Harpeth Hall celebrates the heart of its community at the Faculty Appreciation Assembly

Senior Ferrell Wilson wants her fellow Harpeth Hall students to understand one thing: the bond and mentorship they share with their teachers is not a universal experience for middle and high school students everywhere. 

In fact, to Ferrell, the connection she sees between the faculty, staff, and students at Harpeth Hall is something truly distinctive.

“It is unique to Harpeth Hall that our teachers would try to give us a substitute [opportunity] for the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C., even though the whole world was shut down [during the pandemic],” Ferrell said to students during the annual Faculty Appreciation Assembly. “It is unique to Harpeth Hall that someone would save a chicken biscuit for a student because they were late to the Max. It is unique to Harpeth Hall that a teacher would watch ‘Dancing with the Stars’ just because some of her students love it and won’t stop talking about it.”

It comes down to one defining attribute: the teachers truly care. 

Harpeth Hall faculty and staff are deeply committed to students’ success – both in and out of the classroom. They arrive early to help students understand difficult concepts from the homework. They stay late to lead student club activities, from hiking adventures to mock trial practice. They show up on weekends to cheer at basketball games, orchestra recitals, and science fairs. Whether jumping on stage for the annual lip sync competition or performing in the faculty band, they bring joy and energy to the life of the school. Most importantly, Harpeth Hall’s teachers meet each student where she is, offering empathy, respect, and encouragement. 

Year after year, graduating seniors say that the meaningful relationships they built with their teachers are what they value most about their time at school. The feeling is mutual.

“Here is the good news,” Head of School Jess Hill remarked. “Without hesitation, the faculty say all of you – our students – are what make this place so special.”

Each spring, during what is known as the students' favorite assembly, faculty members are honored with words that capture and reflect the impact each educator has on Harpeth Hall.

“I love having this opportunity and moment in the school year to honor all of our teaching and non-teaching faculty members who are the heart and soul of our school,” Ms. Hill said. “Each year, this gathering is a celebration of all of you and a reflection of our community and our values as a school.”

During the assembly, Ms. Hill recognized three faculty members with the school's highest awards for teaching.

Theatre director Lauren Bromfield received the Heath Jones Prize for the Promise of Excellence in Teaching. Middle school science teacher Bekah Hassell was presented with the Ellen Bowers Hofstead Chair. Director of Counseling Fran Maddox was honored with the Lulu Hampton Owen Chair for Excellence in Teaching.

Director of the Upper School Frances Fondren-Bales and Director of the Middle School Elizabeth Ecker '00 joined in honoring faculty and staff members who have been at Harpeth Hall for 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. Ms. Hill also recognized upper school social studies teacher Art Echerd and middle school English teacher Mary Wheeler, who are retiring this school year. As each name was called, students rose to their feet in cheers, filling the room with sincere gratitude.

“To all of the faculty and staff, thank you for all that you do,” Ferrell said. “Please know that you have made a difference in your students’ lives, and even if you don’t always feel it, just know that we are so thankful for you. To all students, please tell your teachers how much you appreciate them, they might not know, so they definitely need to hear it.”

Heath Jones Prize for the Promise of Excellence in Teaching

Lauren Bromfield received the Heath Jones Prize for the Promise of Excellence in Teaching. This prize is dedicated to A. Heath Jones, a teacher and academic dean at Harpeth Hall from 1984 to 1996. Harpeth Hall awards this prize annually to a full-time teacher who has had five years or less of classroom experience and has taught at Harpeth Hall for at least two years.

When Ms. Bromfield came to Harpeth Hall, she swept into the performing arts department and infused it with energy, excitement, camaraderie, and fun. She developed a vertically aligned series of courses that allows students to build a portfolio and fine-tune audition skills to take their talents to the next level in a college program. Ms. Bromfield also shares her expertise in public speaking with the seniors preparing for presentations, and she has Harpeth Hall’s faculty provide better feedback about public speaking in the classroom. In only a few years at Harpeth Hall, she has had wonderful effects on our full community, from colleagues to students to parents. “Thank you for uniting our community through live educational theatre,” Ms. Hill said. “Congratulations, Ms. Bromfield, for all you have done for our actors and audiences in a few short years!” 

Ellen Bowers Hofstead Chair

Bekah Hassell received the Ellen Bowers Hofstead Chair, an award established by James W. Hofstead in loving memory of his wife. Mrs. Hofstead graduated from Ward-Belmont Preparatory School in 1934 and Ward-Belmont Junior College in 1935. This recognition is awarded for a period of three years. Recipients of the Ellen Bowers Hofstead Chair demonstrate a high level of distinction in learning and teaching, have earned an advanced degree, and have made a full-time commitment to Harpeth Hall for a minimum of five years.

