Did you know that more than 10 percent of our class is in the education field? My daughters might have Susan (a.k.a. Mrs.) Willison for fourth grade, if they’re lucky! While school’s out for summer, here’s news from some of the teachers, professors, administrators and policy makers among us. 


Todd Scanlon is an associate professor in the University of Virginia’s environmental sciences department. He lives outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife and four kids. “The best part of my job is that I occasionally get to work outdoors. I’m involved in research projects in southern Africa and Shenandoah National Park. Looking back I couldn’t have picked a better major than earth sciences at Dartmouth to prepare me for an academic career as an environmental scientist!” 


Phyllis Fagell initially worked as a magazine editor and writer, but went back to school to get licensed as a mental health therapist and now works as a middle school counselor in Bethesda, Maryland. She loves working with children, and as the parent of three kids, including a sixth- grader and a seventh-grader, is fully immersed in the middle school life. Michelle Webb is in Chicago and has been an elementary school teacher for 15 years. She currently teaches second grade and loves it. Michelle also sells curriculum that she creates. Check out her e-store at www.teachingideasforthosewholoveteaching.net. Alex Lesk chimed in to say that she just gave a talk to her old high school about “taking the road less traveled about my circuitous career that has landed me as a grade seven teacher!”


Ben Means writes from the University of South Carolina Law School: “After practicing law for several years in New York I had an opportunity to move into legal academia and am very glad that I did. I really enjoy teaching and scholarship. As a law professor I teach primarily in the area of business law and I write about family-owned businesses. Moving to Columbia, South Carolina, was the right decision for other reasons as well. I met my wife, Susan Kuo, who is also on the law faculty. Our son, Ezra, will be 4 years old just in time for the 20th reunion this June.”


From Oakland, California, Brian Greenberg reports: “Without ever officially deciding to do so, I ended up devoting the past 20 years of my life to education as a teacher, principal and now chief academic officer. I helped found a high performing school and now get to fund the launch of new schools blending traditional education with technology to create more personalized education for students. I’ve bumped up against the negatives of education—the bureaucracy and entrenched interests—but in general remain incredibly impressed by the vast majority of educators who are working in complex environments tackling hard challenges. That some are succeeding so impressively provides real inspiration.”


Melissa Trumbull Mitchell runs a state-wide advocacy and capacity-building organization focused on community schools, schools that bring together families and the community to mobilize resources and more efficiently and effectively coordinate access to the supports that kids need to succeed in school and beyond. “We advocate for community school partnerships and also do broader state policy work focused on improving academic outcomes, including education funding formula reform, aligning educational systems pre-kindergarten through college and equitable access to learning opportunities.” 


To close, I share the sad news that Alicia (Marti) Pommerening died in March after a long fight with breast cancer. The bells of Baker Tower toll for this devoted mother and friend who fought her disease with tenacity, courage and grace. She will be missed.


—Kaja (Schuppert) Fickes, 2 Bishops Lane, Hingham, MA 02043; kaja.k.fickes.95@dartmouth.edu