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“So, even though I’m not a Park alum myself, you
might say that I’ve been an enthusiastic adult student
here. As admission director, I had great fun learning that
role.” Her challenge was to fill the school with new students.
There were 385 kids who moved into the Goddard
Avenue campus, but the new building was designed to
hold 450, so Nancy set to work — bringing new families to
Park, reading applications, and figuring financial aid grant
formulas. “Early on, I went to a weeklong conference for
admission directors. I jotted down 32 interesting ideas,
and it took years to finally tick off most items. Later, when
I put on Park’s development hat, I had to learn additional
sets of skills. Expand the Annual Fund, coordinate Park’s
Centennial Campaign, help plan the year-long celebration
of the School’s first 100 years. All wonderful fun! As was
becoming Park’s publications director. I loved going over
to Radcliffe Seminars and learning desktop publishing,
for instance, and getting a dose of layout and design. Even
my part-time archives work was enhanced by a week-long
workshop at Taft School one summer. My mom always
said I was eager and loved heading off to school every
Nancy said farewell to her Park School friends in June, and some of
her family attended the small gathering in Park's library, as well.
L-R: Nancy's sister Susan Goodridge, daughter Apple Faulkner '80,
husband Kim Faulkner '45, Nancy, and Annie Faulkner '78.
morning. I guess ‘going to school’ has continued to stimulate
me, keep me learning and excited about life.”
Nancy spent just a brief period of time away from
Park, working at Milton Academy as admission director of
the (former) Girls’ School for three years. A hiatus from
full-time employment followed, and she redirected some
of her boundless energy into volunteer posts at a few of
her other favorite schools, serving as president of the
Middlebury College Alumni Association, board member
of Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, Vermont, and
member of the Board of Advisors of The Mountain
School Program of Milton Academy.
She also served on the Park School Board of Trustees
from 1980–85, chairing the Nominating Committee and
working on the Tuition Aid, Long-Range Planning, Summer
Program, and Development Committees. “Another
great experience,” she recalls. During this time, the Board
Nancy’s Many Roles at Park
School Secretary Summer 1972
Coordinator of Development, Alumni,
Public Relations, and Admissions 1972 – 1974
Director of Admission 1972 – 1977
Director of Development 1985 – 1992
Director of Publications 1993 – 1996
Archivist 1997 – 2009
developed headmaster and Board evaluations and welcomed
Creative Arts at Park to the campus.
A great believer in professional development, Nancy
became a leader in several organizations. She started an
inter-school admission group that continues today, served
as a behind-the-scenes director of several NAIS admission
workshops, and was very active in a group of development
professionals from Boston-area independent
schools. Here at Park, we’ve enjoyed her skills as a writer,
proofreader, and editor. She takes an interest in design
and aesthetics throughout the School and, ever the loving
critic, she has helped raise our standards in several areas.
“Park continues to be an amazing community,” Nancy
explains. “I’ve developed personal relationships with terrific
people over the years. The kids’ Kindergarten teacher
is still a great friend as are so many parents of
our girls’ classmates. I’ve really enjoyed working with
parent volunteers and school leaders as well as with my
wonderful faculty and staff colleagues. I feel so lucky to
have been associated with such a yeasty, bright, articulate
bunch of people.
I feel pleased that my efforts, along with those of so
many others, have contributed to supporting our outstanding
faculty and staff. To have been a small part of this
exceptionally fine school…what could be more satisfying”
So, what’s next for Nancy Faulkner “I’ll try not to get
involved in too many projects,” she says. “I envision more
time for reading, painting watercolors, improving at
bridge, keeping up with old friends, and visiting Molly ’76,
Annie ’78, Apple ’80, and their families, including our six
grandchildren who live in north Idaho, New Hampshire,
and Vermont.”
We are assembling a farewell album to commemorate
Nancy Faulkner’s remarkable career at Park. Please send a note
with your reflections and recollections about Nancy
by November 1, 2009. Pictures are welcome, too. Thank you!
Album for Nancy Faulkner
The Park School, 171 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445
The Park Bulletin | Fall 2009 5