After 40 years of teaching and coaching, Dorothy Gurreri is retiring. She began at Packer as a physical education and health teacher. “I got in the door because I could coach gymnastics,” she said. “And I loved it. Watching kids discover what their bodies were capable of was loads of fun.” 

Dorothy also served as a Ninth Grade prefect, and when the gymnastics program came to an end, she became a health curriculum coordinator and the chair of the Health Advisory Committee. Eventually she stepped back from those roles to focus on physical education and coaching. 

She prized her years of working with students. “The best thing I can hear kids say in gym is, ‘I’m sweaty!’ I say, ‘That makes me so happy,’ because they are appreciating how their bodies can move. We talk a lot about fitness and health — why we make our hearts beat faster, why we do activities to calm down, why we stretch. If a student walks away with an appreciation for how to remain healthy throughout their life, it’s a good day.”

Coaching and teaching physical education allowed her to work with students at several different times in their childhoods. “That’s the best part. [In conversations about particular students, I can say,] ‘This is where they came from, this is the growth they’ve had.’ You get to interact with them in the exact same capacity, but when they’re at different levels [of ability].”  

“Dorothy is one of the best educators and people I’ve ever met,” said Bill McCarthy, Head of the Preschool and Lower School. “Anyone who has had the privilege of being one of her students or colleagues can attest to how truly special she is. She is a shining example of kindness, care, patience, and commitment at its very finest.” 

Her plans for the immediate future are full: her son’s wedding, a possible move out of state. “I’m looking forward to a change. I’m ready for an adventure,” she said.

She was grateful for her experiences at Packer. “All the professional development experience, all the confidence administrators had that you could take on certain jobs along the way — I’ve learned so much here. It’s been amazing.”