Faculty News Archive

November

Hackley Perspectives: The Art of Creativity and Innovation – Three Disciplines, One Vision

11/19/2024

A collaboration by Hackley School Department Chairs Bettie-Ann Candelora (Performing Arts), Greg Cice (Visual Arts) and Melissa Tranchida (Computer Science)

In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Department Chairs Bettie-Ann Candelora (Performing Arts), Greg Cice (Visual Arts) and Melissa Tranchida (Computer Science) reflect on how “with the opening of the new Center for the Creative Arts and Technology, Hackley has now truly elevated the arts and computer science on our campus.” Read the post here.

October

Hackley Perspectives: Continuity and Change – The Power of Hackley Traditions

10/22/2024

By Andy King, Director of the Upper School

In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Director of the Upper School Andy King reflects on the traditions — both “old” and “new” — that have shaped our history and elevate our sense of community. “The people participating in these traditions will change. The venues where these rites occur may also change as the campus evolves. What does not change is how these traditions celebrate and elevate Hackley’s core values and culture and bring joy and connection to our community.” Read the post here.

A Monumental Undertaking: Hackley Arts Teacher Honors Mamaroneck’s Enslaved Population With Public Arts Project

10/2/2024

When Hackley visual arts and ceramics teacher Sarah Coble learned that Mamaroneck, New York — a place she has lived for 32 years, the town where she raised her son — had a history of enslavement, she was shocked. “We always just assumed we were Underground Railroad territory — most people did,” Ms. Coble noted. “We’re all a little shocked by this news. … It’s a fascinating piece of our history, one that really takes some reckoning.”

September

Hackley Perspectives: Disconnect to Reconnect - Being Fully Present

9/10/2024

By Charles Franklin, Hackley Head of School

In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Head of School Charles Franklin discusses how putting away our smartphones can help us reconnect as a community. “What we want is for each and every student at Hackley to give their undivided attention to their education, their peers, their teachers and their school. We want them to form relationships with as many people as possible — people in different grades and people with different backgrounds. Being fully present, both with ourselves and for others, is perhaps our broadest generational challenge as a society.” Read the post here.

August

New Employees Join the Hilltop

8/23/2024

Hackley is excited to welcome 15 new Hornets to the Hilltop for the 2024-2025 academic year!

June

History Teacher and Director of Debate Steve Fitzpatrick Wins 2024 Rice Award

6/4/2024

Congratulations to history teacher and Director of Debate Steve Fitzpatrick, the recipient of this year’s Anton and Lydia Rice Inspirational Teaching Award!

May

Hackley Perspectives: Reflection, Goals and Growth

5/13/2024

By Katya Ostor, Upper School Counselor

In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Upper School Counselor Katya Ostor discusses how to prioritize your mental health through reflection and setting goals for the future. “Mental health awareness looks different from one person to the next, and I encourage you to consider how it shows up for you, especially during one of the busiest times of the school year,” she shares. Read the post here.

April

Five Lower School Teachers Earn Science of Reading Microcredential

4/15/2024

Kristen Adams and Elizabeth Richmond in kindergarten, Nicole DeNino and Rachel Mwakitawa in first grade, and Literacy Curriculum Coordinator and Specialist Shannon MacDonald recently received the Microcredential in Science of Reading Fundamentals (SoRF MC) from SUNY New Paltz.

March

Hackley Perspectives: Cultivating Imagination

3/13/2024

By Damon Hall, Assistant Director of the Middle School

In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Assistant Director of the Middle School Damon Hall reflects on the role of imaginative thinking in education. “I believe that creative, imaginary, big-picture thinking should supplement traditional skills and that they should work together as an ‘and’ rather than an ‘instead,’” he shares. Read the post here.

February

Hackley Perspectives: What is Education But the Balance of Character and Intellect

2/12/2024

By Cyndy Jean, Ed.D., Associate Head of School

In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Associate Head of School Cyndy Jean, Ed.D. reflects on Hackley’s core value, Character is higher than intellect. “It is our job to help Hackley students in our care maintain a balance of character and intellect in order to reason through the questions before them,” Dr. Jean writes. “Character and intellect must go hand-in-hand if we desire to bring forward a generation of deep critical thinkers and inspiring leaders.” Read the post here.

January

Hackley Perspectives: ‘January 1st’ — an original poem

1/15/2024

By Wil Lobko, Upper School English and creative writing teacher and Director of Global Education

In this very special edition of Hackley Perspectives, Upper School English and creative writing teacher and Director of Global Education Wil Lobko shares an original poem, January 1st, with the Hackley Community to kick off 2024. Read the post here.