The 2020–2021 school year has been unlike any other, especially for Shipley’s own health-care heroines: Lower School Nurse Terri Grossman, and Middle and Upper School Nurses Amanda “Mandy” Schauerman and Maria Buhl.
Fortunately, their active involvement in devising Shipley’s 2020–2021 Return to Campus Plan removed much of the guesswork as they endeavored to navigate uncharted territory following a fully remote spring semester powered by Shipley Learns Online.
“We knew going in that it was going to be a very different school year. What we do now—more than anything—is try to keep everyone healthy and safe as a community as opposed to working one-on-one with individual students,” says Grossman, who has more than 50 years of nursing experience. “With [Head of School] Michael Turner’s leadership, we felt confident that we could do this and we would do it the right way.”
In addition to performing their regular duties, Grossman, Buhl, and Schauerman, who are now essentially on-call 24/7, have been busy organizing and overseeing school-wide coronavirus testing clinics, fielding phone calls from colleagues and families regarding infections and exposures, and attending Pandemic Committee and Physician Advisory Network meetings.
As is the Shipley way, employees across all divisions and departments have provided much-needed support. “It’s not just the nurse show. There are a lot of helping hands and moving parts that make the show happen,” says Schauerman, for whom Shipley is a family affair—husband Thom is a physical education teacher and coach. “Nurses from other schools have been surprised by our teamwork and camaraderie. Not every workplace is like this.”
Buhl, a nurse for over 25 years, agrees: “I really love what I do. I love working with the nurses at Shipley.”
A quiet powerhouse in Shipley’s Athletic Department, Katelyn manages the moving parts of anywhere from 12-15 teams per season. While that may seem chaotic—she sticks to her spreadsheets and checklists, plans for various scenarios, and thrives under pressure, all while presenting a calm demeanor.
Delia Raab-Snyder, Shipley's Lower School Music teacher, brings a lifelong passion for music to her classroom, shaped by a childhood surrounded by folk music and the sounds of the clarinet. She is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians with an approach centered on active engagement and fostering a deep appreciation for music's cultural significance. Get to know more about her musical journey and philosophy in this Q&A.
Learn more about Chantra Reinman—from her unexpected journey into education to her love for travel, and a surprising encounter with royalty, Chantra shares what drives her to make a difference in the lives of young learners. Discover why she's so passionate about protecting children's options and possibilities, what she loves to do in her free time, and why the classic film Roman Holiday holds a special place in her heart.
Chris Lengthorn, Shipley's Director of Squash, dedicates his career to pursing two simple goals: to bring squash to the people and help them achieve whatever their definition of success may be. "I teach students how to manage setbacks and overcome adversity through hard work, discipline and resilience." Learn more about Coach Lengthorn in this Q&A.
To know Betsy Leschinsky (or Mrs. L, as the kids like to call her) is to love her. She is humble about her role in Shipley becoming a leader in social emotional learning, but Mrs. L’s sweet, gentle demeanor and small stature belie a giant in our community. Learn more about Shipley's beloved Lower School SEED Teacher, Betsy Leschinsky.
Austin Wagner grew up in a music family, so it was not a huge surprise when he asked for his first drumset at age three. Mr. Wagner believes that music should be fun, and even if students don't plan on pursuing music professionally, they can gain important life skills by honing their musical talents.
Hailing from a musical family—his grandfather, father, and uncle all have claims to jazz fame—music has always been a part of Chris Oatts' life. As a teacher, Mr. Oatts believes in creating strong personal relationships with students, instilling in them a love of music and learning so they can "explore and teach themselves for years to come." Learn more about Mr. Oatts in this Q&A.
"Listening to and making music has always been such a joyful part of my life," says Director of Bands, Harley Givler. "From the first note I played on the horn, I loved the sound and felt an immediate connection to the instrument. Beyond that, I had inspiring teachers and learned very quickly that I could go places with music." Now, Dr. Givler is inspiring the next generation of musicians. Learn more about him in this Q&A.
Director of String Ensembles Jhonnatan Mata grew up surrounded by music thanks to his mother, a soprano and music educator. His music teaching philosophy is shaped by three principles: 1) That you must put your heart and soul into truly learning something. 2) You have to believe in yourself and not be afraid to make mistakes. 3) Music is a gift that can serve a person throughout their life. Learn more about Mr. Mata.
Since Dr. Roberta Brandao’s arrival to chair Shipley’s STEAM department in the fall of 2022, she has created a learning environment that fosters creativity, provides relevance, and pushes students to think critically. Learn more about Dr. Brandao's approach and how she makes students feel comfortable about taking creative risks.
Rafhia Foster, Shipley's new Director of Enrollment, was the only African American girl in her class at a local independent school. As a Black, Muslim-raised Trinidadian, she brings with her to Shipley a rich tapestry of lived experiences. She knows well the feeling of not being heard or seen. Now, she embraces each opportunity to share her voice and story, bringing an effervescent spirit to Shipley's Admissions Office.
The 2020–2021 school year has been unlike any other, especially for Shipley’s own health-care heroines: Lower School Nurse Terri Grossman, and Middle and Upper School Nurses Amanda “Mandy” Schauerman and Maria Buhl.
In 1995, Dr. Sharron Russell was hired to write and teach Shipley’s social-emotional curriculum. Dr. Russell, who holds a certificate and doctoral degree in school psychology from Immaculata University and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, respectively, has been directing student support since 2011 and positive education at Shipley since 2016. She is largely responsible for helping to make Shipley the first-ever positive education school in the country.
Get to know Ace Schwarz, Shipley's newest Middle School science teacher. In addition to being a true lifelong learner and avid reader who loves science, Mx. Schwarz (pronounced "mix") is passionate about their LGBTQ+ advocacy work. Learn more about Ace and how they hope make a positive impact at Shipley.
Margie Winters has dedicated much of her career to serving those in need and inspiring others to do the same. In 2018, she became Shipley’s Service Learning Coordinator and has already made an impact on the School’s robust service learning program. “When we reach out to communities, particularly on the margins, we learn a lot about their lives and their priorities. School service,” she says, “helps student do that in a thoughtful and reflective way.” Learn more about Shipley Changemaker Margie Winters and what she’s doing to make a difference at Shipley and in the world.
Middle School Latin teacher Anne Smith has inspired Shipley students with her passion for the Classics for 25 years. But perhaps more impactful than anything she’s done within her classroom are the 20+ trips to Italy on which she has led hundreds of Shipley students and parents over the years. Learn more about Anne and her Classical Adventures.
"As a teacher of Humanities one of the things that draws me here is Shipley’s Method of focusing on strong relationships between faculty and students."
Upper School English teacher Kristin Jaffe is known for her rigorous classes, where students engage in intense analysis of complex literature. What most people probably don’t know is that this Bryn Mawr College graduate didn’t start out well academically.
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.