Perennial Support: Nance Fund Empowers GUS Teachers
With the objective to provide talented educators with the resources necessary to hone their craft, the Raymond C. Nance Fund has succeeded in helping Glen Urquhart School faculty broaden their knowledge base and skill set. As we all appreciate, GUS teachers pride themselves on being curious, life-long learners. How lucky are we to be the beneficiaries of their dedication to their profession and to the children in their care!
Special and endless thanks to the collection of over 80 GUS families of the past who made this fund a reality! Twelve years later and your generosity still provides incredible support to teachers and still celebrates Raymond Nance in a most thoughtful way. For those new to the school, Raymond Nance served as the head of school for 16 years and he also happens to be the father to our own facilities manager, Lindsay Calef ‘99. Raymond’s work on the part of faculty and students was remarkable, and his admiration and respect for GUS today is unwavering.
With the resources provided by this fund, our teachers have real and meaningful access to current best practices in education. In the past two years alone, the knowledge base of all faculty and staff has been expanded and enriched exponentially thanks to the support of the Nance Fund.
“Much like GUS kids, GUS teachers are naturally curious and energized by creative and innovative thinking. Giving our faculty opportunities to learn and grow is critical to not only a top-notch program, but also to attracting and retaining teachers that share GUS’ desire to do better in all areas. The Nance Fund allows a wide breadth and depth of opportunities and experiences that motivate and inspire our dedicated faculty. The impact of the Nance Fund on our program and our school is beyond measure and we continue to be grateful. This fund is truly a testament to Raymond Nance’s leadership and commitment to meaningful professional development that has continued to shape our small school in big ways.” - Gretchen Forsyth, Head of School
Some examples of workshops and classes offered to all faculty and staff include:
Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) Social Justice Standards Workshop
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) “Implicit Bias” Training
AISNE Emotional Equity
AISNE Embody Anti-Racist Values
The Culture Piece; positive school-wide climate and culture coaching and training with Chris Hagedorn
Teacher-specific classes, seminars, and special coursework include:
Columbia Teachers College Digital Literacy
Bank Street College of Education; professional development training “Talking about Race”
MA Mental Health Counselors Association membership
Boston University Wheelock College of Education; Education for Equity and Democracy
Endicott College Summer DEI coursework