Welcome, Grandparents!

Rowland Hall is pleased to introduce the incoming Home & School Association presidents for 2025–2026.

Helen Barkes will lead the Lincoln Street Campus Home & School Association, while Nan Marquardt, Molly Lynn, and Rachel Moore will lead the McCarthey Campus Home & School Association.

We asked the volunteers to share what they’re looking forward to in the coming school year. Responses have been lightly edited.

What are your goals for Home & School in 2025–2026?

Nan: My main goal is to boost parent involvement and help foster a strong, connected school community. I believe every family should feel welcome and engaged, and I hope to support this by organizing inclusive, community-building events. I also want to continue supporting our amazing teachers and staff—one of the things I love most about Home & School is how much we prioritize teacher appreciation. It's inspiring to see parents come together to show how much we value the dedication of our educators, and I’m excited to keep that going.

My goal is to help every family feel they can easily get involved and be as much a part of the school as they would like to be.—Molly Lynn

Molly: From my own experience, the challenge often isn't a lack of desire to help, but simply the logistics of our busy lives. Whether it is missing an announcement in Friday Facts or being too slow to click on a sign-up sheet, it can sometimes feel hard to volunteer in a way that works with your schedule. With that in mind, my goal is to help every family feel they can easily get involved and be as much a part of the school as they would like to be.

Rachel: My Home & School goal for 2025–2026 is to encourage more families to become actively involved in our school and to help foster an inclusive community for all parents and caregivers.

Why do you choose to volunteer for Home & School?

Nan: Volunteering with Home & School has been a wonderful way for me to connect with other parents and build relationships with our incredible teachers. It’s made the school community feel more personal and welcoming.

Molly: The Rowland Hall community is one of my favorite aspects of the school. It is rewarding to find small ways to support the school culture, both within the classroom and beyond.

Rachel: I choose to volunteer for Home & School because I love being involved in my kids’ school life. It’s not just about education; it’s also about their social community. I believe the combination of their social-emotional network in tandem with academics will help mold them into who they will ultimately become—and I want to help foster that.

What do you want families to know about getting involved and why do you encourage them to do so?

Getting involved in Home & School is a great way for families to connect, share ideas, and build meaningful relationships within the school community.—Nan Marquardt

Nan: Getting involved in Home & School is a great way for families to connect, share ideas, and build meaningful relationships within the school community. Whether you have a little time or a lot, every bit of involvement is truly valued.

Molly: Home & School offers numerous opportunities to contribute, whether you have an hour, a year, or more time available. The more I have engaged, the more parents, faculty, and students I have met, and the more enriching I have found the experience at the school to be for our family. I encourage you to join us in whatever capacity works for you—we'd love to have you.

Rachel: I’d like families to know that they don’t have to make a big time commitment to make a big impact. I’d encourage family members and caregivers to get involved in whatever capacity they can.

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Learn more about Home & School and ways you can get involved or connect with other families.

Community

Every year, the Board of Trustees and school community thank and bid farewell to the dedicated board volunteers who have worked hard for many years on behalf of the school. This year, we say goodbye to three trustees who provided exemplary service to Rowland Hall. Our sincerest thanks to them for their contributions.

Melissa Filippone served on the board for two terms (2019–2025). A passionate and vocal advocate for Rowland Hall’s mission and values, Melissa held several roles as a trustee, including vice chair of the board, where she provided steady leadership and thoughtful partnership; Development Committee chair, where she personally engaged and secured support from major donors; and Governance Task Force member, where she led the effort to revise board charters, strengthening governance practices. Melissa also helped build a warm and welcoming community by generously hosting a new family event. We are grateful for all her insight and perspective.

Katie Lieberman served on the board for three terms (2016–2025). Known for her empathy, thoughtfulness, and student-focused approach, Katie also brought to the trustee role her insights as a Rowland Hall parent, which were invaluable in the board’s efforts to reduce attrition in the Middle School. Katie served on the board’s Development Committee and on the search committee for assistant head of academics in 2024. She also played a pivotal role in the head of school leadership transition, serving as chair of the search committee that hired Mick Gee in 2019, then as co-chair of the Head Support and Evaluation Committee, where she helped warmly welcome the Gee family to Utah. We are thankful for her service.

