Each year, we report on the transformative Summer Journeys that take Taft students across the globe to learn, serve, teach, and to explore their passions with support from endowed travel and study funds. Similarly, Taft invites faculty members to apply for grants to pursue opportunities for professional growth, advancing Taft’s curriculum, and personal enrichment. Last summer, close to 40 faculty summer grants were awarded.

Like Taft students, faculty members traveled in service to communities across the globe. Notably, History and Global Studies teacher Alex Rivenburgh served at The School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), a boarding school for Afghan girls. Under Taliban rule, Afghan girls could not attend school. When the Taliban fell in 2001, doors began to open—slowly—though many barriers remained. In 2016, SOLA welcomed 24 young women to a new and safe learning environment; five years later, the Taliban returned to power, and SOLA left Afghanistan to protect the then 100 young women enrolled at the school. They resumed operations in Rwanda, where Rivenburgh was among their teachers last summer.

“Perspective is the greatest,” says Rivenburgh. “Seeing some students so intently seek education that they will leave their lives and families behind was awe-inspiring. The girls at SOLA have been through so much and are willing to push through simply for the act of being educated.”

Faculty members also participated in world-renowned programs and workshops, including English Teacher Roddy Pratt, who attended the celebrated Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference at Middlebury College, and Arts Department Head and Dance Teacher Sarah Surber, who studied at Limón Institute, home to the Limón Dance Company the vanguard of American Modern dance since its inception in 1946 and one of the world’s most celebrated dance companies. Mathematics Teacher Dr. Mostafa Mirabi traveled to Harvard and Princeton to continue work with fellow mathematicians on the high-level, award-winning and innovative research that has become a hallmark of his academic career.

Science Teacher Dr. Amanda Benedict traveled to the Colorado Rockies for an educator’s expedition at the High Mountain Institute. English and Art History Teacher Alex Werrell traveled to Italy, History Teachers Rachael Ryan and Greg Hawes traveled through Europe, and History and Global Studies Teacher Brian Lundgren spent six weeks exploring four countries in Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.

“A particular focus for me was the development of national identities since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the ways in which this period is remembered. Both in my day-to-day travels and during longer guided excursions off the beaten path, I had numerous opportunities to explore these themes and engage in thoughtful conversations about them,” explains Lundgren. “These experiences and perspectives will certainly inform both my Imperial Russia elective and History of the Soviet Union course.”

Like Lundgren, other faculty members bolstered Taft’s curriculum by using grant dollars to support the course development and enhancements: Mr. Ganung worked on Perennial Philosophy East and West, Mr. Hess is developing new computer science electives; Ms. Hill is building new Human Geography electives; Ms. Ryan dedicated time to Honors Psychology of Politics; Mr. Rivenburgh worked on his Legal Studies curriculum, and Dr. Mostafa shaped a new post-calculus elective, to name just a few.

A number of funds support faculty members engaged in graduate-level studies and ongoing degree programs. Dean of Students Lindsay Leal, School Counselor Gaby Dorval, Assistant Director of Admission and Boys’ Head Hockey Coach Ryan Shannon, Science Teacher Kevin Conroy, and History and Global Studies Department Head and GLI Director Bri Foley were among those faculty members continuing their formal education with support from endowed funds last summer.

Faculty members also worked on textbooks and course updates, and participated in a vast array of workshops and programs hosted by professional associations and peer schools. Finally, members of the English department produced an approach to enhancing students’ AI literacy that, notes Co-Dean of Faculty Jillian Danaher, could serve as a model for other departments at Taft.

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The following funds supported faculty work last summer:

Regina and Earle W. Brauer, M.D. Faculty Enrichment Fund, established in 1996 by Henry G. Brauer ’74, promotes excellence in teaching by enabling a member of the faculty to undertake significant summer projects directly related to their work at Taft.

Davis Family Junior Faculty Fund, established in 2006 by Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey D. Davis to attract, support, and retain junior members of the faculty, is awarded annually to faculty who have been teaching at the Taft School for four years or less.

Gillikin Family Faculty Fund was established in 2007 by Robert and Martha Gillikin, parents of J. David Gillikin, Class of 1993, as a tribute to Frederick H. Wandelt III, Class of 1966 and former Director of Admissions, for his positive influence on Taft students for many years. The fund provides annual support to members of the faculty who wish to enhance their effectiveness as both educators and role models by furthering their education or pursuing professional development. Grants can support tuition costs as well as seminar and conference expenses.

Alice and Arthur Greer Faculty Fund, established in their memory in 1997 as an endowment by their son, Jay A. Greer, Class of 1950, provides income to support members of The Taft School faculty who seek to enhance their effectiveness as classroom teachers through formal graduate study.

Lo Fellowships for Technology, established in 1999 by Simon L. S. Lo, provides grants in support of professional development and continuing education in the field of technology. The goal of these Fellowships is to improve faculty and staff use of technology to enhance student learning, develop professional skills, and/or contribute to programmatic work. Recipients are encouraged to present their learning and use of technology to their respective departments and others who would benefit from such information.

John Lyman Fellowship, established in 1993 in memory of John Lyman ’14 by his widow, is awarded annually to an outstanding faculty member to support formal graduate work.

Lance Odden Summer Sabbatical Teacher’s Fund. In recognition of the outstanding contributions that Lance Odden and so many other teachers have made to the Taft student body, the Class of 1968 established the Lance Odden Summer Sabbatical Teacher’s Fund, whose purpose is to finance a summer sabbatical for teacher education. Recognizing that the future success of Taft hinges on the foresight of its teachers in anticipating the future process of education, the primary goal of the fund is to develop new course designs for subsequent school years. Other uses are determined from time to time by the Head of School, in consultation with key advisors of the Head's choosing, subject to the requirement that it only be used for teacher summer sabbatical programs. Whenever possible the program should alternate each year between the sciences and humanities.

Sheppard Family Grant, established in 2008, was made possible through a bequest from John W. Sheppard ’28, a memorial gift from the Taft Class of 1928, and ongoing support from the families of John W. Sheppard Jr. ’64 and J. Wade Sheppard III ’86. The award is given annually to one or more faculty members whose commitment to the whole student exemplifies the underlying philosophy of a Taft education, demonstrates passion for their academic discipline, shows a profound caring for the emotional and intellectual life of students, and makes a positive difference in the Taft community through teaching excellence. This grant allows faculty to take advantage of opportunities through travel, study, or any experience that might bring further enrichment back to the Taft community.

Stroud Family Faculty Fund, established in 2012 by Morris and Boo Stroud, parents of Lily ’03, Brook ’06, and Alex ’09, provides support to faculty who wish to enhance their effectiveness as both educators and role models by furthering their education or pursuing professional development.

Penny and Michael Townsend Faculty Fund, established in 2006 in honor of the Townsends’ twenty-three years of service to the Taft School, promotes excellence in teaching through support of faculty travel, graduate study, and projects that enhance classroom effectiveness and membership in the Taft community.

Won Family Endowment for Service and Cultural Knowledge was established to provide faculty an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of international culture with preference for projects in South Korea or Nepal.