Ms. Hassell is intellectually curious about everything — from life’s tiniest creatures to the most innovative methods of teaching and learning to the best practices as a teacher-leader. Her energy and excitement about learning are palpable, and somehow she makes it cool to learn about life — one cell at a time. As a teacher, Ms. Hassell keeps the academic bar high and, at the same time, she offers plenty of support for students to reach and surpass that bar. When it is time to roll up her sleeves to help a colleague, she is there. She leads her department with humility, curiosity, and ongoing support and reflection. “Collaborative, dynamic, unflappable, deeply caring, positive, and always equipped with a wonderful sense of humor, Ms. Hassell takes her work seriously, but never herself,” Ms. Hill said. “And where would we be without the tradition she began years ago of transforming a science classroom into a human cell?” 

Lulu Hampton Owen Chair for Excellence in Teaching

Fran Maddox received the ​Lulu Hampton Owen Chair for Excellence in Teaching. This recognition is awarded annually to an outstanding member of the Harpeth Hall faculty who demonstrates excellence in scholarship, an unusual ability to communicate with students, excitement about teaching and learning, a commitment to the moral and intellectual development of students, and dedication to the life of the school. The appointment is for one year and carries with it honor, remuneration, and a Harpeth Hall chair, which serves as a symbol for this award.

Ms. Maddox exudes calm in a storm and wisdom in critical moments. She has worn many hats at Harpeth Hall, from her role as a counselor in the upper school beginning in 2003 to reinventing herself as a middle school French teacher in 2015. In 2020, she stepped up to lead the counseling program at Harpeth Hall. She has a beautiful ability to communicate with students, but it doesn’t stop there. She has a way of working with teachers, staff, and parents that is helpful, informative, reassuring, and vital to the community we hold dear. “As educators, we all know that students learn best when they feel safe and are valued,” Ms. Hill said. “And Ms. Maddox’s mission is to ensure our students are seen and heard and valued each day.”

Retiring

This year, two faculty and staff members are retiring after decades of service to our school. Head of School Jess Hill honored the tenures of two faculty members and presented them with a gift representative of the school’s gratitude.

Art Echerd, upper school social sciences teacher, has been a fixture on Harpeth Hall’s campus for four decades. “Dr. Echerd’s teaching is infused with a signature mix of humor, humility, and historical depth,” Ms. Hill said. “He delights in making sure his students remember and appreciate how much there is to know about the world. Dr. Echerd is, above all, a storyteller. But in his quintessential Art Echerd way, he never strayed from his core belief that learning is a shared journey. He said, ‘I never stop learning, even as a teacher - my students taught me as much as I taught them.’” Outside of the classroom, Dr. Echerd could always be found at sporting events and poetry readings, celebrating Harpeth Hall students. “He showed us we mattered – not just as students, but as people,” one alumna remarked, “He taught me the value of showing up for your community.” Throughout his time at Harpeth Hall, Dr. Echerd upheld our motto of lifting the mind and spirit, and inspired students to do the same. 

Mary Wheeler, middle school English teacher, is retiring from Harpeth Hall after 46 years of teaching – nine of those in the classrooms of Harpeth Hall. “We won the lottery when this energetic, creative, devoted, and experienced teacher walked through our doors,” Ms. Hill said. “Mrs. Wheeler has sustained the kind of enthusiasm for teaching and love of learning that administrators and people like me would like to bottle. She is truly a model educator.” During her time at Harpeth Hall, Mrs. Wheeler was a teacher-leader, collaborator, encourager, and curriculum designer, involving herself in all aspects of the school. As a teacher, Mrs. Wheeler has instilled a sense of wonder in her students and has served as a role model for so many. 

Harpeth Hall congratulates our faculty and staff on these career milestones

10 years
Jessie Adams, director of community engagement and upper school public purpose coordinator
Miller Callen, advancement communications and parent relations
Alex Crawley, server and imaging engineer
Leslie Chamberlain, upper school science teacher
Tricia McNally, middle school English teacher
Carmen Noel, upper school visual arts teacher
Jessica Viner, director of enrollment management
Vanesa Wenz, upper school Spanish teacher

15 years
CJ Jones, middle school English teacher
Lori McDermott, orchestra director
Jim Romero, associate athletic director

20 years
Jennifer Webster, STEM Center for Girls director and upper school math teacher

25 years
Sandra Easley, SAGE dining staff

30 years
Molly Rumsey, director of information services