Director of Diversity and Equity Semeka Smith-Williams partnered with former Assistant Head of Pre and Lower School Joe McCauley and former Director of Diversity and Equity Ramon Javier at the NAIS Annual Conference. Together they introduced the Diversity Coaching Model they created three years ago, and highlighted the ways it is being implemented at Packer and their respective schools. In March, Semeka and Director of Development Sara Shulman presented “Diversity and Advancement” at the NYSAIS Institutional Advancement Conference.

Upper School choral teacher Esther Harris is leading a teacher-training certification program in methodology and conducting at NYU Steinhardt as well as conducting an adults choir with 50 singers! She will also present a session at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Summer Conference, and teach a new course at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. 

For his original screenplay “It Was Cruel,” Upper School English teacher Dr. Peter Melman won second place in the horror competition in the 2017 Cannes Screenplay Contest.

Physical education teacher and swim coach Chris Ruck was recognized by the Metropolitan Swimming Officials Association for his contributions to the ACIS Swimming League.  

Art teacher Eric Baylin was selected to show his sculpture installations at the Delaware Valley Artist Alliance Gallery in Narrowsburg, NY, next spring.

Art teacher Liz Titone presented with educators from the Rubin Museum at the annual NYCMER conference at Columbia University in May. In addition to presenting on their work on mindfulness in their respective teaching environments, the team lead a workshop on brainstorming authentic engagement in response to current events. Liz and fellow art teacher Elizabeth Eagle presented This Is Ours: Coachella Valley to student authors, local politicians, and the the greater community of the Migrant Education Program of Southern California. This Is Ours: Coachella Valley is the ninth book in the This Is Ours series and the first bilingual volume. Liz and Leila Narisetti ’20 were invited to this summer’s Narrative 4 Global Summit in New Orleans, LA, to hear from fellow artists and share stories on the themes of “faith, identity, immigration, violence, and the environment.” 

Computer science teacher Meghan Clark received an MA in Design and Development of Digital Games from Teachers College of Columbia University.