Professional Development and Conferences

An unprecedented 37 Packer teachers, administrators, and staff members attended the 2019 New York State Association of Independent Schools Diversity Conference, “From Self Awareness to Collective Action: Decentering Whiteness in Our Schools.” Attendees included Patricia Runcie-Rice, Michael Barbaro, Shelly Gargus, Bessie Oster, Adam Choice, Lynnette Arthur, Saber Khan, Paul McElfresh, Stephanie Rapciak, Larissa Dzegar, Todd Johnson, Vidya Misra, Tori Gibbs, Karin Wood, Sara Goin, Megan Kilgallen, Kaitlin Peck, Alexandra Tietjen, Tiffany Javaheri, Yvonne Menard, Angela Meadows, Linda Weiss-King, Denise Schwed, Ashleigh Petillo, Marisa Mendez, José De Jésus, Semeka Smith-Williams, Jonathan Farmer, Anna Curtis, Chris Rush, Patrick Kieffer, Annie Wedekind, and Jamie Lilly, and Noah Reinhardt (not pictured). 

At the conference, Upper School Computer Science Teacher Saber Khan co-presented “Know The Memes: Media literacy to decode white supremacy” to “examine how memes, videos, ideas, speech function within a broader political agenda” and how to engage with students on these topics.

At the National Association of Independent Schools' People of Color Conference in Nashville, TN, Saber also led a version of his presentation. Upper School English Teacher Cara Hill gave a talk entitled “A Practical Guide to Realizing Intersectional and Inclusive Learning in the Classroom.”

Associate Head of School Elizabeth Hastings and Director of Diversity and Equity Semeka Smith-Williams (above) presented on "The Essential Link Between Leadership and Cultural Competency"at the National Association of Independent Schools annual conference in Long Beach, CA.

Middle School Head and Assistant Head of School Noah Reinhardt, Upper School Mathematics Teacher Tom James, Packer Parent L'Oreal Linwood-Frazer P’31, P’28, Director of Development Sara Shulman, Upper School Dean and English Teacher Larissa Dzegar, Board of Trustees Chair Deborah Juantorena, Associate Teacher Tiffany Javaheri ’09, Upper School Mathematics Teacher Cameron Lemley, Director of Diversity and Equity Semeka Smith-Williams, Kai Williams ’24, Ciara McNamara ’24, Sage Lewitt ’22 (not pictured), and Trustee Karen Snow P' (not pictured) attended the Diversity to Community Conference at Dalton.

Upper School Mathematics Teacher Sam Shah was a featured co-speaker at the Ontario Association for Mathematics Education Conference (OAME) in Ottowa, Canada. With a colleague, Sam presented "The Teacher Voice," which encouraged attendees to break out of their silos, both with students and one another, because "all teachers’ voices should be shared." He also taught a workshop on the Math Twitter Blogosphere (MTBoS), a global group of math educators that support each other in tackling the challenges of teaching.

English Department Head Elissa Krebs led a workshop at the NYSAIS Department Chairs Conference entitled “Meta-Meetings: An Exercise in Simulation.”

Head Department Head Monika Johnston received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to participate in the Religious Worlds of New York summer institute, which allows teachers “to work with leading scholars of religion, meet with diverse religious leaders, visit local houses of worship, explore the religious life of the city, and develop their own religious diversity curriculum projects.” Monika was also appointed a Religious Literacy Education Fellow with Harvard Divinity School’s Religious Literacy Project for the 2018-19 academic year. In this role, she advised and partnered with the RLP to strengthen the network of educators advancing principles of religious literacy in secondary schools and community colleges.

Art Teacher Elizabeth Eagle and Theater Teacher Patricia Runcie-Rice were invited to participate in The Academy for Teachers' master class on women's self representation with author and Barnard College lecturer Mary Cregan.

Continued Education

Upper School Mathematics Teacher Tom James received his M.S. in mathematics from NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and was honored with the William R. Allen Award for his "outstanding achievement in mathematics and statistics."

Lower School Associate Teachers Samantha Prindilus, Elisabeth Schneider, and Alexandra Tietjen (above) earned their Master's of Education degrees from Hunter College.