Another summer is drawing to a close, which means back-to-school season is around the corner. So here’s to the ’79 educators, with news from those of you I was able to squeeze into the space allotted!


Meg Morrow Clayton just finished her 20th year teaching at Barnet School in the Northeast Kingdom. “Barnet serves 215 students from pre-K through eighth; I have been teaching fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders. This past year was a difficult one for our community. Like many towns in Vermont, we were affected by severe flooding in 2011. Several of our students lost their homes and possessions to the storms. To make matters worse, a beloved high school teacher was brutally murdered. The students were shaken and dismayed by these natural and human disasters. Together, however, we worked to raise funds and gather materials to help neighbors. This is what I try to do as a teacher—help my students see that they are part of something bigger than themselves, that they can influence their own world by engaging in it positively. It’s a great job.”


Chip Debelius reports: “Life is good. I just finished my second year as a faculty member at Appalachian State University (ASU) in the mountains of northwestern North Carolina teaching architecture studios and a structures course. I hold virtual office hours when the winter weather hits hard. In addition to teaching I continue to practice as an architect and was recently appointed to the editorial staff of Forward, the American Institute of Architects’ design and architectural journal for associate members. Best of all, my daughter Megan just finished her second year at ASU. There’s nothing better than running into your child on campus and hearing that you gave a good lecture!”


Kathy Fraser continues her good work on the faculty of the University of New Mexico’s School of Medicine as an associate professor of psychiatry teaching residents and medical students, and as medical director of the Recovery Resiliency Program helping people with affective, anxiety and personality disorders. She writes, “It’s challenging but gratifying work. Outside of work I’m a parent with teenagers, which is sometimes more difficult than being a psychiatrist! In June I took my oldest son, Tom, to visit colleges in Boston and look at Dartmouth. Returning to Hanover reminded me again of what a great education I received, which I’m proud to be using to help teach people here in New Mexico.”


Last but not least, veteran educator Carol Frost is starting her 30th year at the University of Wyoming on the faculty of the department of geology and geophysics. “There are definite advantages to working at the only four-year research university in the state with the smallest population. There just aren’t enough people to do what needs to be done, so we get many opportunities. For example, in addition to teaching and researching I serve as the university’s associate vice president for research, vice president for special projects in the office of the president and the first-ever director of our school of energy resources. Wyoming is a great place for all those who love the outdoors. Come on out to hike, climb, ski or just look at the rocks and mountains!” (I love rocks, Carol, and I love to rock, as you may recall!)


—Stanley Weil, 14 Woodland Road, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549; (917) 428-0852; stanno79@gmail.com