From the Pillared Portals to a Brilliant World - Winchester Thurston ...

wt today
Faculty
Brock Perkins and students.
Brock Perkins Wins Scarborough Award
North Hills Campus fifth grade teacher Brock Perkins
was honored with the 2011 Jane L. Scarborough
Award, Winchester Thurston’s highest accolade for
excellence in teaching.
Perkins was chosen by a committee of faculty, students,
parents, and trustees for his dedication to teaching, for his
passion for educating students both within and outside of
the classroom, and for his kind spirit and work to enhance
the experience of both his students and colleagues, a true
commitment to his craft which is reflected in his connection
with his students. During his career at WT, he has pursued
excellence in mathematics education, attending national
conferences and coaching his colleagues. He brought to life
his belief in the importance of connecting students to nature
when he partnered with colleague Lynne Raphael to establish
the Natural Playground at the North Hills Campus and brought
world renowned naturalist Joseph Cornell to WT.
Mary Martin ’88, the 2010 Scarborough Award
recipient, presented the award to Perkins at the 124th
annual commencement exercises and praised Perkins’s
accomplishments and contributions to the WT community:
“In the words of a former student,” she said, “‘He
exemplifies what I love about WT: the connection between
students and teachers, and the links that you maintain after
you’ve moved on…Though it’s been seven years since he taught
me, I can still say that the best teacher I’ve had at Winchester
was Mr. Brock Perkins.”’
Kristen Graham Klein Named
Middle School Director
Kristen Graham Klein is assuming a new role at WT
as Director of Middle School after seven years on
the English faculty and one year as the Upper School
Academic Dean. Klein was selected for the post after a
national search, having impressed the
committee with her leadership, vision,
pedagogical practice, communication,
and knowledge of WT.
Of Klein’s appointment, Gary Niels
says, “In her seven years at WT, Kristen
has established herself as a capable
leader in numerous ways. I have always
been impressed with her knowledge
of curriculum and pedagogy, her
intelligence, and her competent
leadership. But it is her dedication
to her students and colleagues that
is most remarkable. Parents, students, and faculty alike
admire her for her ability to inspire. She is a forthright and
full participant in our community, and I’m thrilled to have her
now as a member of our senior leadership team.”
Klein expresses great enthusiasm for her new role at WT.
She is especially looking forward to “leading conversations
with the faculty about approaches to teaching.” In her new
leadership position, Klein plans to continue the legacy of her
predecessor, Holly Hatcher-Frazier, who has stepped into the
24 T h i s t l e t a l k S u m m e r / F a l l 2 0 1 1