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

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: Tsering Kabsang, associate teacher

Tsering Kabsang is universally loved by every single child she teaches, every single year. She sets and holds boundaries with steadiness and care, helping children feel safe, respected, and genuinely cared for, and has mastered the rare art of being deeply loved and completely clear about expectations. Tsering greets people by name, remembers details, checks in, and makes children and grown-ups alike feel noticed and welcomed. There’s something deeply reassuring about her presence. When she’s nearby, things simply feel more manageable. She’s also what can only be described as a human Swiss Army knife. 3PreK bathroom emergency? She’s on the job. 4PreK student meltdown? She’s the fixer. Kindergarten test-time shenanigans? She’ll right the ship—with love, care, and impressive efficiency. Tsering is the colleague you hope is nearby when things get complicated, messy, or unpredictable, but her gifts extend far beyond solving problems in the moment. She thinks ahead, solving problems before they arrive, and helps others avoid making the same mistakes. She notices the little things, like making sponges into heart shapes and freezing them—a small act of care that, according to Beginning School research, helps injuries, both physical and emotional, heal faster. She’s an exemplary colleague: kind, warm, generous, unflappable, and funny.

Lower School: Haas Pectol, fourth-grade teacher

Haas Pectol is a passionate educator, a fierce advocate for children, and someone whose love for students is evident in everything she does. She builds meaningful relationships with students and families, helping every child feel known, valued, and capable. She sets high expectations and then works tirelessly to help her students meet them. She is also a champion of experiential learning. This year alone, she helped lead 17 fourth-grade field studies and an overnight experience, and throughout her years at Rowland Hall she has participated in approximately 120 field studies. Her impact extends beyond the classroom. As one of the faculty mentors for Kids of Color, she helps students celebrate their identities and develop a strong sense of belonging. This year, the program welcomed a record 47 students, a testament to the welcoming community Haas helps create. Whether collaborating with colleagues on innovative interdisciplinary projects, mentoring students, volunteering at Maker Night, or launching the inaugural Cardboard Boat Building Club, she brings creativity, energy, and joy to everything she does. Most importantly, she shows up every day with an unwavering commitment to children and a belief in their potential.

Middle School: Jan Middleton, seventh-grade English teacher

Jan Middleton is, at her core, intentional. Everything she does reflects a teacher who leaves nothing to chance. Her classroom is warm and student-centered, and colleagues who walk through her door notice it immediately. Her walls tell the story of student learning, and her systems create the kind of structured environment where students can take real risks as writers and thinkers. In her writing instruction, Jan brings a deeply held belief that meeting students where they are is not a compromise; it is the work itself. She understands each student's individual zone of growth, presses them toward excellent work, and keeps the bar both high and within reach. Her weekly office hours put that belief into practice: in 20-minute one-on-one sessions, students leave feeling seen, supported, and challenged. Beyond her classroom, Jan cofacilitated a yearlong, all-school professional learning cohort on artificial intelligence, guiding a quarter of the faculty through some of the most consequential questions facing education today. She kept the group organized, forward-moving, and grounded. Additionally, she coaches cross country and serves as a devoted seventh-grade advisor, taking genuine pride in working collaboratively with families during both moments of celebration and moments of challenge.

Upper School: Dr. Padmashree Rida, science teacher

Dr. Padmashree Rida is a cornerstone of the science department, transforming the way students experience biology and scientific research. Drawing upon an extensive background in cancer biology and cell cycle regulation, Dr. Rida invites students into authentic scientific inquiry, giving them the opportunity to engage in meaningful research, contribute to real-world scientific questions, and even see their work published. Dr. Rida’s own accomplishments behind this work are extraordinary: more than 65 peer-reviewed publications, multiple patents in the field of tumor biomarkers, research featured on NPR, and positions at leading universities and research institutions around the world, all of which speak to a career defined by excellence and impact. Yet what truly sets Dr. Rida apart is the experience of being a student in her classroom. Every learner is welcomed, valued, challenged, and supported. Complex scientific concepts become accessible. Curiosity is celebrated. Confidence grows. Through exceptional scholarship, innovative teaching, and genuine care for others, Dr. Rida inspires students, enriches colleagues, and strengthens the Rowland Hall community. It is difficult to imagine the science department without her, and it is a privilege to celebrate the impact she makes on our school each and every day.

Cary Jones Faculty Mentor Award 2026

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 Margot Miller, seventh-grade world studies teacher.

Margot Miller is known for boundless energy, fierce advocacy for students, and unmistakable passion. Walk into her classroom and you are unlikely to find her or her students sitting down. They’re more likely moving, inquiring, debating, and grappling with complex questions. It’s not uncommon to find Margot passionately arguing a perspective she personally disagrees with because she believes that multiple perspectives must be heard, considered, understood, and wrestled with. That’s not a teaching strategy; it’s a conviction. Margot has been doing this work at Rowland Hall since 2002 and is one of the most trusted voices in our community. Measured, grounded, and deeply respected by colleagues, she is a steward of what makes this place exceptional. As an advisor, she builds a safe, warm community, holding space for each student. She’s also a steadfast advocate for Rowmarkers, understanding the particular demands placed on ski racers and working to ensure they are supported in balancing their athletic and academic lives. That same commitment extends past our walls: Margot is the heart behind the seventh grade’s Sunnyvale Sports Clinics and leads the seventh-grade Culture and Community Night, a celebration that’s grown into one of the most meaningful evenings on the Middle School calendar.

---

Banner: Head of School Mick Gee with 2026 Cary Jones Faculty Mentor Award winner Margot Miller at eighth-grade commencement.