Jeanne Zeigler served on the board for two terms (2019–2025). With 38 years of experience as a Rowland Hall teacher, Jeanne brought a valuable voice to the board, as well as wisdom, dedication, and a deep understanding of the school’s values. During her tenure, she contributed meaningfully across multiple committees, including as a founding member of the Campaign Steering Committee, where she helped lay the groundwork for the school’s current capital campaign. Jeanne also brought perspective as the board navigated the development of a new compensation model. We are grateful for her thoughtful insight and steady support.

Board of Trustees

Our condolences to the loved ones of the following alumni and friends of Rowland Hall who passed away during the 2024–2025 school year.

William Bentley, father of Conor Bentley ’01, passed away in June 2025.

Gloria DeLynne Hebdon, grandmother, passed away on September 11, 2024.

Cary Jones, trustee, alumnae parent, and former board chair, passed away on September 14, 2024.

Katharine Cosgriff Kurtz ’47 passed away on March 20, 2025.

Adair Moffat Langston ’54 passed away on August 23, 2024.

Susan Brim Larsen, former faculty member, passed away on February 21, 2025.

David Lither, former faculty member known as Mr. Chess, passed away on August 4, 2024.

Miette Full Murphy ’70 passed away on March 4, 2025.

Danny Rennie, former coach, passed away in May 2025.

Bette Jeanne Sage ’43 passed away on November 22, 2024.

Bob Sanders, alumni parent and former board chair, passed away on December 15, 2024.

Charles Smith, parent of Ben Smith ’89 and grandfather of Grace Smith ’21, Sam Smith, and Elliott Smith, passed away on December 23, 2024.

Zachary Weyher, former student, passed away on August 12, 2024.

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If you know of a Rowland Hall community member who should be acknowledged in this way, please contact Robyn Jensen, director of institutional advancement.

In Memoriam

Each year at division commencement ceremonies, Rowland Hall proudly honors faculty who have demonstrated exceptional teaching and mentoring.

The Sumner/Larsen Excellence in Teaching Faculty Awards

Each year, the Sumner/Larsen Excellence in Teaching Faculty Awards are presented to outstanding faculty members in each division who have demonstrated a love for teaching and excellence in their fields. This award was established in 1985 by Kit Sumner and family, who have shown an unparalleled commitment to Rowland Hall for three generations. In 2022, Kurt Larsen, who shares the Sumners’ high regard for Rowland Hall’s faculty and dedication to the school, joined Kit Sumner in funding this award to increase its impact. The renamed Sumner/Larsen Excellence in Teaching Faculty Award is one of the highest recognitions of excellence in teaching at Rowland Hall.

Congratulations to the following recipients.

Beginning School: Melanie Robbins, kindergarten lead teacher

Melanie Robbins is, first and foremost, thoughtful. Her deep thinking—about teaching, young children and their families, curriculum, colleagues, and life itself—not only feeds her, but often sets her apart. Her insights into her students, which she frequently shares through humorous vignettes, are grounded in careful observation and a rich understanding of child development. If you’re lucky enough to converse with Melanie about what’s best for young children, prepare to leave feeling inspired and excited. Despite her gentle demeanor, she is a bold and unwavering advocate for allowing little children to be little—while earnestly acknowledging them as fully human people. Colleagues and school leaders alike know they can count on her for thoughtful, curious, and constructive dialogue on a wide range of topics. She’s always eager to learn something new, reminding us often that her teaching will never be “laminated”—that is, never fixed or final. Like her young students, it’s always growing. For more than a decade at Rowland Hall, she’s held space each day for children to grapple with the real stuff of life: balancing individuality with community, finding freedom and grounding in nature, the value of self-sufficiency—and, more recently, how to safely build and cook over an open fire.

Lower School: Susan Swidnicki, McCarthey Campus music teacher

Susan Swidnicki’s impact is far-reaching, consistent, and deeply felt. Every week, she engages with 442 students—more than any other Rowland Hall faculty member—and every child from 3PreK through fifth grade knows the sound of her voice and the joyful learning of her classroom. This year alone, Susan prepared for no fewer than 11 concerts and music shares, led a weekly lunchtime chorus, and guided students through the Lower School Chorus Concert and the All-School Chorus Concert. Her dedication doesn’t end when the bell rings. Susan accompanies the fifth grade to the symphony, attends after-school recitals and Puttin’ on the Arts, and never hesitates to give of her own time to support and celebrate students. Susan brings that same spirit of care to colleagues. This year, she collaborated on multiple interdisciplinary music and art integration projects. Her ability to see the connections between disciplines and to make those connections meaningful for students is a hallmark of her teaching. But what truly sets Susan apart is her heart. She is deeply curious about her students as people. She listens, adapts, and connects. She believes in the transformative power of music, and the importance of her work shines in every lesson she teaches and every child she mentors. She is a tireless, kind, and inspiring presence in our school community, and a remarkable educator in every sense of the word.

