard's School. He says, ?I am where I am supposed to be. I love the students, their willingness to participate with sportsmanship and positive attitude, and the parental support at the school is significant. The kids keep me young, especially the Early Childhood children.?
Peter Connallon , Fifth Grade Teacher
Mr. Connallon served the United States Army for twenty-seven years. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant Regular Army as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He is alsoa graduateof the Command and General Staff College of the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam and in Germany, and left the service with several decorations including the Bronze Star. Mr. Connallon is a Retired Lieutenant Colonel for the Medical Service Corps following active Desert Storm duty. He was responsible for coordinating medical care for what came to be known as Desert Storm Syndrome and coordinated directly with Walter Reed Hospital on an Epidemiological Consult. He is co-author of an article published in Military Magazine regarding Desert Storm Syndrome. Since 1973, Mr. Connallon has taught math and science at Eastern Kentucky University Laboratory School (4th & 5th grade), Marian College (teacher preparation courses), Central Nine Vocational School (for adults) and Indianapolis Public Schools (7th & 8th grade). He also has supervised student teachers at Indiana University as well as at Marian College and Central Nine Vocational School. Mr. Connallon earned a BS in Elementary Education and a MS of Educational Psychology and Guidance from Eastern Kentucky University. He has completed a graduate study of Curriculum and Instruction as well as a graduate study in Elementary Education, Environmental Studies, and Elementary School Administration at Indiana University. Often the military will give soldiers specific deadlines, limited resources, unknown factors and the directive to ?make it happen.? This encourages looking for ways to make things work instead of finding excuses for why they won't. The bonding that occurs amongst military personnel is a kinship not well understood by non-military. However, Mr. C's students understand the camaraderie fostered by his caring, supportive manner and develop their own bond with him and amongst their classmates. His personal knowledge of the military and respect for United States veterans brings insight to students largely untouched by war. Mr. C was looking for a change from public education when he discovered St. Richard's School. He thrives on the supportive and yet demanding atmosphere of St. Richard's. ?The demanding academics challenge me to be creative while the supportive parents, faculty and administration provide an encouraging environment. The students are wonderful, creative, and enthusiastic which frees me to be a teacher, not a warden. I feel the freedom here to attempt to foster all aspects of a student's development as expressed in the St. Richard's Affirmation of Honor:? ?As a member of St. Richard's School, I celebrate: My love for God, the acceptance of personal responsibility, the values of knowledge, honesty, integrity, and service; and openness to the diverse world in which I live.? Mr. Connallon's style of teaching creates respect from his students and fosters their love of learning. The creative methods he uses leaves them always wanting to learn more. Mr. C's leadership and global thinking develops analytical thinkers, good citizens, and eager students. St. Richard's School is proud to have Pete Connallon as a friend, a colleague, and a respected member of our faculty.
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When you meet Dean of Students Abby Williams, you know you have met someone with high energy and enthusiasm to tackle nearly anything. A graduate of Indiana University with a Masters from Butler University, Abby is licensed in School Administration K-12, English Education in grades 6-12, and Special Education in grades K-12. Experienced in both public and private schools in Indianapolis, Abby is comfortable on her feet in both the classroom with students and working with other leaders in the community.
St. Richard's School is pleased to announce that The Reverend Peter Cheney has accepted the position of Interim Headmaster for the 2007-2008 school year. Mr. Cheney has been Executive Director of the National Association of Episcopal Schools in New York City since 1998. Since 2002, he has also served as the Associate Chaplain of St. Ann's Chapel in Kennebunkport, Maine. Over the course of his career, Mr. Cheney has served in the positions of Director of Development, Director of Admission, Chaplain, Teacher, and Counselor for several Episcopal schools across the country and brings a breadth of knowledge of several important aspects of independent schools to St. Richard's School and the Indianapolis community.
After 26 years of living abroad, Mary Louise returned to Indianapolis and joined St. Richard's School where she ?came home.? This is now her 14th year. ?I love the fact that so many parents here value French as a language and know what a door-opener French is in Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. It's very satisfying to watch our young children's lively and joyful participation in French class. It's also a pleasure when our graduates come back and share with us their considerable successes in French.?
Jay Sherrill, Co-Athletic Director
If I am successful, your life will be better.? This quote describes Pete Connallon's approach to teaching. Not only does he excel at math and science instruction, he also fosters all aspects of a student's development.?Mr. C,?as he is affectionately called by his students, develops his classroom curriculum and enrichment opportunities from such things as analyzing his home water bill, drawing three-dimensional objects using a T-square, measuring everything circular in his room to prove ?pi,? or even creating boats out of aluminum foil to prove strength versus agility.