Middle School: Sam Duffy, PE teacher

Sam Duffy is a role model, leader, and community builder who’s made an extraordinary impact on our Middle School and community at large. Sam brings energy, positivity, and a deep sense of purpose to everything he does. His classes focus on inclusivity and personal growth, helping students build positive self-identity, resilience, and collaboration skills, and empowering them to develop lifelong habits that support their physical and mental well-being. Sam radiates enthusiasm and care, seeing every student as an athlete and every day as an opportunity to help them build their confidence, teamwork, and perseverance. This year, Sam launched a new eighth-grade PE elective, already a student favorite, that offers choice, personal challenge, and variety in how eighth graders engage with fitness and wellness. He also developed a strength-training program in the Upper School so popular that student-athletes are meeting before school to participate. Outside the classroom, Sam’s coached a wide range of sports in the middle and upper schools, focusing on sportsmanship, personal growth, and team dynamics.

Upper School: Jeremy Innis, music theory teacher and choir director

Jeremy Innis has demonstrated a love for teaching and excellence in several fields. Perhaps more than any other faculty member in recent years, he’s touched the lives of students through core classes and electives in multiple disciplines and several divisions, as well as through the role of interfaith chaplain, where his infinite wisdom, thoughtfulness, and community-mindedness shone through in the Chapel program, Candle and Carol, and a multitude of other events, from concerts to ceremonies to school traditions. It cannot be emphasized enough how important Jeremy’s words have been to the community, providing food for thought, inspiring reflection, bringing solace, celebrating diverse voices and traditions, and always elevating others. He always knows the right thing to say to meet the moment, whether solemn or celebratory. In the classroom, Jeremy has inspired learning through courses as diverse as World Religions, Ethics, Historical Foundations, Choir, Orchestra, and Advanced Topics Music Theory. His students describe him as kind, patient, smart, inspirational, calm, and calming. His love for the humanities and the arts shines through in his teaching and extensive contributions to the Rowland Hall community.

Cary Jones Faculty Mentor Award 2025

The Cary Jones Faculty Mentor Award is presented to Rowland Hall faculty members who demonstrate excellence in teaching, serve as mentors to others, and contribute to the Rowland Hall community. This award was established through an anonymous gift to the school in honor of Mr. Jones’ dedication to the faculty when he was the chair of the Board of Trustees.

This year’s Cary Jones Faculty Mentor Award has been awarded to Mike Shackelford, political science teacher and debate coach.

Mike Shackelford is well known on Lincoln Street Campus. Whether or not a student has had him as a teacher or coach, they’ve all experienced Mike’s purposeful walk down Upper School hallways, his relentlessly positive and supportive demeanor, or his entertaining announcements at assembly. Mike and his students win numerous awards, year in and year out, such that it is easy to take for granted just how excellent our debate program is thanks to him. What’s lesser known, though, is how Mike serves as a mentor to others and shines through his commitment to our community. Over the years, Mike and his debaters have supported efforts to build dialogue and have provided coaching on listening and working through challenging, controversial issues in a collegial and productive way, most memorably during election season. Mike also helped develop Deliberate Dialogue, a set of skills teachers use to foster critical thinking and productive, open-minded dialogue in the classroom. Mike has stepped up to be an advisor to students in the class of 2027, and serves as an ombudsperson for Lincoln Street Campus faculty and staff who would like additional support in a difficult conversation. He teaches electives in the middle and upper schools, and last year extended his Middle School Model UN and Mock Trial programs into the Upper School. His students are already garnering results; some even ventured to New York City this year to showcase their new skills. This is in addition to the very special Taiwan debate trip he planned last fall. Mike is the ultimate team player and a supportive educator who approaches everything with care, flexibility, generosity, and integrity. He knows when to push and when to pull, creating pathways to elevate everyone around him.

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